Fun with Forensics

Have you ever wondered what a crime scene investigator actually does? How the evidence was collected, or how they find some of the things that most people wouldn't have? How do they know what to look for and where to find all of the small things? How do they keep it all organized? Join me as we adventure through crime scenes, take a look at and learn how to analyze several different types of evidence. We will look at interrogations and discover why detectives ask the questions they do. We will explore the basics of crime scene investigation and forensic science and use our new skills to solve a few crimes that are plaguing our great city!

Each week is about 2.5 hours long. I planned extra content because of the students' ability to catch on quickly. For the cases in weeks two, three, and four. I will make a master files folder that I will store everything in like I am a student

Week 1:  Introduction to CSI- 

1. Discuss what a crime scene investigator is and understanding their career.

2. Introduction to Crime scene basics

3. CSI and Forensics specific vocabulary

4. Humpty Dumpty Activity

• Crime Scene Protocol

• Process Evidence, Understanding motive 

• What happened?

• Forensic Mystery

• Cryptic Communication

• Write your own communications using “Pig Pen” code

• Ex. The name of someone you look up to and why?

1. Fingerprints are Whorls of Fun Activity

• Record your data

• Use your skills

    *Extra time for at least two mini-games, etc.    

    Final: Recap of the week. 

        Come up with a crime of your own. 

        Wanted Poster

Week 2:  Take a look at wanted posters and stories that the students came up with. Let everyone show the class.

Introduction to Trace Evidence and Interviewing eye witnesses- 

1. What does trace evidence include?

2. How is most of it collected or found?

3. Working with witnesses.

4. Dirt test presentation

5. Hoagie Hoax Activity

• Crime Scene Protocol

• Process Evidence, Motive

• What happened?

• Interviewing

• Witness 1

• Witness 2

• Newsletter, possible motive

• Evidence: Electronic devices

• Evidence: Desk Items

• Evidence: Napkin (Math game)

• Evidence: Dirt

    *Extra time for mini-games (vocabulary)

    Final: Recap – Who and why?

        Add supporting details to your story, ex. Evidence, eye witnesses, etc.

Week 3:  Students will present their crime stories. Quickly review crime scene basics, students will do a little more guiding their own thoughts this week.

1. Trace evidence with powders – Teacher presentation (chemical reactions)

2. Introduction to methods of crime scene walking.

3. Interrogation

4. Jinxed Jersey – Mystery

• Crime Scene Protocol

• Process Evidence, Motive using logical reasoning

• Logic puzzle

• Football Facts

• What Happened?

• Jinxed Jersey notes

• Hotel Manager Interview

• Profiles

• Alibis

• Evidence:

• Powder

• Computer Font

    Final: Recap – Who did it, why? What new things did we learn?

        Draw and color or use software/apps to come up with a visual of your crime.

        Make sure all of your evidence and witness statements makes sense.

        Be ready for a short (approx. 5 minutes) presentation of your story next week.

Week 4:  Students will show the visualization of their own crime stories. (The first day of this week will be for The Candy Conundrum, the second for short presentations of students own crime stories following the same steps that we have over the last few weeks.)

Candy Conundrum – Involves a higher order of thinking including 1. applying and compiling clues 2.  analyzing and examine information 3. create, imagine and make inferences 4. evaluate information as a whole and make an educated judgment on guilt.

1. Candy Test – Teacher Presentation 

2. Activity 1 – Process the Evidence, understand the crime scene.

3. Activity 2 – Restate the details in your own words.

4. Activity 3 – Ways to organize your information as a detective 

5. Activity 4 – Analyze statements

6. Activity 5 – Investigate and categorize Mrs. Conundrum's notes

7. Activity 6 – Logic Puzzle – Suspects names and candy

8. Activity 7 – Analyze, Investigate, Record Data Observations, Use deductive logic 

    Student Presentation of their own crime: We have read the stories, now walk us through and show us what you found out!