Thurston Middle School awarded funds for forensic/mock trial project

Thurston Middle School was one of 15 Orange County schools to receive a grant from Cox Communications to fund programs on digital literacy, cyber citizenship — responsibly using the Internet — and STEAM, an acronym for science, technology, engineering, art/design and mathematics.

Cox awarded $52,000 in Innovation in Education grants.

Thurston history teacher Michelle Martinez will use $5,000 for curriculum and instructional materials for a forensic/mock trial project on Richard III and the Battle of Bosworth, the last major conflict of an English civil war in 1485.

Martinez formed an after-school forensic/mock trial club that includes 40 students in grades six through eight.

With help from Martinez’s daughter Noelle, a Baylor University anthropology major who is minoring in forensic science, students will learn how to analyze evidence gathered at crime scenes and prepare a case for a mock trial scheduled for May.

Last spring, Martinez and former colleague Kelly Skon teamed on a project that depicted the American colony Jamestown. Students dug for remains on campus, built a case and held a trial in front of students and teachers.

Skon left Thurston to become Saddleback Valley Unified’s STEM/math coordinator, thus Martinez formed the club to keep the program going. Martinez will work with Thurston English teacher Leah Prettyman on this year’s unit.

Thirty-five of the club’s 40 students are girls, which Martinez said “is a great testimony to girls interested in STEM and science.”

Principals, administrators and teachers submitted grant applications for innovative classroom projects focused on skills-based learning.