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Question witnesses, practice objections, and try a case in this three-week mock trial course for middle school students on Bryn Mawr College’s campus.
Course Description
Goldilocks has a case to answer. So do the adults in the novel Holes. A familiar story can look very different from opposite sides of a courtroom.
In this course your student will learn to connect a claim with evidence, explain the reasoning, and show why it matters. Voice, pacing, and careful listening help an argument land. A scripted Goldilocks trial introduces courtroom roles before students write openings, plan a case, and practice questioning witnesses. They’ll compare open-ended and leading questions, try objections, and argue assigned positions in practice debates.
For the final trial, prosecution and defense teams use Holes to investigate a child-labor case. They’ll research the text, decide which evidence is admissible, and prepare for the other side’s argument. Attorneys and witnesses bring the case to life through openings, direct and cross-examinations, objections, and closings. Listening to an answer can matter as much as preparing the next question.
This three-week course for middle school students is part of Summer Discovery’s Institute for the Gifted program on Bryn Mawr College’s campus in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. The program is available to commuter students.
What You Will Do
• Build arguments with claims, evidence, supporting reasons, and why the argument matters
• Try vocal delivery and question-based speaking games
• Perform a scripted Goldilocks trial with classmates
• Write openings and practice witness questions and objections
• Argue assigned positions in practice debates and use feedback
• Perform your role in a fictional child-labor trial based on the novel Holes
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
• Connect a claim to evidence and explain why the reasoning matters
• Choose questions and objections suited to a mock courtroom exchange
• Respond to opposing arguments while carrying out a courtroom role
You’ll leave with your written trial materials and a certificate of completion.
Why Mock Trial Skills Matter
A convincing argument needs more than a strong opinion. Mock trial gives students a reason to connect evidence with a claim and explain why it matters. Questioning witnesses makes careful listening useful: an answer may change what to ask next.
Preparing a case with teammates also means fitting different roles and ideas together. Students practice considering competing interpretations of the same facts. Those habits can help with school discussions, persuasive writing, and disagreements where understanding another view matters.
Who Should Attend?
For students who have completed 6th, 7th, or 8th grade.
Your student might love making a case, spotting a gap in someone’s reasoning, or looking at a story from another character’s side. Mock trial has room for thoughtful listeners and careful researchers as well as eager speakers. Students read or view material from the novel Holes, take an assigned role on a legal team, and rehearse for the final trial.
Institute for the Gifted eligibility requirements apply; see the program FAQ.
Your Summer at Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr gives middle-school students a welcoming place to explore challenging ideas, create, and meet peers who share their interests. Its historic, tree-lined setting near Philadelphia makes the day feel distinctly advanced while allowing students to return home each afternoon.
The commuter-day format combines active academics with a clear daily routine and shared activities throughout the program day. Students can test new interests, contribute to discussions and projects, and become more confident navigating a college setting without an overnight stay. For families, Bryn Mawr offers a thoughtful balance of substantive learning, friendship, guidance, and age-appropriate independence in a structured day-program environment.
Summer Discovery Certificate of Completion
After successfully finishing this course, you will be awarded a certification of completion for your accomplishment.
*This is a preview, not what you will receive