B. Foundations of Language · Foundations: Speaking, Listening, Words and Fluency

Reading Aloud for a Purpose: Reports, Quotations, Picture Books and Performances

B2.3 B1.4 A1.1 A1.2About 45 minutes

Learning goals

I can adjust my expression and intonation to fit the purpose of a read-aloud.
I can read numbers, units, symbols and abbreviations aloud correctly.
I can show quotations and asides with my voice so listeners can follow.
I can plan, rehearse and reflect on a read-aloud for a real audience.

Words to know

intonation
The rise and fall of your voice as you speak or read.

expression
Using your voice (and face) to show meaning and feeling.

quotation
Someone's exact words, shown with quotation marks.

abbreviation
A short form of a word, like km for kilometre or Dr. for Doctor.

audience engagement
Ways of keeping listeners involved, like eye contact, pauses and questions.

rehearse
To practise a performance before giving it.

Remember from Grade 6

In Grade 6 you used six voice tools (intonation, stress, volume, pace, pause, tone), marked up texts with slashes, underlines and arrows, and read scripts, speeches, poems and reports aloud. In Grade 7 you'll take on harder read-aloud jobs: reports full of numbers and symbols, texts with quotations, picture books for young children, and performance pieces like spoken word poems and monologues.

Let's start with a tricky sentence

Read this aloud the way a news reader would:

"On Jan. 14, the temperature in Winnipeg dropped to −38 °C, and Dr. Singh said, 'Stay inside if you can.'"

Did you say "January fourteenth", "minus thirty-eight degrees Celsius", and "Doctor Singh"? Did your voice change a little for the doctor's words? Reading aloud for an audience means turning symbols and short forms into clear speech, and using your voice to show who is talking.

Written	Say it as	Tip
−12 °C	minus twelve degrees Celsius	Canadians usually say minus for temperatures below zero
3.5 km	three point five kilometres	Units are said in full
80 km/h	eighty kilometres per hour	The slash means per
45%	forty-five percent
1867	eighteen sixty-seven	Years are usually read in pairs
2026	twenty twenty-six (or two thousand twenty-six)	Both are common
e.g. / i.e.	for example / that is
St.	Street or Saint	Use context: Main St. vs. St. John's
½	one half	With a whole number: 2½ = two and a half

Saying symbols, units and abbreviations aloud.

Symbols and short forms on the page become full words in your mouth.

Matching expression to purpose

Informational report or news: clear, steady and neutral. Slow down for numbers, names and key facts. Look up at the end of each sentence.
Quotations: shift your voice slightly when you read someone's exact words, then return to your narrator voice. A short pause before the quote helps. If the quotation shows strong feeling, show it, but don't overact.
Brackets and asides: a little quieter, like a whisper to the audience.
Picture book for young children: expressive and warm, with different voices for characters, pauses for them to guess or answer, and the book turned so they can see the pictures.
Spoken word poem or poem with repetition: let the rhythm carry you; build intensity on repeated lines; use silence as a tool.
Monologue (one character speaking): become the character. Their feelings change during the speech, so your tone should change too.
Instructions or a procedure: calm and clear, with a pause between steps.

The opening sentence marked up for reading aloud: slashes for pauses, and the quotation underlined as a cue to change your voice.

Worked example

Let's plan a read-aloud of a report

You'll read this to the class as part of a presentation:

"In 2025, our school collected 1,240 kg of food for the local food bank (that's about the mass of a small car!). Ms. Okafor, the food bank's coordinator, said, 'Every can makes a difference.' This year, our goal is 1,500 kg."

Purpose: to inform and inspire, so a clear, confident tone with some warmth.
Say the numbers: In twenty twenty-five · one thousand two hundred forty kilograms (or twelve hundred and forty kilograms) · fifteen hundred kilograms. Slow down for each.
The aside in brackets: read (that's about the mass of a small car!) a little quieter and lighter, with a smile in your voice.
The quotation: short pause after said, then a slightly different, sincere voice for Every can makes a difference. Return to your normal voice after.
Mark it up: a slash after food bank, stress on goal and 1,500, a pause before the last sentence, and eyes up for the final line.
Rehearse three times: understand it, mark it, perform it. Ask a listener: Could you hear the numbers clearly? Could you tell when someone else was being quoted?

