As my student was delivering a speech on behalf of the council of Croatia debating on the resolution of the question of the United Nations’ intervention on terrorism and purporting that reprocussions do not stop terrorism, aid and education do– I felt tremendous pride to be working in a school that teachers him these values.
UNYA’s Thant Trophy is a mock UN debating event that is the most beneficial event, lesson, or class I have seen students participate in.
If you don’t have debating at your school you can attend it with political studies students, geography, philosophical or even English students before the VCE years – if they are IB students it is a tremendous fit.
In Year 8 my teacher ran a mock trial of the trial of Louis Riel. I don’t remember having ever committed myself so wholfully to an academic endeavour.
Reading Sonya Hartnett’s “Thursday’s Child” this year, my English B (Language B) class and I did a mock trial to discern who murdered Vandry Cable (it was Tin, but we went through the accusations and defence of every character).
We did this task as a Language B Interactive Oral, and the kids really shined. Everyone played a character, a prosecuter and a defense lawyer at least once.
I made the wig of tape and cotton balls!
They had to use strategy to ‘frame’ another character–and we were all in hysterics when one kid went so far as to bring out a paper knife covered in pink highligher as evidence! (the Defence Attorney was then on the back-foot until she impromptuedly made up a new witness to give alibi).
Seriously, if there is any way you can work in a Mock Trial or a Model debate (anything that gets kids into roles and costumes!), it’s really worthwhile learning activity.
Tags: Canadian history, English B, history mock trial Louis Riel, IB, Language B, Mock Debate, Model UN, Sonya Hartnett, Teaching Idea, THant Trophy, Thursday's Child
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