During the 2006-2007 school year I started teaching a 9-week course on Forensic Science as one of our 8th grade activity classes. A brief outline is available in PDF format - Quarter Outline. Listed below are the powerpoints, worksheets, and other resources I use during the class. I have a SmartBoard in my classroom and many of the presentations (unit and review) are set up so students can help me fill in the answers as we discuss the notes or while they check their worksheets. Please e-mail me if you have any questions.

Attention Illinois Science Teachers ... I will be presenting my Forensic Science unit at the Illinois Science Teachers Association conference. Join me for this session on Friday, November 14th at 9:00 AM in room 210 at the Peoria Convention Center.

Daily CSI Challenges

I created Daily CSI Challenges for this class to target observation and problem solving skills as well as incorporate trivia to review class material or highlight historical cases and people. Students use a Daily CSI bookmarks (PDF) to record their answers and I grade the bookmarks at the end of each week.

All the weekly files listed below right are set up as PowerPoint presentations with challenges for all five days of that week. The first slide for each week includes the names of the days of the week, which are hyperlinks to the slides with the daily challenge for each day. Sources are noted on the individual presentations.

Challenges:  Monday challenges are word games, vocabulary, or mystery pictures. Tuesday and Thursday challenges are "spot the differences" puzzles. Wednesday challenges are mini-mysteries. Friday challenges are trivia question sets.	Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5	Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Week 9

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Unit 1: Crime Scene Basics

During this unit students learn basic vocabulary associated with crime scene analysis as well as explore the role of eyewitness accounts and the use FACES software to create facial composites (see the list of supply companies at the bottom of this page.). They also get a chance to investigate a crime through the CHIN Interactive Investigator website, which helps to introduce them to many of the topics we discuss throughout the quarter-long class.

Presentation:  Crime Scene Basics (PPT)
Worksheet: Crime Scene Basics (PDF)

Presentation: Eyewitness Basics (PPT)
Worksheets: 
Eyewitness Basics (PDF)
Classroom Quiz (PDF) or Classroom Quiz (DOC) -You will need to modify the "Now You See It" worksheet for your classroom and edit the answer key on the Eyewitness Basics presentation.

Other Worksheets:
Forensic Science A to Z Challenge (PDF) - Students must use clues to identify forensic science terms and then find them in a "bent word" style word search. They use the letters that remain in the puzzle to figure out a mystery word.
CHIN - Interactive Investigator (PDF) - An answer key is provided for this worksheet. This site is listed on the Forensic Science page at the Kid Zone
United Streaming: Forensics Movie Worksheet (PDF)- Students complete this worksheet as they watch the United Streaming movie titled "Life Science: Forensics"
Unit 1 Review Worksheet (PDF) and Unit 1 Review PowerPoint (PPT)
Unit 1 Quiz (PDF)

Other resources:
Court TV Choices & Consequences - I use the "Zen and the Art of Murder" clip from this series as part of the discussion on eyewitness testimony. The video is available through the Court TV online store.
CSI Effect - A good article to start a discussion on real forensic science vs. TV versions.

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Unit 2: Power of Evidence

During this unit students explore the various types of physical evidence that can be found at a crime scene and learn how they are used to help investigators.

Presentation: Power of Evidence (PPT)
Worksheet: Power of Evidence (PDF)

Other worksheets:
Trace Evidence Online (PDF)- UPDATED OCT 2008 - Visit the Forensic Science page at the Kid Zone for the sites.
Power of Evidence Challenge (PDF) - Challenge your students to this word search/scramble using terms discussed in the Power of Evidence presentation.
United Streaming: Value of Evidence Movie Worksheet (PDF)- Students complete this worksheet as they watch the United Streaming video segment titled "Value of Evidence" It is a segment from the "Forensic Detectives: Mysteries & Solutions" movie.
Forensic Files - Tourist Trap Episode (PDF) - Students complete this worksheet as they watch the Tourist Trap episode from Forensic Files DVD. The DVD set is available from Amazon and other online DVD stores.
Forensic Files - Past Lives (PDF) - Students complete this worksheet as they watch the Past Lives episode from Forensic Files DVD.
Power of Evidence Review (PDF) and Power of Evidence Review PowerPoint (PPT)
Power of Evidence Quiz (PDF)

Other activities:

Christmas Cookie Mystery - Use this lesson listed on the Chemistry Lessons page to investigate white powders. The lesson can be adapted to fit any holiday in order to be used at other times of the year.

Tire Tracks (PDF) - This lesson idea was submitted by Sandy Powell, a member of the Middle School Science Yahoo Group. The activity challenges students to match tire tracks of 8-10 small toy cars. Teacher information and a worksheet are provided in the download.
Tire Tracks PPT and Student Worksheet - I use this presentation before completing the tire tracks lab.

Hairs & Fibers (PPT) - I use this presentation to introduce the use of hairs and fibers as evidence. This unit includes an "up close" look at hairs and fibers using microscopes and an assortment of prepared slides. At the end of the lesson, I create four mystery slides using the hair and fiber samples from the labs and challenge students to correctly identify them.
Worksheets:
Hairs & Fibers (PDF) - Student worksheet for the presentation
Hair Lab (PDF) - Includes teacher note
Hair ID Guide (PDF) - Includes teacher notes
Fiber Lab (PDF) - Includes teacher notes
Hair & Fiber Challenge (PDF) - I used my microscope camera to capture images of the various hairs and fibers the students observed in class. I printed several sets of this worksheet on card stock and laminated them to keep them for future classes. I challenge the students to use their notes and observation pages to identify each one.

