Worksheet
Curated OER

The Animals vs. Napoleon

For Students 10th - 11th
In this literature analysis worksheet, students read Animal Farm and complete a trial activity project based on the characters of the animals vs. Napoleon.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Body Tracing

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students pair up and trace each other's body outlines on roll paper with marker. Once complete, students fill in the inside of the figures with texture- lines, forms, shapes, colors, etc. Students cut out the figure.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Trace Evidence

For Students 6th - 8th
In this trace evidence worksheet, students use the websites on the forensic science page of the kid zone at http://sciencespot.net/ to complete the fill in the blank questions on the worksheet.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solving Mysteries Using Paper Chromotagraphy

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students solve the mystery of the kidnapped teacher by analyzing a ransom note using paper chromatography. They carefully prepare ink samples from the note to known ink samples to determine the kidnapper.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Sentence Completion 2: Low-Advanced SAT Level

For Students 8th - 10th
Contemplating a test-prep unit? A reading comprehension strategies session? Check out this sentence completion worksheet. After test takers try their hand at a sentence completion exercise, they can use the detailed answers and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lewis and Clark in Columbia River Country

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners interpret historical evidence presented in primary and secondary resources. In this research skills lesson, students research the death of Meriwether Lewis using forensic evidence presented in primary...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Blood, I Presume?

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students explain the value of blood in trials.  In this DNA lesson students work together to collect and share information and ideas that they come up with after learning how to distinguish blood from other stains. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Science Detectives

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders examine the differences between chemical and physical changes. As a class, they are read a scenerio and determine whether it was deliberate act or not. In groups, they observe the changes of an alka-seltzer tablet and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Density of Glass Fragments

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students explore how the density of an object is determined and determine what a "physical property" is. They demonstrate how science can be applied to police work.
Interactive
Curated OER

Dig Magazine Archeology Quiz #106

For Students 4th - 5th
In this Dig Magazine archeology quiz, students answer 12 multiple choice questions complementing the October 2009 issue. Page contains answer and additional resources link.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

DNA Fingerprinting

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students experiment with chromatography as a technique which is similar to electrophoresis that scientists use to identify DNA samples.
Article
Other

Crime Scene Investigation: Protecting the Crime Scene

For Students 9th - 10th
This brief but informative site examines how a crime scene should be protected with emphasis on the role of the first officer(s) to arrive. Points are made about the arrival of additional personnel, eating and drinking at the crime...
Article
Other

Crime Scene Investigator: Searching and Examining a Major Case Crime Scene

For Students 9th - 10th
An engrossing explanation of the appropriate behavior needed at a major crime scene. What should be done with the body? How is photography handled? What about fingerprinting? How are curious onlookers dealt with? The answers to the...
Website
Other

Crime Scene Investigation: Proper Tagging and Labeling of Evidence

For Students 9th - 10th
What is the purpose of tagging and labeling items of evidence? What information belongs on the tag? These questions are answered in this concise but competent site.
Website
Natural History Museum

Natural History Museum: On Maggots and Murders: Forensic Entomology [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
Five-page article explains how forensic scientists, when investigating crimes, analyze maggots and blowflies to determine approximate times of death.
Unit Plan
National Institutes of Health

National Library of Medicine: The 19th Century Revolution in Forensic Imaging

For Students 9th - 10th
In the 19th century, forensic pathologists began to use words and pictures to describe cadavers and to teach using cadavers in the classroom. See a number of interesting photos of various crime scenes on this interesting site.
Activity
National Health Museum

Access Excellence: Dna Detectives

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A hands-on activity from Access Excellence for advanced biology classes. Students are given a crime scenario and three suspects. Their mission is to determine 'Who Dunnit?' by obtaining and analyzing DNA samples. Requires extensive...
Website
PBS

Pbs: What Jennifer Saw

For Students 9th - 10th
How can eyewitness identification go wrong? What role can DNA play in protecting the innocent? This interesting site answers these questions and gets the opinions of several DNA experts on this fascinating subject.
Article
University of Missouri

Famous Trials: West Memphis Three Trials (1994)

For Students 9th - 10th
On a warm sunny May day three eight-year-old boys set off on a bike ride around their hometown of West Memphis, Arkansas. The next afternoon, their bruised and mutilated hog-tied naked bodies were pulled from a stream, setting off an...
Unit Plan
National Institutes of Health

National Library of Medicine: The Invention of Photomicrography

For Students 9th - 10th
The technique of photographing objects observed under a microscope is discussed in this succinct site. Various pictures taken under a microscope are displayed on this site as well.
Unit Plan
National Institutes of Health

National Library of Medicine: Reading Gunshot Patterns

For Students 9th - 10th
Various pictures of parts of the human anatomy showing gun shot trauma are found on this interesting site. .
Primary
PBS

Pbs: Interview With Bennett Gershman, Former Prosecutor

For Students 9th - 10th
Why does the criminal justice system resist reopening cases based on new DNA evidence? This former prosecutor sheds light on the answer in this informative interview.
Unit Plan
National Institutes of Health

National Library of Medicine: Spectral Detection

For Students 9th - 10th
This concise site provides a brief discussion of the invention of the first work spectroscopes and their impact on forensic science.