Free Teacher Download: KS2 Oracy Prompt Cards to Support Better Classroom Talk

Good classroom talk does not always happen automatically. Even when pupils have plenty of ideas, they may not always know how to explain their thinking, respond to someone else or ask a useful question.
Sometimes, the difficulty is not having something to say; it is knowing how to join in, how to build on another idea or how to express a different viewpoint clearly and respectfully.

That is why we have created these KS2 Oracy Prompt Cards. They are a practical, ready-to-use resource designed to help pupils take part in classroom discussions with more confidence and purpose.

What’s included?

The cards give pupils simple sentence starters for some of the most useful classroom talk moves. Each one provides a clear way into a discussion, helping children focus on what they want to communicate rather than getting stuck on how to begin.

The cards support pupils with:

• Agreeing with someone else and explaining why
• Adding to another person’s idea
• Offering a different viewpoint respectfully
• Asking a relevant question
• Asking for clarification when something is unclear
• Explaining their reasoning
• Summarising the main points of a discussion
• Making connections between ideas

Rather than simply encouraging pupils to talk more, the cards are designed to help them think about how they contribute to a conversation. Good oracy is not only about speaking confidently. It also involves listening carefully, responding thoughtfully, explaining ideas clearly and recognising the contributions of others.

A little structure can make a big difference

The cards can be used during whole-class discussions, partner talk, small-group work or collaborative activities. They can also be displayed around the classroom so that pupils can refer to them independently whenever they need support with a discussion.

They may be particularly helpful for pupils who benefit from more structured communication support, as the prompts make the expectations of classroom talk more visible and predictable.

Complete the short form below to download your free KS2 Oracy Prompt Cards.