Curated OER
Police patrol the city's garbage
Students debate the pros and cons of police searching the trash of suspected drug dealers. Students collect background information, and students interview city officials and garbage collectors. Students develop a strategic plan for...
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Lesson One: Lifting Latent Fingerprints
Crime scene investigators practice collecting fingerprints off of surfaces in order to compare them to an imaginary crime suspect's prints. Instructions for using graphite powder and a Zephyr brush to collect the evidence are outlined....
101 Questions
Bone Collector
Feel like a detective yet? Pupils first watch a brief clip from the movie The Bone Collector. Using a photo of the suspect's footprint next to a dollar bill, they then use proportions to determine the size of the suspect's shoe.
Curated OER
Write It, Read It, Solve It
Writers create an original mystery and have a chance to put it into movie format. The classic elements of a mystery must be present: the crime, the suspects, the motive, the solution and clues. Use iPhoto and Quicktime Movie to integrate...
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Three is a Toxic Number
Future public health advocates read a case study of a combination of water pollutants that may be linked to autism. The class is split into three groups, one to research each of the suspected chemicals. The look at how each one affects...
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Who Ate The Cheese?!
In this crime scene investigation worksheet, students simulate DNA sequencing and DNA restriction analysis using paper strips of DNA. Students compare the crime scene DNA to the suspects and determine who is guilty.
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Balance of (Nuclear) Power
Students research the 11 nations that are either known or suspected to have nuclear weapons. They draft treaties to effect nuclear non-proliferation or disarmament among these 11 countries.
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The Case of Similar Substances
Middle schoolers solve a crime mystery using chemical tests. They review the crime scenario and then become familiar with the procedure and results for two tests used to identify unknown powders. They perform the tests on the crime...
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Explosive Knowledge
Young scholars examine China's suspected theft of American nuclear secrets, as a springboard for the creation of a research-based, multi-tiered timeline that traces the development, regulation, and use of nuclear weapons from the 1940's...
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Innovations in Elder Care
Students describe the symptoms and suspected causes of Alzheimer's disease or cancer. They describe current research projects seeking to learn more about or find treatments for either Alzheimer's disease or cancer. Students compare...
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Murder Mystery
High schoolers examine how to capture foot prints while they simulate a criminal investigation. They discover how the clues are needed for identifying or eliminating murder suspects.
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USING TORTURE ON SUSPECTED TERRORISTS
Learners examine how most countries prohibit torture. They explore why torture is still considered a possible tool for preventing future losses of innocent life. They discuss some of the facts, the mis-perceptions, the arguments, and the...
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Suspect Sources at the Republican Debate
Students review statements made during a 2007 Republican presidential for factual references. They research the statements for accuracy using internet resources. Students also examine the stated purpose of the websites used to fact check...
Towson University
Case of the Crown Jewels
Can your biology class crack the Case of the Crown Jewels? Junior forensics experts try their hands at DNA restriction analysis in an exciting lab activity. The lesson introduces the concept of restriction analysis, teaches pipetting and...
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Predicting a Mystery's Solution
Awarded the 1998 Edgar Award for Best Children's Mystery, Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Thief offers readers a chance to hone their predictive and deductive skills along with Sammy Keyes, who the Midwest Children's Book Review calls "the...
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Mystery Writing Lesson Plans
Introduce your class to the genre of mystery. Included is a vocabulary list, a rubric, and a sample mystery story called "Lethal Lesson." There are very limited directions on what to do with these resources, so you will need to plan some...
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Forensics Crime Lab
Students brainstorm ways to look for evidence and investigate suspects. In this investigative instructional activity students pretend to be investigators and analyze a crime scene.
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Character's Motive
Sixth graders determine a character's motive while reading a text. In this motive lesson, 6th graders discuss motivation and how that can impact a character's actions. Students read passages about suspects and try to solve a crime while...
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Character's Motive
Create a list of possible suspects for a crime based upon each character's motivation. Middle schoolers discuss the motives of each main character in The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin. This lesson is part of a larger unit on this novel.
Manitoba Education and Early Childhood Learning
Forensic Sciences: A Crime Scene Investigation Unit
Mr. Bergman has been murdered and we need you to solve the crime! The cross-curricular unit covers 11 different types of forensic science and includes 17 activities. Scholars perform blood type analysis, blood spatter analysis, height...
Cornell University
Forensic Science: Case of the Missing Diamond Maker
Someone stole a diamond-making machine. Who done it? Scholars use forensic science at six different stations to determine the culprit. They analyze fingerprints, use their senses, and complete chemistry experiments to determine the...
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Do Suspected Enemies Have Rights?
Students investigate the history of Japanese immigration. They complete an online Webquest, explore various websites, answer discussion questions, and locate and read newspaper articles about enemy compatants.
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Using Torture on Suspected Terrorists
Students asses the ethical, ideological, and political advantages both domestically and internationally. They analyze if it is beneficial to have terrorists share information or not and consider what is fair or unfair punishment for...
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Explosives
Pupils assume the role of police detectives and investigate chemical agents used to make explosives and suspected terrorists based on information provided. Students have a list of questions to lead their investigation and must produce...