Discovering Forensic Science in Literature Unit Study
King, the seventh grade science teacher, thought something was fishy as she walked down the hall and noticed that her door was open. For the younger set from PBS Kids. We quickly shifted into detective mode, to try to solve the mystery of who ate the birthday cake. What evidence do you think tipped us off? Kids Mysteries Mysteries to solve, scary stories, and magic tricks. It is now up to you to help them catch the thief and get home by conducting experiments and analyzing the evidence.
Who took a bite out of the candy? Sticky fingers have been found on the broken aquarium glass. Wet footprints lead to the open window. What is that powdery substance next to the broken piggy bank?
Answering these questions is what forensic science is all about. Through 40 projects and experiments, youngsters are encouraged to develop their skills of observation and creative thinking; investigate the scene of a crime; analyze evidence by means of chemistry; use biology to learn more about a crime; and analyze documents to solve it. Each project includes an introduction, a materials list, step-by-step procedures, questions, and an explanation. Notes on the need for adult help and safety cautions appear in bold print. Forensic Science for Kids by Karen Schulz More than 25 in-depth activities on fingerprinting, evidence collection, blood-stain identification, forensic careers, ballistics, and much more.
Real-Life Science Activities for the Elementary Grades by Pam Walker What could be more exciting than turning your students into super sleuths to discover scientific principles and techniques? This unique resource for classroom science teachers gives students the chance to become crime scene investigators with 60 exciting lessons and activity sheets in earth, life, and physical science as well as science inquiry and technology. Like real-life forensic scientists, students observe carefully, organize and record data, think critically, and conduct simple test to solve crimes ranging from theft and dog-napping to vandalism and water pollution.
And for added fun, original cartoon character Investi Gator enlivens the pages as he sleuths his way through each new mystery, sifting evidence and observing details. All 60 lessons and activities include complete background information with step-by-step procedures for the teacher and reproducible student worksheets. For easy use, all material is printed in a big spiral-bound format that fold flat for photocopying of any page as many times as needed and is organized into four convenient sections. For older kids, get Crime Scene Investigations: This full-color book offers advice for setting up an inexpensive home lab, and includes more than 50 hands-on lab sessions that deal with forensic science experiments in biology, chemistry, and physics.
You must be logged in to post a comment. A to Z Home's Cool, since , has been the premiere destination site for those researching homeschooling, those who have decided to homeschool and are now looking for new homeschool groups and friends, as well as for families looking for free and low-cost educational materials for their children, homeschooled or not. Also known fondly as "A2Z Homeschool" we have been expanding into social networking and mobile sites.
We are adding complete homeschool resources into our site for those who wish to pick and choose their homeschool curriculum freely. We are a religion-neutral homeschool site.
We help you understand all the options available in the world of homeschooling. Welcome to A2Z Homeschooling! Not a member yet? Crimes, Frauds, and Scandals. Step into the world of forensic science and study the most fascinating crimes and mysteries from the last two centuries in the 24 lectures of Forensic History: Professor Murray, a forensic anthropologist with nearly 30 years of experience in the field, has crafted lectures that are a remarkable blend of storytelling and science — a whirlwind tour that takes you from the gas-lit streets of Victorian London to small-town America.
Leave a Reply Cancel reply You must be logged in to post a comment. Holiday Gift Guide A PowerPoint is available to introduce the activity and challenge. Teacher information and a student worksheet are provided in the download. Bite Mark Evidence PDF - This activity allows students to practice making and analyzing bite mark impressions using stryrofoam plates and a variety of soft candy. This activity goes along with the material presented in the introductory presentation listed above.
For an illustration of the different facets of forensic science at work and if you don't mind a bit of gore , this is a fascinating collection. This is the main evidence from the crime scene. What contribution did each key player make to the advancement of the field? Photographs and profiles of all those involved and the use of courtroom testimony, letters, and diaries bring the case to life nearly years later. How can a biologist, a chemist, and a physicist help at a crime scene?
A PowerPoint is available for this activity. As with any lab involving food, be aware of any food allergies that may be a concern with your students. This unit includes an "up close" look at hairs and fibers using microscopes and an assortment of prepared slides. I created slide sets of 9 animal hairs and 6 fibers for students to use for this activity. A worksheet for this number of samples is also available. I printed several sets of this worksheet on card stock and laminated them to keep them for future classes.
