Students investigate an inspirational leader to answer the question, “What challenges did this leader face, and how did they respond?” while building research, speaking, and discussion skills. They choose a leader, identify a major challenge, and use 2–3 reliable sources plus a family or community interview to connect leadership traits to real life. Through partner feedback, daily reflection, and a final gallery walk presentation with slides and a short speech, students communicate what they learned about leadership and how they grew as researchers and speakers.

Students will develop focused research questions about an inspirational leader, locate 2–3 reliable sources, and determine how the leader’s biggest challenge connects to their actions and impact. They will analyze the leader’s responses to setbacks, identify three leadership traits supported by evidence, and compare those traits with leadership they notice in their families or community through interview-based connections. Students will strengthen communication by discussing ideas with partners, revising their thinking after feedback, and delivering a clear 2–3 minute speech with supporting slides for an authentic audience. They will also reflect on how they are growing as researchers, speakers, and collaborators by naming specific academic and social skills they practiced.

Students will create a research planning page with a self-generated question, source list, and notes on the leader’s biggest challenge, response, and three leadership traits, then use a quick partner feedback check to revise for clarity. They will also complete a short community connection interview with a family member or mentor to compare their chosen leader’s traits with leadership they see locally. The final product is a two-part presentation package: a few slides plus a written 2–3 minute speech explaining the leader’s challenge, how they responded, and why they are inspiring. For the Inspiration Gallery Walk, students will display their slides at a station, deliver their speech, answer one audience question about how they grew as researchers and speakers, and collect written feedback notes from classmates and guests.

Start with a Mystery Leader Match-Up using short, high-interest profiles of real leaders; in teams, students match each profile to likely challenges, responses, and leadership strengths, then connect each one to examples of leadership they see at school, home, or in the community. Invite a family member or community mentor to briefly share about a leader they admire so students hear how leadership shows up in everyday life. Close with a quick whole-class discussion around the question, “What challenges did this leader face, and how did they respond?” and have students jot one leader they may want to research and why.

Host an Inspiration Gallery Walk where students post their slides around the room and stand by their display to deliver a 2–3 minute speech about their leader’s biggest challenge, how they responded, and three leadership traits. Invite classmates, families, and community mentors to rotate through stations, ask questions, and leave written notes that name strong evidence, clear speaking moves, and connections to leadership in the community. Include a brief interview corner or display prompt where students share one way a family member or mentor helped them compare their leader to real-life leadership they see around them. Close with one audience question at each station about how the student grew as a researcher and speaker so the exhibition celebrates both the final product and the learning process.