Summer Homeschooling - Public Speaking/Debate Week

🎤 PUBLIC SPEAKING & DEBATE WEEK

🎬 Watch "The Great Debaters."

🗓️ MONDAY — Public Speaking Foundations

This week, we’re learning how to speak so people listen. Not to win arguments, not to be louder than others — but to explain ideas clearly and confidently. Public speaking is a skill. Nobody is born good at it. It’s something you build.

“When have you seen someone speak and really hold attention?”

“What made them interesting?”

Learning Goals

• Understand why public speaking matters
• Learn basic delivery skills
• Practice speaking without fear

Teaching Script: "Public speaking isn’t about being loud or dramatic—it’s about helping people understand what you think and why it matters."

Core Lessons

1. What Makes a Good Speaker - Strong speakers do four things well. Not perfectly — just well.

• Eye contact - Looking at people, not at the floor.
• Voice (volume, pace, pauses) - Speaking clearly, not rushing.
• Body language - Standing like you believe what you’re saying.
• Clear structure - Beginning, middle, end.

“Which one do you think is hardest?”

“Which one do you already do well?”

🎤 30-Second Introductions: You’ll each give a 30-second introduction. This is practice, not a performance.

“Tell us your name, favorite book/movie, and one opinion you have.”

After each:

“One thing you did well was…”

“One thing to try next time is…”

2. Types of Speeches

• Informative
• Persuasive
• Entertaining
• Argumentative (debate)

3. Fear & Confidence

• Teach the concept of speaker nerves = energy, not fear.
• Feeling nervous doesn’t mean you’re bad at speaking. It means your brain knows something important is happening. Our goal this week isn’t no nerves. It’s speaking anyway.

Activities

• 🎭 Emotion Read: Read the same sentence in different emotions (angry, excited, bored).
• 🪞 Mirror Practice: Practice posture and gestures.
• Reflection: What's one strength you already have going for you? What's one goal you have for this week?

Resources

• Kid-friendly article
• Video: “Public Speaking Tips for Kids” – TED-Ed Youth
• Blog: National Speech & Debate Association

🗓️ TUESDAY — Public Forum Debate (Case Building Day)

Debate is not yelling. Debate is organized disagreement. Today, you will argue a position you may or may not agree with — and that’s a skill.

Resolution 

Resolved: The United States should accede to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

That means: Should the U.S. officially join the International Criminal Court?

Teaching Script: “A debate resolution is a yes-or-no question. One side must prove why it should happen. The other proves why it should not.”

To do this, each side must prove:

• What they believe
• Why it matters
• Why its better than the other side

🧱 Debate Basics (Kid-Friendly Breakdown)

• Affirmative (yes): “We should do this because it solves problems.”
• Negative (no): “We should not do this because it causes harm or doesn’t work.”

"Why isn't just having an opinion enough?"

Step 1: Learn the Topic (Together)

Explain in simple terms:

• What is the ICC?
• What is the Rome Statute?
• Why hasn’t the U.S. joined?

Watch / Read Together

• Video (short & clear): ICC explained for students
• Article
• Student-friendly overview

Step 2: Coin Flip & Team Assignment

• Flip coin for Affirmative / Negative
• Assign:
• Speaker 1
• Speaker 2

Step 3: Case Writing (Scaffolded)

Case Template (Use for BOTH sides)

Every argument has three parts.

1. Introduction

• Restate the resolution
• Clearly say your position

2. Argument 1

• Claim - what you're saying
• Evidence (quote/fact) - proves it's true
• Impact (why it matters, why anyone should care)

3. Argument 2

• Claim
• Evidence (quote/fact)
• Impact (why it matters)

4. Conclusion

• Why your side is better overall

Prep Time Rule:⏱️ Each team gets 3 total minutes of prep time during the debate.

Model an example.

• “What does this prove?”
• “Why does that matter?”
• “Can you say this more clearly?”

🗓️ WEDNESDAY — Public Forum Debate Day

Today is about thinking on your feet, staying calm, and being respectful. You are not attacking people. You are challenging ideas.

Morning: Finish Writing

• Polish cases
• Practice timing
• Review crossfire questions

⏱️ Each team gets 3 total minutes of prep time during the debate.

Teaching Script for Crossfire: Crossfire isn’t arguing. It’s asking smart questions that expose weak points. They should do one of three things: clarify, expose a weakness, force a choice.

• “Where is your evidence for that?”
• “Does that apply in all cases, or just some?”
• “Which matters more: safety or independence?”

🧠 Debate Flow

• Constructive – Team A (4 min)
• Constructive – Team B (4 min)
• Crossfire (3 min)
• Rebuttals (4 min each)
• Crossfire (3 min)
• Summaries (3 min each)
• Grand Crossfire (3 min)
• Final Focus (2 min each)

📌 Judge Tip for You:

Judge on:

• Clarity
• Use of evidence
• Organization
• Persuasiveness
• Respectful questioning
• Strong final focus

After Dinner: Debate Night

• Optional: invite family as audience
• Applause after every speech

Post-Debate Reflection

Ask:

• “What argument mattered most?”
• “What question changed the debate?”
• “What would you improve next time?”

🗓️ THURSDAY — Individual Speech Events

Teaching Script: “Debate is teamwork. Individual events are about your voice. Today, you choose how you want to communicate.”

🎭 Individual Events Mini-Lessons

Dramatic Interpretation (DI)

• Serious excerpt from a book/play
• Show emotion through voice & movement
• Your goal is to make us feel something.

📘 Practice Source

Duo Interpretation (DUO)

• Two performers
• No touching or eye contact
• Use blocking and contrast

Humorous Interpretation (HI)

• Funny but controlled
• Comedy is about timing, not chaos

Impromptu (IMP)

You'll get a topic, take a breath, and organize your thoughts. Everyone messes up in impromptu. That's the point.

🎩 Pull a topic from a hat:

• “Should homework exist?”
• “Is technology good for kids?”
• “What makes a hero?”

Structure:

• Intro (30 sec)
• Point 1
• Point 2
• Conclusion

Original Oratory (OO)

• 3–5 minutes
• Persuasive speech on a topic they care about

Possible Topics:

• Screen time
• Animal rights
• School rules
• Climate action
• Social media

🗓️ FRIDAY — Memorization & Performance Night

Morning

• Memorize OO
• Practice gestures and pauses

Teaching Script: “Memorization frees your brain to connect with the audience.”

Practice tips:

• Chunking
• Speaking while walking
• Speaking without notes for short sections

Evening: Performance Showcase

"Tonight isn’t about perfection. It’s about courage. We clap for effort, growth, and bravery.”

Each child performs:

• Original Oratory
• One interpretation OR impromptu

“What was one strong moment?”

“What improved since Monday?”

🎤 Optional Awards:

• Best Speaker
• Most Improved
• Strongest Argument
• Best Stage Presence

This week, you learned how to:

• Speak clearly
• Defend ideas
• Disagree respectfully
• Stand up and be heard

Those skills matter everywhere — school, work, and life.

Hand out Debate Camp Certificates.

🗓️ SATURDAY — Field Trip

• 🎙️ Toastmasters Youth Event (if available)
• 🏛️ Courthouse Observation (mock or real)

📚 Bonus Resources (Excellent for This Age)

• National Speech & Debate Association (student resources)
• Debate drills & videos
• Public speaking games for kids