I challenge the students to use their notes and observation pages to identify each one.
During this lesson students learn about the use of chromatography in crime investigations and use paper chromatography to test black markers. At the end of the unit, I use four of the tested markers to create a Mystery Pen challenge. The students test the four mystery markers and compare them to the samples they previously tested. The challenge is set up as a race to see which student team can be the first to correctly identify them. Chromatography Basics PDF - This two-sided handout replaces the student worksheet for the presentation. Also try this one Permanent Marker Chromatography - We used permanent markers and rubbing alcohol to "decorate" our lab aprons or white t-shirts that the students brought to class.
During this unit students learn about the basics of blood evidence. From the composition of blood and blood types to bloodstain pattern analysis, students investigate how blood evidence can be used in a crime investigation. I use simulated blood samples purchased from Ward's. Need a cheaper version of the Blood Typing Lab? The version listed below uses milk, vinegar, and water instead of the regular simulated blood kits available from the science supply companies. It does not include the lab sheets - you will need to print those out separately.
Blood Typing Booklet - Thanks to Christina Beatty for sharing her booklet that she uses with her students to help them understand blood typing. During this unit students learn about DNA and its use in forensic science. Other lessons and activities are listed below.
Crime Scene Activities, Books, and Investigations for Kids
Use their site search to find a wealth of resources! Also check out the online activites and information on the Forensic Science page at the Kid Zone. During this unit students learn about forensic entomology and its use in investigating crime scenes. I set up 6 "evidence" packets for each of the four cases - pipe cleaner samples of "maggots" and "pupae" along with a case card. I laminated the activity cards and students will use overhead markers to record their data and write the answers to the questions.
Forensic Entomology Unit - An excellent resource for junior high and high school students; includes background information, case studies, and a game involving forensic entomology. Entomology in Action - This lesson introduces students to the blow fly's life cycle and the accumulated degree hour ADH used by forensic entomologists for estimating the time of death. During this unit, students learn to identify the main bones in the human body as well as investigate the role of forensic anthropologists in crime solving.
The presentation includes links to several online videos along with other information and two activities.
- .
- Afghanistan: The Soviet War (Routledge Revivals);
- Forensic Detectives: Who Did It? | Free Lesson Plans | Teachers.
- .
- Par la piquage de mon pouce - Con la puntura del mio pollice (French and Italian) (French Edition).
Bag O' Bones - I purchased sets of bones from an online company for use with this activity. You will also need large butcher paper. Bone Challenge - I prepared several sets of the skeleton cut-outs. You will also need blindfolds for the students and timers.
Kids Discover - Bones Magazine - A great resource available from the Kids Discover store that provides a good background of information about bones, joints, and much more. I purchaed a set of 15 for the students to use in pairs and created a worksheet to use with the magazine. Through the help of our local fire department, students explore the basics of fire science and arson investigation.
I also include lessons on fire safety and reinforce the fact that playing with fires can cause major damage and deaths. If possible, have a member of your local fire department present a fire safety program for your students. The video is available at http: During this unit students investigate Newton's Laws of Motion to analyze an accident scene to determine the sequence of events that lead up to the accident, explain damage resulting from the accident, and "solve" cases. The Science of Collisions , which is geared towards the high school level, but several of the activities targeting Newton's Laws can be used at the junior high level.
Many of the lessons could also be incorporated into driver's education classes. Use the contact form on their website to see if your high school can receive the program for free! Scroll down the page to find the information. For this activity, teams of students use GSP receivers to find 10 "evidence" caches. Each cache contains a cache card with questions the students must answer or tasks they need complete.
Each cache has a different theme and relate to the material the students investigated during the camp. After a team completes a cache and has all the correct answers, they are provided with a clue card that will help them determine the next waypoint in the adventure. My Supply List - Includes links to the supply companies and item numbers along with the amounts of each I purchased for my classes.
Ward's - A large selection of resources for a forensic science class, including the Forensic Detectives Lab I use in my classes. I also purchase my simulated blood kits from them. Lynn Peavey - My source for fingerprint brushes and other fingerprinting equipment.
Good prices and service!
CSI for Kids
Precision Forensic Testing - Visit this site for an assortment of great kits for your forensic science program. Lesson Plan Links for Forensic Science Links to my favorite online resources for lesson plans, activities, and worksheets. Back to top Unit 1: