Activity
Center for Technology in Teaching and Learning

CSI: The Experience - Family Forensics

For Students 6th - 12th Standards
Forensic scientists depend on their observation skills to analyze evidence down to the molecular level. Middle and high schoolers practice making observations and predictions with a series of crime scene activities, which includes a...
Unit Plan
Intel

Forensics: Get a Clue

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Although the methods are all scientific, forensic science was started by police officers rather than scientists, who relied on observation and common sense. Young detectives use many tools to solve crimes around the school in a...
Activity
Tutor 2 U

Plan for the Murder Solving Lesson

For Teachers 8th - 12th
It's a classic case of whodunnit - with a forensic twist! Learners observe a crime scene and compile evidence, along with emergency phone calls, fingerprints, and interview statements to find the criminal and solve the crime.
Lesson Plan
Towson University

The Wildlife Forensics Lab

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Can science put an end to the poaching of endangered species? Show your young forensic experts how biotechnology can help save wildlife through an exciting electrophoresis lab. Grouped pupils analyze shark DNA to determine if it came...
Activity
1
1
Teach Engineering

DNA Forensics and Color Pigments

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Use food coloring in electrophoresis. The last segment in a four-part series mimics DNA fingerprinting by using chromatography. Teams conduct chromatography on food coloring to find colors that use similar pigmentation in their makeup.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Measurable You!

For Teachers 6th - 11th
Conduct guided experiments and discussions while collecting anthropometric measurements. Your class will explore impact of experimental errors in a scientific system, and explain their observations/findings in writing. An introduction to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Human Fingerprints: No Two the Same

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders explore scientific observations by analyzing a group of data. In this fingerprint identification lesson, 6th graders identify the reasoning behind fingerprinting and create their own ink fingerprints. Students discuss the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Close Encounters

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate the cause of death of a fictitious school janitor. They develop hypotheses based on information discovered by examining the labels of household chemicals.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Human Fingerprints: No Two The Same

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Learners will be offered numerous opportunities to further enhance their observational skills as well as the integration of math with their continual exposure to the metric system, measurement, and graphing to represent their data....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hunt for the Serial Arsonist

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Learners prepare study, and graph fingerprint patterns. They create latent fingerprints and look for common features in their prints for classification.In addition, they create a graph showing the distribution of different patterns...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Infrared Spectroscopy in Forensic Chip Analysis

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students analyze spectrums as related to forensics. In this chemistry lesson, students define spectroscopy and discuss its use in chemistry. They discuss how the Forensic Paint Chip is used to help solve crimes.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Super Glue Fuming of Latent Fingerprints

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Young scholars explore latent fingerprinting. They observe a supervised demonstration of the process that real-life crime scene investigators sometimes use to identify latent fingerprints. In addition, they brainstorm ways to improve the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Applied Science - Science and Math Lab

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Students examine fabric. In this Applied Science lesson, students look at the fibers of fabric through a microscope. Students compare and contrast a variety of fibers.
Lesson Plan
Cornell University

Plant Cell Crime Scene

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Use science to solve the mystery of the Poplar murder. Pupils use forensic botany to determine if a suspect could be the killer. By analyzing images from a Transmission Electron Microscope, learners determine if the material found on the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bloodstain Pattern Simulations: A Physical Analysis

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students receive bloodstain pattern evidence from a crime scene. They answer a series of questions through inquiry, observation, measurement, and analysis. Pupils complete this challenge, by reconstructing the evidence through four...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Science: Entomology in Action

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Young scholars discover how coroners use insect life cycles to estimate the time of death in cases. they describe how forensic entomologists combine environmental factors with insect life cycles to note the changes. Students examine an...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

CSI, Second Grade Style

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders conduct a classroom investigation. In this investigative instructional activity, 2nd graders spend their time observing, measuring, and collecting data. They simulate a forensic science lab by conducting a fingerprint,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Murder Mystery

For Teachers 4th - 12th
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.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Archaeological Detectives

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students, in groups, examine in depth one aspect of forensic archaeology to determine the skeleton's age, gender, and possible cause of death. To do so, students must first explain what is involved in each aspect of forensic archaeology.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Splatter Spread

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students assemble a potato cannon following directions. In groups, they analyze the spread pattern of paint soaked projectiles and discover the relationship between scatter and distance. They role play the role of a forensic scientist...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Biotechnology: Drug Delivery and Diffusion

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars discover advances in biomedical technology such as transdermal delivery and other non-invasive procedures. In lab activities, they examine how medication is given and how molecules travel, observe electrophoresis, and...
Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Properties of Minerals

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers explore the basic building blocks of our planet.  In this minerals lesson students begin the process of forensics on the basis of investigation and drawing conclusions from observations. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Is It?!

For Teachers 4th
Working individually or in groups, 4th graders are presented with unusual or at least unfamiliar objects and are asked to speculate on what they are and/or how they are used. The intention is to get students to make careful observations...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Biology: Howler Monkeys Tell All

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners examine a PBS special about howler monkeys as an introduction to scientific forensic investigative methods. In groups, they conduct a host of experiments containing clues which point to discovery. By challenging assumptions,...