Curated OER
Fiber Identification
Lab sheets for three different crime scene investigation activities are tucked into this resource. In the first activity, inquisitors examine a variety of fibers, including the fiber found at "the crime scene," under ultraviolet light....
Lesson Snips
Who Killed the Flowers?
This could be really good, or it could be really bad! The crime to be solved is, "Who went pee in the flowerpot?" Given four imitation urine samples, young chemists or crime scene investigators perform pH, glucose, and turbidity...
Curated OER
Using Plant Pigments to Link a Suspect to a Crime
Students use chromatography to separate plant pigments collected from a fictitious crime scene and suspects. They compare the Rf values of the plant pigments to determine whether the plant pigments found on any of the suspects match the...
Curated OER
Crime Scene Investigation - Biology Teaching Thesis
Students explore the different blood types, and are introduced to new knowledge through a crime scene simulated activity. They explore the genetics of blood types, and are introduced to immunology/diseases.
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Hairy Evidence! Hair Identification
Provide a mystery hair and a set of reference hair samples for middle school investigators to place on a slide and examine under a microscope. Materials and procedures are detailed on the first page, while a data table for drawing what...
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Lipstick Chromatography/Ink Chromatography
Junior crime scene investigators are instructed in two different chromatography exercises. For female suspects, they separate and compare lipstick pigments. For male suspects, they separate and compare ink samples. A data sheet is...
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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....
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Crime Scene Documentation
Students become forensic investigators. For this crime scene lesson, students go to the science lab which is the "scene of the crime." They collect evidence such as fingerprints, "blood" evidence, chromatography, footprints, and more.
Oregon State
Using Paper Chromatography
Through the analysis of paper chromatography to separate ink from the pen found at the crime scene, learners analyze the different stains and through calculations determine the thief.
Curated OER
Forensics Crime Lab
Students brainstorm ways to look for evidence and investigate suspects. For this investigative lesson students pretend to be investigators and analyze a crime scene.
Cornell University
Plant Cell Crime Scene
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...
Curated OER
CSI Podcasts
Students investigate crime scene scenarios to meet standards. In this crime scene scenario lesson, students gather background information during the first week. They investigate topics such as mammals, genetics, bacteria, or fungi. They...
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Solving Imaginary Crimes
High schoolers participate in a forensic science activity. In this crime solving lesson plan, students investigate fingerprints, and other crime scene evidence to solve an imaginary crime.
Curated OER
Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) with Powdery Mildew Fungi
Middle schoolers explore a specific method of identifying fungi, using a written key and an illustrated key. Powdery mildew fungi can be identified to genus by the morphology (appearance) of the sexual stage (cleistothecia).
Curated OER
Crime School Investigations
Students solve a mystery at their school. In this classifying lesson plan, students find suspects who committed the crime. Students categorize them into race, sex, and fingerprint type. Students show their results in graphs.
Curated OER
Flesh Eating Bugs, Moldy Corpses, The Trail of a Killer
Students read about how forensic entomologists use maggots to solve murders. In this forensic science lesson, students read an article and answer questions. They go to different websites about evidence and fingerprinting.
Curated OER
Who Did It?
Students explore how forensic science is used in criminal investigations. They learn that for the next few days that are going to try to solve a crime that took place in the classroom. Students are given a story to read about the crime...
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Biographical Scene Investigators
Sixth graders become members of the BSI in this research simulation. They apply for Biographical Scene Investigator membership, investigate an individual, keep an evidence notebook and write an investigator's report.
Curated OER
The Crittenden Conway Duel
Students explore primary and secondary sources. In this primary and secondary source lesson, students investigate a crime scene. Students search for evidence around the classroom and evaluate their findings. Students write a crime report...
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Who Done It?
Pick and choose which activities to include in this crime scene investigation. Junior detectives can examine fingerprints, DNA, blood samples, or bone structure. The plan suggests you have teams solve a mystery, but it does not...
Curated OER
Crime Scene Investigation: Hair Analysis Lab
Students participate in a hair analysis lab. Using a digital microscope, students compare and contrast hair samples. They determine if the hair samples are human or animal. After completing lab results sheets, students share their...
Curated OER
Investigation of Immigration
Students assume the role of a crime scene detective and examine the lives of various immigrant groups. In this immigration lesson, students examine evidence, websites, and pull from existing knowledge to determine which group they are...
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Zen and the Art of Murder
Students describe the importance of citizen involvement in the judicial system. They play the role of a witness to a crime scene by watching the video clip. Students discuss how differing eyewitness accounts can affect a police...
Curated OER
Super Glue Fuming of Latent Fingerprints
Students 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...