A clear, warm read: numbers said slowly and in full, the aside lighter, the quotation in a slightly different voice, and stress on the goal.

Just for fun

Fun fact: −40 is the one temperature that's the same in Celsius and Fahrenheit. So if the news reader says "minus forty," nobody has to ask which scale!

Look up, don't speed up

When reading aloud, glance at the next phrase, then look up at your audience while you say it. If you lose your place, pause calmly and find it. A pause sounds confident; rushing sounds nervous.

Hands-on activity

Read for a real audience

You need: a picture book (from home or the library), a short informational article with numbers in it, and a phone or tablet to record (with a grown-up's permission).

Picture book: choose a picture book to read to a younger child (a sibling, cousin or neighbour), or record it to send to a younger relative. Plan: a voice for each character, two places to pause and ask a question ("What do you think will happen?"), and how you'll show the pictures.
Report: choose a paragraph from an informational article with numbers, units or a quotation. Mark it up (slashes, underlines, notes like slow or quote voice).
Rehearse each one at least three times.
Perform or record both.
Reflect in writing: What did I change between the two read-alouds, and why? What will I do differently next time?

What to look for: clearly different expression for the two purposes (warm, playful voices and pauses for questions in the picture book; steady, clear and neutral in the report), numbers and units said correctly, and a thoughtful reflection.

Your turn

Write how you would say these aloud: (a) −5 °C, (b) 60 km/h, (c) 1812.

How should your voice change when you read a quotation?

What tone fits a news report?

Name two things you'd do when reading a picture book to a 5-year-old.

How do you read e.g. aloud?

You lose your place while reading aloud. What should you do?

Why slow down for numbers when reading a report aloud?

More practice: warm-up

What is intonation?

How do you say 45%?

How should you read words in brackets?

What does km stand for?

How many times should you rehearse before performing?

More practice: on your own

How would you read St. in (a) She lives on Queen St. and (b) We flew to St. John's? How do you know?

Describe how a spoken word poem with a repeated line (We are still here) should be read.

Explain the difference between reading a monologue and reading a news report aloud.

Mark up this sentence for reading aloud (describe your marks): The bridge closed on Monday. Repairs will take six weeks.

Why should you glance ahead and then look up when reading to an audience?

Challenge

Write out how you would read this aloud, word for word: On Feb. 2, 2026, 3,500 people skated 7.8 km on the canal.

You're reading a report aloud to Grade 2 students, and it has hard words and many numbers. Plan two changes to your expression and delivery for this audience.

After reading a picture book aloud, your listener said, "It was boring." Reflect: what might you change? Give at least two ideas.

Check your understanding

Quiz

How do you say −20 °C aloud in Canada?

Which tone fits reading a news report aloud?

When you reach a quotation, you should...

How do you read 80 km/h?

Which is most important when reading a picture book to a young child?

What should you do first when preparing a read-aloud?

For parents and teachers

Big idea (B2.3, B1.4, A1.1, A1.2): When reading aloud, Grade 7 students adjust expression and intonation according to the purpose of reading. This lesson adds reading numbers, units, symbols and abbreviations correctly; showing quotations and asides with the voice; reading to young children; and performance pieces, followed by reflection.

How to help at home:

Have your child read a short news article or recipe aloud, including the numbers and units.
Encourage reading picture books to younger relatives or recording them; it builds expression and confidence.
After a read-aloud, ask: "What did you do with your voice, and why?"

Common difficulties:

Saying symbols letter by letter ("K M"). Practise common units and abbreviations.
Flat expression. Model a sentence two ways and let your child choose which sounded better.
Rushing. Remind them: look up, don't speed up.