A nefarious villain has stolen the cake from the Play Outside Forever group meeting. Who could have done this horrible deed?!
Crimes big and small happen every day (like stolen cake) but how do you solve them? Maybe you find some clues at the crime scene but then what? Two words: forensic science.
Forensic science is of course based on science, so let’s use a little of that chemical science to solve the mystery of Who Stole the Cake?
This full CSI project-based unit contains 3 mini-lessons on the important forensic science skills of chromatography, comparative analysis, and fingerprinting. Once the lessons are completed kids will have the skills to solve the mystery activity of who stole the cake and catch that despicable rouge! These hands-on lessons are perfect for middle school-aged kids.
This Unit Contains
– Color Climb chromatography lesson
– Powder Mystery comparative analysis lesson
– What’s in a Print? fingerprinting lesson
– Who Stole the Cake? forensic science mystery activity
Concepts & vocabulary
forensics, chromatography, polarity, comparative analysis, fingerprinting
Color Climb chromatography lesson
The colors you see are not always what they appear! Explore the technique of chromatography with markers and leaves.
In this lesson:
- Practice chromatography
- Play with some marker colors
- See what colors are really going on INSIDE a leaf!
Powder Mystery comparative analysis lesson
Which powder is which? Learn to identify an unknown sample by comparing it with other test samples (comparative analysis).
In this lesson:
- Explore different properties of our sample powders
- Practice a little lab safety
- Record observations
- Identify mystery powders by comparing them to what we already know!
What’s in a Print? fingerprinting lesson
This is the classic crime scene investigation method!
In this lesson:
- Learn what makes up a fingerprint
- Practice taking fingerprints
- Compare fingerprints to known fingerprint features and other people’s prints
Who Stole the Cake? forensic mystery activity
Put you new forensic skills to the test by solving the crime of the missing cake.
Includes:
- 2 separate scenarios
- suspect cards
- investigation sheets to record all your crime scene notes
Take it Outside
Most of our games and lesson to be done outside but this unit CAN BE DONE IN THE CLASSROOM. But we suggest you take it outside if you can. It can easily be done in the schoolyard or the backyard.
“I used this during summer school and it was a HUGE hit! Thank you!”
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