To celebrate Thanksgiving this year in school, my daughter’s 5th grade class invited their families to an event called "Poetry and Pie".  Instead of the traditional little Thanksgiving meal in class, the kids read poems and afterwards served seasonal pies to their families. 

Each kid chose their own poem to read.  They practiced reciting their poems in class and at home in the weeks leading up to the event.  Then they read them in front of an audience (consisting of their parents) in the classroom.  It was an informal setting, so they could feel more comfortable. The parents were delighted and the kids had a chance to practice speaking and performing in front of an audience.  What a really great idea!