Hit the Gavel: Mock Trial and Debate

What Will You Do?

• Build arguments using claims, evidence, supporting reasons, and why the argument matters

• Practice vocal delivery, active listening and question-based speaking games

• Perform a scripted practice trial to learn courtroom roles

• Write openings, direct examinations, cross-examinations and objections

• Present assigned positions in practice debates and respond to critique

• Prepare and perform a child-labor mock trial based on the novel Holes

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

• Build an argument with a clear claim, evidence, and supporting reasons

• Use direct questions, leading questions, and objections appropriately in a mock trial

• Explain and respond to opposing arguments from a courtroom role

You’ll leave with your written trial materials and a certificate of completion.

Why Mock Trial Skills Matter

Mock trial teaches students to slow down an argument and examine its parts. A strong claim needs evidence, a reason the evidence supports the claim and an explanation of why the point matters. Questioning a witness also requires careful listening because the next question may depend on the answer just given.

Courtroom preparation develops teamwork and communication. Students divide roles, organize a shared case theory and practice presenting under clear rules. Switching between prosecution and defense can show how the same facts support competing interpretations, strengthening perspective, reasoning and respectful disagreement.

Who Should Attend?

For students who have completed 6th, 7th, or 8th grade.

Thoughtful listeners and careful researchers belong in a courtroom team alongside students who already enjoy speaking up. An interest in law, debate, public speaking, or literature can give your student a way into the work. They’ll read or view material from the novel Holes, accept an assigned role, and practice closely with a legal team before the final performance.

Institute for the Gifted eligibility requirements apply; see the program FAQ.

Based on students surveyed in 2026 about Summer Discovery programs at Yale University campus.

The Institute for the Gifted program takes place on Yale University’s campus in New Haven, Connecticut.

The setting gives middle-school students a memorable place to learn, have fun, and experience campus life. New Haven’s connections to law, theater, science, and the arts, along with the campus’s courtyards and academic spaces, make exploring a subject feel different from an ordinary school day. The program combines active academics with friendships, campus activities, clear routines, and support as students grow comfortable in a new community. Students can try challenging ideas, meet peers who share their interests, and build age-appropriate independence.