Science Sleuths: 60 Forensic Activities to Develop Critical Thinking and Inquiry Skills, Grades 4 - 8

Preface.

1. Stop, Look, and Listen: Using the Five Senses in Forensic Science.

Activity 1.1: Trained Eyes.

Activity 1.2: Up Close and Personal.

Activity 1.3: Quick Draw.

Activity 1.4: Get the Picture?

Activity 1.5: Sniffing Out the Solution.

Activity 1.6: Make a Note of It.

Activity 1.7: Handwriting Never Lies.

Activity 1.8: Comparative Handwriting Analysis.

Activity 1.9: In the Dark—Homework Assignment.

Activity 1.10: Secret Codes—Homework Assignment.

2. Inquiring Sleuths Want to Know: What to Ask and How to Remember at the Crime Scene.

Activity 2.1: Seeing Is Believing.

Activity 2.2: Are Eyewitnesses Accurate?

Activity 2.3: Train Your Brain.

Activity 2.4: Motive, Motive, Motive.

Activity 2.5: Just the Facts, Ma’am.

Activity 2.6: Which Came First?

Activity 2.7: The Missing Laptop.

Activity 2.8: A Picture-Perfect Mystery.

Activity 2.9: A License to Remember—Homework Assignment.

Activity 2.10: What Are Your Questions?—Homework Assignment.

3. Opening Up a Can of Worms: Using Earth Science in Crime Scene Investigations.

Activity 3.1: Finger the Felon.

Activity 3.2: Sealed with a Kiss.

Activity 3.3: The Invisible Prints.

Activity 3.4: If the Shoe Fits.

Activity 3.5: Earn Your Good Marks.

Activity 3.6: The Case of Blood Splatter.

Activity 3.7: Shattered Glass.

Activity 3.8: Dirty Evidence.

Activity 3.9: Fingerprint Frequency—Homework Assignment.

Activity 3.10: Tracking Down the Intruder—Homework Assignment.

4. When the Beaker Bubbles Over: Using Physical Science in Forensic Science.

Activity 4.1: Paper Detective.

Activity 4.2: Cookie Confusion.

Activity 4.3: Stick It to ‘Em.

Activity 4.4: Burning Evidence.

Activity 4.5: Gabby’s Gone.

Activity 4.6: Cutting Agents.

Activity 4.7: Floating Down the River.

Activity 4.8: Trouble on the Track.

Activity 4.9: Invisible Ink—Homework Assignment.

Activity 4.10: Skidding to a Stop—Homework Assignment.

5. Using the Logical in Biological: Applying Biology to Crime Scene Investigations.

Activity 5.1: Untangling a Hairy Dognapping.

Activity 5.2: Famous Freckles.

Activity 5.3: Checking It Twice.

Activity 5.4: Pointing Out the Poacher.

Activity 5.5: Green Evidence.

Activity 5.6: Tell-Tale Foot.

Activity 5.7: Detergent Deception.

Activity 5.8: Ruined Radishes.

Activity 5.9: The Eternal Onion—Homework Assignment.

Activity 5.10: Entomology Report—Homework Assignment.

6. It Was a Dark and Stormy Night: Solving Crime Through Critical Thinking and Problem Solving.

Activity 6.1: Scientific Detectives.

Activity 6.2: The Case of the Placido Murder.

Activity 6.3: The Case of the Oak Street Murder.

Activity 6.4: The Case of the Missing Crown.

Activity 6.5: The Case of the Crushed Cameras.

Activity 6.6: The Case of Star Trek Art.

Activity 6.7: The Case of the Atlanta Car Thefts.

Activity 6.8: The Budget Crunch.

Activity 6.9: Comparing Cases—Homework Assignment.

Activity 6.10: The Sherlock in You—Homework Assignment.

Glossary.

Resources for the Classroom.