Reaching a verdict: Pine Trail Elementary gifted students learn about judicial branch with mock trial

The third grade students tried the case of Goldilocks and the three bears on Friday, Oct. 24.

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Did Goldilocks use bad manners when she entered the home of the three bears?

A jury of her Pine Trail Elementary peers found her guilty on Friday, Oct. 24, during a mock trial of the fairy tale at the S. James Foxman Justice Center in Daytona Beach. The mock trial was part of a school field trip for second and third grade gifted students at PTE, who are currently studying government in their classes.

Third grade teacher Dusty Buck said it took some time for the jury to reach a unanimous decision during their deliberations. Initially, jurors were at a 10-2 verdict of guilt. One juror changed his mind after five minutes of discussion, and the final one needed a bit more convincing. 

"I feel like that experience really helped the jury members realize just how important their role is in the judicial process," Buck said. "After we returned back to school, we also discussed why it is so important to pay attention as a jury member as the little details are ultimately what let to their verdict."

This is the second year Buck has brought her students to the courthouse for a mock trial, in which third graders act out the roles and second graders observe. 

Last year, the students examined a case based on the "Lion King." It resulted in a hung jury, a mistrial. 

Judge Richard Orfinger, of the Fifth District Court of Appeal, has conducted mock trials with students about 40-50 times over his 34 years on the bench. It's a chance for him to share his enthusiasm for the law, he said. 

"A lot of kids walk out saying, 'I want to be a lawyer,'" Orfinger said. "I don't know how many follow through, but it's nice to give them that enthusiasm."

Plus, it's a chance to show kids how the court system works, he added, and learn about the three branches of government — executive, legislative, and of course, judicial. 

"It's important for the kids to understand at least this branch, and hopefully the executive and legislative branch do things with students as well that demonstrate their roles," Orfinger said.

The mock trial is also a good opportunity, Buck said, to have students put their reading skills to the test as they go through their script.

"You could really tell the personality of the kids coming out," Buck said. "They really put themselves into the role and because they're strong readers, they were able to apply that." 

Orfinger and two attorneys were at PTE last week going through the speaking parts with the students. Last year, his grandson was part of the mock trial. This year, his granddaughter got to watch with her second grade peers. 

"We're just thankful for the opportunity to enrich the kids because that is one of the things that sometimes gets missed in the school system, so being able to take them out of the classroom and show them real life opportunities, I think, is a big deal," Buck said.

Teachers and schools interested in mock trials should visit https://circuit7.org/tours-speakers-bureau.

 

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