Chromatography (PPT) - During this lesson students learn about the use of chromatography in crime investigations and use paper chromatography to test black markers. At the end of the unit, I use four of the tested markers to create a Mystery Pen challenge. The students test the four mystery markers and compare them to the samples they previously tested. The challenge is set up as a race to see which student team can be the first to correctly identify them.
Worksheet: Chromatography (PDF)

Other resources: Permanent Marker Chromatography - We used permanent markers and rubbing alcohol to "decorate" our lab aprons.

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Unit 3: Fingerprint Basics

During this unit students learn how to identify the different fingerprint patterns as well as other details that help investigators match fingerprints. They are able to practice making and lifting prints and are challenged to match unknown and known in the Fingerprint Challenge. I purchased ink pads, black powder, brushes, and other materials to make several kits to allow students to work in small groups. See the list of supply companies at the bottom of this page.

Presentation #1: Fingerprint Basics (PPT)
Worksheets: Fingerprint Basics (PDF), My Prints (PDF)

Fingerprint Analysis (PPT) - I use this activity with my students to analyze the distribution of fingerprint patterns in each class. After students complete the My Prints worksheet and classify their prints, they complete the top section of the Fingerprint Analysis worksheet. We calculate the percentages for each pattern and discuss how it relates to the expected percentages presented in class. We also analyze the distrubution of patterns for males vs. females and discuss the results after students have completed the bottom section of the worksheet.

Presentation #2: Ridgeology (PPT)
Worksheet: Ridgeology (PDF)

Presentation #3: Latent Prints (PPT)
Worksheet:  Latent Prints (PDF)

Other resources:
Fingerprints Online (PDF) - I use this worksheet after the first presentation. Visit the Forensic Science page at the Kid Zone for the sites.
Fingerprint Challenge (PDF) - Students use their investigative skills to match fingerprints.
Fingerprint Review Basic (PDF)
Fingerprint Quiz Basic (PDF)
Fingerprint Review (PDF) and Fingerprint Review PowerPoint (PPT)
Fingerprint Quiz (PDF)

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Unit 4: Blood Basics

During this unit students learn about the basics of blood evidence. From the composition of blood and blood types to bloodstain pattern analysis, students investigate how blood evidence can be used in a crime investigation. I use simulated blood samples purchased from Ward's. See the list of supply companies at the bottom of this page.

Presentation #1: Blood Basics (PPT)
Worksheet: Blood Basics (PDF)

Presentation #2: Blood Typing Basics (PPT)
Worksheet: Blood Typing (PDF) (Includes teacher notes)

Presentation #3: Bloodstain Science (PPT)
Worksheet: Bloodstain Pattern Lab (PDF)

Other worksheets:
Blood Basics Online (PDF) - I use this worksheet after the first presentation to reinforce the topics discussed and introduce blood typing before doing the classroom blood typing lab. The sites are listed on the Forensic Science page at the Kid Zone
Blood Basics Review (PDF) and Blood Basics Review PowerPoint (PPT)
Blood Basics Quiz (PDF)

Also available ...
Blood Typing Booklet - Thanks to Christina Beatty for sharing her booklet that she uses with her students to help them understand blood typing.
Materials:  Blood Typing Booklet, Booklet Cut-Outs, and Booklet Key

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Units 1-4 Review Materials
I now assign reviews and give quizzes at the end of each of the four main units we cover. These materials are listed in the sections for those units. In the past students were tested after we completed Unit 4. The review, jeopardy game, and test covers the material from Units 1-4 listed above.

Forensic Science Review worksheet (PDF)
Forensic Science Jeopardy (PPT) and Jeopardy worksheet (PDF)
Forensic Science Test (PDF)

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Unit 5: Arson Investigation

Through the help of our local fire department, students explore the basics of fire science and arson investigation. I also include lessons on fire safety and reinforce the fact that playing with fires can cause major damage and deaths. If possible, have a member of your local fire department present a fire safety program for your students. Visit the FEMA website for a good brochure on Children and Fire.

Presentation: Fire Science (PPT)
Worksheet: Fire Science (PDF)

Other resources:
Flame Test

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Unit 6: Accident Reconstruction

During this unit students investigate Newton's Laws of Motion to analyze an accident scene to determine the sequence of events that lead up to the accident, explain damage resulting from the accident, and "solve" cases. I use activities from CRASH: The Science of Collisions , which is a great unit investigating the science behind accidents available through http://www.legalsciences.com/.  

NOTE: The CRASH: The Science of Collisions unit is geared towards the high school level, but several of the activities targeting Newton's Laws can be used at the junior high level. Our district purchased the CRASH kit and I share it with the high school physics teacher. Many of the lessons could also be incorporated into driver's education classes. It is pricey at $995, but check with your local community groups, police/fire departments, or insurance companies for possible funding assistance. Also check out the Physics of Automobile Crashes book available from the same site for $29.00.

Other resources: It's a Crash Test Dummy (PDF) - A great unit exploring Newton's First Law.

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Supply Companies
The links below are provided to give teachers information about the forensic science supplies I use with my classes.
Supply list - Includes links to the supply companies and item numbers along with the amounts of each I purchased for my classes.

Ward's - A large selection of resources for a forensic science class, including the Forensic Detectives Lab I use in my classes. I also purchase my simulated blood kits from them.

Carolina - More forensic science resources for your CSIs to explore, such as the Skeleton Sleuth kit.

Educational Innovations - Visit the "Forensic Kits" area for the Ward's Forensic Detectives Lab that includes an assortment of materials and the FACES software I use for facial composites. I have also had good luck with their Perfect Ink fingerprint ink pads listed on the "Genuine Forensic & Crime Scene Materials" page.

Court TV Online Store - I use the Choice & Consequences video as well as clips from the shows available on the Forensic Files DVD.

Lynn Peavey - My source for fingerprint brushes and other fingerprinting equipment. Good prices and service!

Cafe Press - My favorite site for CSI t-shirts!

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