100 informative speech topics, and how to turn one into a clear speech

An informative speech explains something so the audience understands it: how it works, what happened or what it means, without asking them to take a side. Here are 100 informative speech topics in eight groups, from “How black holes form” to “Why onions make you cry”, plus the four types of informative speech, how to narrow a topic so it fits your time, simple outlines, a model 2-minute speech and a free timer that records you.

By The YoFluent teamUpdated 10 min read

The YoFluent cat studying next to the title: Informative speech topics
On this page
  1. Practise now: a 2-minute informative speech timer
  2. 100 informative speech topics
  3. The four types of informative speech
  4. How to narrow a topic to fit your time
  5. Three easy ways to organise it
  6. A model 2-minute informative speech: “Why we yawn”
  7. Signposting phrases for an informative speech
  8. Practise until it sounds natural
  9. FAQ
  10. Sources

Practise now: a 2-minute informative speech timer

You get a random topic from this page, 60 seconds to plan three parts, then 2 minutes to explain it. Allow the microphone and the timer records you so you can listen back.

Your informative topic

How black holes form

Runs in your browser. Your recording stays on your device and is never uploaded.

100 informative speech topics

Science and nature

  1. How black holes form
  2. Why the sky is blue
  3. How bees communicate
  4. What causes earthquakes
  5. How vaccines train the immune system
  6. Why we dream
  7. How octopuses change colour
  8. The life cycle of a star
  9. How the Northern Lights happen
  10. Why leaves change colour in autumn
  11. How lightning works
  12. What happens to plastic in the ocean
  13. How seeds know when to grow

Technology

  1. How artificial intelligence learns
  2. How the internet reaches your phone
  3. What a blockchain is
  4. How GPS knows where you are
  5. How noise-cancelling headphones work
  6. How electric cars work
  7. How passwords get hacked
  8. What happens when you delete a file
  9. How 3D printing works
  10. How recommendation algorithms choose what you see
  11. How solar panels make electricity
  12. The history of the smartphone

Health and the body

  1. What happens to your body when you sleep
  2. How caffeine affects the brain
  3. Why exercise improves mood
  4. How the heart pumps blood
  5. What stress does to the body
  6. How to read a nutrition label
  7. Why we get goosebumps
  8. How memory works
  9. What allergies are
  10. How to give CPR
  11. The benefits of drinking water
  12. Why laughing is good for you
  13. How screens affect sleep

History

  1. How the printing press changed the world
  2. The story of the Silk Road
  3. How the Olympic Games began
  4. Why the Titanic sank
  5. The history of chocolate
  6. How the pyramids were built
  7. The first moon landing
  8. How money was invented
  9. The history of the English language
  10. The fall of the Berlin Wall
  11. How ancient Romans built roads
  12. The invention of the light bulb

Culture and society

  1. How festivals around the world celebrate the new year
  2. The history of hip-hop
  3. Why people get tattoos
  4. How different countries greet each other
  5. The origins of Halloween
  6. How sign language works
  7. Why English spelling is so strange
  8. How fashion trends start
  9. The rise of K-pop
  10. What makes a song catchy
  11. How emojis became a language
  12. The meaning of colours in different cultures

Money, work and life skills

  1. How compound interest works
  2. How to make a budget
  3. How credit scores work
  4. What inflation is
  5. How to prepare for a job interview
  6. How the stock market works
  7. How to write a CV
  8. How taxes pay for public services
  9. How to save money as a student
  10. How to spot a scam

Environment

  1. How recycling actually works
  2. What a carbon footprint is
  3. How coral reefs are formed
  4. Why bees are disappearing
  5. How wind turbines work
  6. What causes air pollution
  7. How composting works
  8. Where our drinking water comes from
  9. Why rainforests matter
  10. How climate and weather are different

Fun and unusual topics

  1. Why cats purr
  2. How magicians fool our brains
  3. The science of roller coasters
  4. Why some people are left-handed
  5. How fireworks get their colours
  6. The strangest sports in the world
  7. Why we yawn
  8. How animals sleep
  9. How chewing gum is made
  10. Why onions make you cry
  11. How optical illusions work
  12. The history of video games
  13. How pizza became a global food
  14. Why music gives us chills
  15. How dogs understand words
  16. The science of a perfect paper plane
  17. Why time seems to go faster as we grow up
  18. How the world’s tallest buildings stand up

Need to convince people instead? See persuasive speech topics. For school assemblies and competitions, see speech topics for students.

