Hero Speeches, Medieval Times Field Trip, Civ Debates, and the Mock Trial (Session 6, Week 4)

This week was packed with practice, creativity, and exciting new experiences.

Monday

We kicked off the week with Genre, combining all the components of our speeches: introduction, three main points, and call to action. For Quest, learners had their final practice before the mock trial, this time rotating teams to better understand the variety of arguments that could be raised. Afterward, each side gave feedback, and teams refined their cases.

Tuesday

We began Genre with a focus on revising taglines and hooks for the hero’s speech. Learners watched a TED Talk to identify effective hooks and then applied those techniques to make their taglines more convincing. Tuesday also brought our last field trip of the year—an unforgettable visit to Medieval Times! Learners enjoyed dinner while watching a play and jousting show before returning to school to continue work on Genre.

Wednesday

The first Civ of the week explored how the Black Plague might return in modern times. Learners stepped into the shoes of world leaders facing such a crisis, debating possible responses. Wednesday was unique because we had Civ, Genre, and Quest all in one day. For Genre, learners conducted 6-trait peer critiques of their speeches, while Quest was devoted to refining arguments and conducting the final team practice for the trial.

Friday

We ended the week with a Civ discussion on the Caravel and Celestial Navigation, sparking fascinating insights. The highlight of the day was Quest—the official mock trial! Learners came prepared with costumes, props, and polished arguments. With Launchpad and Discovery learners serving as the jury, the trial was lively, engaging, and a lot of fun.

It was a fantastic conclusion to Week 4 of Session 6, full of creativity, teamwork, and memorable moments!

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