Submitted by: Ms. Pautz
School: Hermitage High School
Summary
In this lesson, students conduct a mock trial accusing Beowulf of murdering Grendel. Students will use research to prepare for the trial as they serve roles such as the lawyers, court artists, witnesses, judge, jury, and the media.
TIPC Ratings
As part of the preparation for the trial, students are part of specific teams. Each team has a different role. The Defense and Prosecution must look up and summarize previous court cases. Students must support their position with details. Students are developing their own questions to guide research, utlizing research methods to find information, and selecting from a variety of sources independently. It is unclear which resources they are using or how students will evaluate resources.
Students are communicating in written and in oral form during the mock trial. Students work in groups to accomplish specific tasks, dividing work as they see fit. There is no communication beyond the classroom, although students do assume roles in order to conduct the trial.
Students use technology to conduct research independently. In preparing for the trial, students engage in an open-ended scenario that requires higher order thinking skills.
Students are preparing for a mock trial that has an indeterminate ending. They are questioning, summarizing information, and making inferences about the characters involved in the Beowulf novel in order to conduct a mock trial. A final creative product is not listed in the lesson.
