Who Says Today’s Students Don’t Have a Clue About School?

Felix Navidad is dead, four suspects have been identified, and seventh-grade students at Washington Middle School are on the case.

“I think Vera Cruise killed Felix,” 12-year-old Eric Choi said. Classmate Maria Resendis, 12, pointed to Kendra Goode as the culprit. Zena Nino, 12, said she thinks Navidad killed himself.

The students are participating in a two-week mock crime scene investigation that incorporates lessons in science, math, reading and language arts. “Mystery Festival” was devised by Washington’s teachers, who modeled the program after one in a teaching guidebook.

“The project doesn’t have an ending, so the students have to examine the evidence and decide whether there was a crime committed and, if so, who did it,” language arts teacher Virginia Gosland said. “It’s a wonderful interdisciplinary lesson.”

On Monday, students pored over evidence found at the crime scene, which was marked off by yellow police tape in the middle of the school science lab.

“This is so fun that it doesn’t seem like we’re in class,” 13-year-old Sergio Garcia said, while analyzing hair samples.

Across the lab, Lorena Abarca, 13, scrutinized a fingerprint on a plastic cup. “We’re learning how to put things together and figure out problems,” she said.

Today, science teacher Teri Glancy said, the pupils will go over their notes and start preparing briefs for mock trials in the case.

She said the project has increased student enthusiasm for learning.

“They are saying, ‘Oh, yeah, we do need all these subjects,’ ” she said.