TMS Teacher Marianne Carus accepts the Hudson Kramer Memorial Grant from the Retired Educators of New York (RENY).
Troy Middle School teachers Lauren Oppelt and Marianne Carus recently received a $1,000 Hudson Kramer Memorial Grant for the crime scene investigation project they completed with their 7th-grade science classes in October. The grant is awarded by the New York State Retired Teachers Association, also known as Retired Educators of New York (RENY), every two years to assist educators in developing and implementing an innovative program or project.
The project involved a mock crime scene at TMS after an “altercation” in the building on a Sunday, when some staff heard screams and arguing. Witnesses later found several people unconscious in one of the hallways and a dark figure leaving down a staircase. Students then analyzed the crime scene, reviewed security camera footage, conducted interviews and processed evidence, including fingerprints, hair samples, and mock blood samples.
Students eventually solved the case and named a suspect in this great example of real-world instruction that kept students engaged and excited about their work. Congratulations Ms. Oppelt and Ms. Carus!