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

If your students enjoy solving mysteries, they’ll love the activities in Science Sleuths. Forensic science is an ideal vehicle for teaching the nature of science as well as basic science concepts. Besides teaching students to think like scientists, forensic science activities also help them understand, master, and apply science concepts. In addition, forensic science relies heavily on science process skills, manipulative skills, laboratory skills, and interpersonal skills, all emphasized by the National Science Education Standards.

Pam Walker, M.Ed., has twenty-three years of experience in teaching science and was named 2007 Georgia Teacher of the Year.
Elaine Wood, M.S., has spent thirteen years teaching science. Both Walker and Wood teach science in Douglasville, Georgia. They are coauthors of several resource books including Hands-On General Science Activities with Real-Life Applications, Crime Scene Investigations: Real-Life Science Labs for Grades 6-12, and Crime Scene Investigations: Real-Life Science Activities for Elementary Grades.

"Science Sleuths is a great book for the teacher who hopes to engage middle school students in science investigations that build upon high interest topics related to mystery, clues, and intrigue."
—Dr. Gail H. Marshall, Ed. D., Assistant Professor, College of Education, University of West Georgia
"The teacher briefs, notes, prompts, and tantalizing topics make Science Sleuths an invaluable resource. These sixty activities are intriguing and the procedures are easy-to-follow."
—Diane Matthews, Assistant Principal, Fairplay Middle School
"Walker and Wood are addressing the heart of scientific thought, Critical Thinking and Inquiry, by placing it in a format of forensics, a tremendously appealing idea for the targeted age group in grades 4-8." --(Education Review, June 2007)

About the Authors.
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.