Dartmouth High School students tackled topics including fair trade, women in government, and poetry during a school-wide presentation that resembled TED Talks.

Eighteen students — spanning from their sophomore to senior years — voluntarily presented a 10-minute speech, equipped with a script and powerpoint on March 8.

The “Find the missing pieces” assignment aligned with National Foreign Language Week, explained Teacher Hilary Sousa. The presentations were given in English, but culture was a big theme in many of them, she said.

"Students really enjoy hearing from their peers and learning from them," she said, calling the event a success. The TED Talks build research and public speaking skills, teachers said.

Teachers initiated the TED Talks at the high school last year, although the assignment is not original. Friends Academy presented its own TED Talk assignment in February.

TED Talks are lectures series given by authorities on varying topics.