Forensic Science and Intro to Law & Public Safety students participate in mock trial thanks to ONE Gas grant through Lansing Educational Foundation (VIDEO)
Mr. Don Allen's Forensic Science students and Mrs. Megan Bone's Intro to Law and Public Safety students have spent the past several days in a mock trial in the library of Lansing High School.
Earlier this school year, the Forensic Science students were presented with a simulated crime scene where a person had been murdered. Mr. Allen's students then had to collect evidence such as fingerprints, blood spatter, and shell casings from the crime scene. Once all of the evidence was collected / analyzed and the cause of death was determined by the forensics science students, Mrs. Bones's students went to work making a case against an individual they believe was guilty of the crime.
The case was then brought to trial where Mrs. Bone had selected students as judge, lawyers, and jury to try the case. Mr. Allen's students were brought in as the forensic experts subpoenaed by the court to testify and help provide information about evidence collected at the scene.
Margaret Steele from ONEGas Foundation delivers $5,000 grant to Chris Aus, President of Lansing Educational Foundation
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This is the fourth year the teachers have collaborated with a mock trial. This year's activity was significantly enhanced thanks to a grant from ONE Gas Foundation written by Lansing Educational Foundation. Each school year, ONE Gas Foundation awards grants to be used toward STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education. The Lansing Educational Foundation wrote the grant last winter in hopes of obtaining more supplies for Mr. Allen's Forensic Science class this school year.
"We were beyond thrilled to find out ONE Gas had approved our grant for $5,000 to go towards Mr. Allen's class," said Ms. Christine Aus, President of Lansing Educational Foundation. "Forensics Science continues to be a student favorite offered to students at Lansing High School each semester."
Mr. Don Allen's Forensics Science class has benefited greatly from the grant this semester. The money was used to purchase materials such as fingerprinting kits, an electrophoresis lab station, bloodstain pattern analysis kits, and entomology kits. "We have been able to use the new equipment to significantly upgrade our testing capabilities within the classroom," said Mr. Allen. "We can now use an electrophoresis machine to get accurate DNA results and are able to use a variety of techniques to identify different types of blood splatter."
The Lansing School District is thrilled to see classes collaborating and bringing real life scenarios into the classroom. Great job Mr. Allen and Mrs. Bone and a huge thank you to ONE Gas Foundation and Lansing Educational Foundation!