Table Topics – Colors of Life

In Toastmasters, our goal is to become better speakers. While prepared speeches are great, being able to speak briefly about a subject on the spur of the moment is also important. That is why we have a segment in our meetings called Table Topics and the person who presents the topics is called the Table Topics Master.

I am once again the Table Topics Master for our next club meeting and the theme of our meeting is “Colors of Life”. This table topics idea is inspired by my kids, who were constantly coming up to me when they were little with drawings they had made, hoping I could decipher exactly what they’d drawn. Sometimes I was better at this game than others. I decided it might be fun to have my fellow Toastmasters have a go at deciphering random colorful kid drawings.

I typed “colorful kids drawings” into a search engine and downloaded my favorite images. I then added one per page to power point slides. The whole process took about 15 minutes. There isn’t much else going on at our meeting tonight, so Table Topics will need to fill a large amount of time. I selected 16 images so we have quite a selection to work with. Each Table Topics speaker will be presented with an image and have to create a 1-3 minute story about the image.

This is a great Table Topics idea to use for online meetings as well as in-person with a projector available. Feel free to use this idea to create your own selection of artwork for interpretation. It doesn’t have to be only kids’ drawings. You can use themed art, ink blots, tie dye, photography, or anything else that leaves room for interpretation.

Here are links to my presentation, in multiple formats, in case you are in need of a quick creative Table Topics presentation that is suitable for any time of the year and don’t have the time to create your own.

Colors of Life  – Google Slides

Colors Of Life – Power Point

Colors of Life – PDF

Follow this link for more information about Singing Sands Toastmasters Club in Michigan City, IN   https://7269291.toastmastersclubs.org/

Table Topics for Fall

In Toastmasters, our goal is to become better speakers. While prepared speeches are great, being able to speak briefly about a subject on the spur of the moment is also important. That is why we have a segment in our meetings called Table Topics and the person who presents the topics is called the Table Topics Master.

I am the Table Topics Master for our next club meeting and the theme of our meeting is Fall. I got a package of inexpensive leaves from the local craft store and wrote topics (see below for the list) on them. Volunteers will pick a leaf, read what is written on the leaf, and then have 1-2 minutes to give their thoughts on the subject.

Here are the questions I used. You can certainly change them up to suit your needs.

• Fall has recently become filled with pumpkin spice everything. In the past, it was apple pie spiced everything. What flavor (or scent) reminds you of fall?
• Describe the perfect fall day. Use as much detail as possible, engaging all 5 senses, so we can really imagine it.
• Fall is the time of year that the new TV show line-ups begin. If you could live in any television show, which would you choose?
• In the fall, we reap the rewards of our spring harvest. Speaking metaphorically, what is one goal you “planted” this spring that you have enjoyed “harvesting” this fall?
• Many species of bird migrate south, away from our area, in the fall. If you could migrate somewhere else this fall, where would it be?
• Fall is a popular time of year to watch horror movies. If you found yourself in a horror movie, what strategies would you use to survive?
• The leaves are beautiful when they change color. Tell us about an time when you especially enjoyed experiencing this annual fall spectacle or where you would like to go see it this year.
• October 2 is both Charlie Brown and Snoopy’s birthday. Who is your favorite Peanuts character and why?
• October is Stamp Collecting Month. Who or what do you think should appear on a US stamp and why?
• There are a lot of yummy fall foods and treats… pies, hot cocoa, caramel apples, etc. What is your favorite food, that is traditionally eaten in the fall?
• October is Dinosaur Month and a great time to watch Jurrasic Park movies. What is your favorite type of dinosaur and what do you think life would be like if they were still around today?
• There’s a lot of orange around at this time of year. What are your 3 favorite orange items?
• October is National Popcorn Month. What toppings or other foods do you put on or in your popcorn to make it the best snack?
• Pumpkin farms, corn mazes, haunted houses… there are lots of fun things to do in the fall. What was your favorite fall tradition as a child? If you didn’t have fall traditions as a child, what fall tradition would you like to start as an adult?
• If you could help harvest any fruit or vegetable in the fall and get as much as you want in return for your help, what would you help harvest?
• Fall is a popular time of the year for camping. If you were to go camping this fall, would you rather rustic camp in a tent or “glamp” in an RV?
• The Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta takes place the first week in October every year, with 600 colorful balloons taking to the air. If you could design a hot air balloon for the fiesta, what would it look like?
• In our area, we have a lot of tourists making some of our favorite spots crowded in the summer. What is your favorite thing to do in the fall, when the summer crowds are gone, that you tend to avoid when they are here?

Follow the link for more information about Singing Sands Toastmasters Club in Michigan City, IN   https://7269291.toastmastersclubs.org/