Crime Scene: A Forensic Investigation Kit

Bring the mystery and intrigue of an actual murder case to your classroom with Crime Scene: A Forensic Investigation Kit. Here's a chance to apply chemistry and biology laboratory skills to a real-life criminal investigation. Students perform hair, blood, fiber, fingerprint, and handwriting analysis to locate the culprit in the “murder” case. All blood samples are simulated. Students read background material, crime scene descriptions, motives and a victim's note. Students use higher-level thinking skills to piece together the written information with lab results and form a logical conclusion of the most likely of six possible suspects. The activity is culminated with a narrative laboratory case report which promotes writing across the curriculum. Students get so involved in solving the crime that they may forget they are learning science.

The kit provides hair, fiber and simulated blood samples, anti-serums, slides, marking crayons, pipets, and stirrers. Includes a booklet with teacher notes and reproducible student masters.

Complete for two classes of 24 students working in pairs.