Green Acres School

Upon discovering a “crime scene” in the science room, students are charged with solving the crime, finding the perpetrator, and recovering the “stolen” items. Children are divided into teams and each team is asked to collect evidence and to document their findings. A list of suspects is derived from evidence left at the “crime scene.” Students strive to solve the crime and to find the perpetrator by performing a series of test on the evidence they’ve gathered. Tests include chromatography, hair analysis, handwriting analysis, blood typing, footprint analysis, fingerprint analysis, fiber analysis, and DNA model construction.

Logic, deductive reasoning, microscope use, an understanding of blood type and DNA, and team work all come into play as each forensic team methodically considers each suspect. A keen understanding of how to compare blood types and DNA models lead a ream to determine conclusively who committed the crime.