Of Mice and Men Comes to Life in the Classroom

Classroom 35 on the third floor of the Whitson Building bustled with district and defense attorneys, character witnesses, reporters, jury members, and a judge as seventh-grade students brought author John Steinbeck’s book, Of Mice and Men, to life in a mock trial presentation.

The mock trial is an extension of the collaborative, project-based learning objective by Middle School English teachers Allison Ehrenreich, Jose Martinez, and Mairead Duffy. The trial focused on the character of George Milton and his crimes against Lennie Small; specifically: first-degree murder. Students were presented with the questions, “How does justice determine justice? How does our perception of right and wrong allow us to make decisions?”

“One of the goals of the project is for students to understand how the court system works along with learning how to think critically and analyze information correctly,” said Ms. Ehrenreich. “It is rewarding to see how fully engaged the students are in the project as it helps them further develop multiple skills including reading comprehension, public speaking/communications skills, and critical thinking skills.”

 

To prepare for the trial, each student was assigned a specific role and had to develop convincing and persuasive arguments using the text as their primary source. The prosecution and defense had to convince the jury that their side was correct, while the witnesses used character descriptions to guide their testimony. Using law websites that explain the flow of a trial and its process step-by-step, students conducted research and built out their theories and questions for their respective sides.

On the day of the trial, students dressed for their respective roles and were ready for the case to begin with Ms. Ehrenreich, Mr.Martinez, and Mrs. Duffy serving as judges. Each side had between five to seven minutes to present their arguments and ask questions before the verdict was decided. The final verdict in all three classes was that George was guilty of murder.

Students were graded on their team work and preparation as an attorney for the plaintiff or defense, the claims presented, cross-examination of the witness for the opposition, closing statements, and courtroom behavior. Additionally, knowledge of the novel and their character essays were part of the overall grade. 

Ms. Ehrenreich noted that the students really enjoy the project, and project-based learning allows students to work collaboratively while taking ownership of their individual part that helps them grow as lifelong learners.