The four types of informative speech

TypeIt explains…Example topics
ObjectsA thing, place, person or animalHow octopuses change colour; the Great Wall of China
ProcessesHow something works or how to do itHow solar panels make electricity; how to make a budget
EventsSomething that happenedThe first moon landing; why the Titanic sank
ConceptsAn idea or theoryWhat inflation is; what a blockchain is

How to narrow a topic to fit your time

Too broadBetter for 3–5 minutes
SpaceHow black holes form
The internetHow a message reaches your friend’s phone in one second
HealthWhat caffeine does in your brain
HistoryHow the printing press changed who could read
MoneyHow compound interest makes savings grow

A simple test: can you name three clear parts? If you can name ten, the topic is still too wide.

Three easy ways to organise it

  • Chronological (time order): before → during → after. Good for events and history.
  • Process (steps): step 1, step 2, step 3. Good for “how it works” and “how to”.
  • Topical (parts): three aspects of the subject. Good for objects and concepts.

A model 2-minute informative speech: “Why we yawn”

Good morning, everyone. In the next two minutes, I bet at least one of you will yawn. And by the end of this speech, you will know why.

Today I want to explain three things about yawning: what happens in your body, the main theory of why we do it, and why it is contagious.

First, what happens. A yawn is a long breath in with your mouth wide open, then a shorter breath out. Your jaw stretches, your heart rate goes up for a moment, and the muscles in your face and neck tighten.

Second, why. For a long time, people thought we yawned to get more oxygen. Scientists tested this, and it does not seem to be true. One popular theory today is that yawning helps cool the brain, a little like a fan on a computer.

Third, why yawns spread. Seeing, hearing or even reading about a yawn can make you yawn. Researchers have linked this to social connection: we are more likely to catch a yawn from family and friends than from strangers.

So, a yawn is a full-face stretch, it may help cool the brain, and it spreads through people who are close. If you yawned during this speech, don’t worry. It just means you were paying attention. Thank you.

About 230 words: just under 2 minutes at a calm pace. Notice the preview (“three things”), the signposts (first, second, third), and the summary that repeats the three parts. Scientific details are kept to what the cited research reviews support.

Signposting phrases for an informative speech

To…Say
Preview“Today I’ll explain three things:…” / “I’ll cover…”
Move on“Let’s start with…” / “Next…” / “Now that we know…, let’s look at…”
Explain“In other words…” / “Put simply…” / “Think of it like…”
Give an example“For example…” / “Here’s how that looks in real life:…”
Give a source“According to…” / “A study by… found that…”
Summarise“To sum up…” / “So, the three key points are…”

Practise until it sounds natural

  • Speak from keywords, not a full script. Write your three parts and one example each on a card.
  • Check difficult words before the day: see difficult words to pronounce.
  • Time yourself with the timer above, then speed up or cut an example.
  • Start strongly. See how to start a presentation for openings that work.

Frequently asked questions

What is a good informative speech topic?

A good informative speech topic is something you can explain clearly in the time you have, with three parts and real examples, without taking a side. Examples: How black holes form, What happens to your body when you sleep, How compound interest works and Why we yawn.

What are some easy informative speech topics?

Easy informative speech topics include Why the sky is blue, How to make a budget, The history of chocolate, How the Olympic Games began, Why cats purr and How recycling actually works.

What are the four types of informative speeches?

The four common types are speeches about objects (a thing, place or person), processes (how something works or how to do it), events (something that happened) and concepts (an idea or theory).

How do you start an informative speech?

Start with a hook (a question, a surprising fact or a short story), say what you will explain, and preview your main points: “Today I’ll explain three things about…”.

What is the difference between an informative and a persuasive speech?

An informative speech explains so the audience understands; a persuasive speech tries to change what they believe or do. If your main sentence includes “should”, the speech is probably persuasive.

Rehearse your speech with an AI coach

Practise explaining out loud, and get scored on fluency, pronunciation, grammar and vocabulary. Free for 3 days.

Start your free trial

Sources

  1. Types of informative speeches, Lumen Learning (Public Speaking, open textbook)
  2. Yawn, Wikipedia
  3. Words per minute, Wikipedia