Crime Scene Investigations: Real-Life Science Labs For Grades 6-12 [Spiral-bound]

Pam Walker (Author), Elaine Wood (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0876281358 | ISBN-13: 978-0876281352 | Publication Date: June 15, 1998 | Edition: 1

This unique resource offers activities in earth, life, and physical science as well as science inquiry and technology. The Grades 6-12 level book provides labs on life, physical, and earth science as well as critical thinking. Like real-life forensic scientists, students observe carefully, organize, and record data, think critically, and conduct simple tests to solve crimes like theft, dog-napping, vandalism and water pollution. For added fun, each resource features an original cartoon character, Investi Gator for the Elementary level and Crime Cat for Grades 6-12. All activities include complete background information with step-by-step procedures for the teacher and reproducible student worksheets. Whatever the teacher's training or experience in teaching science, Crime Scene Investigations can be an intriguing supplement to instruction.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

What could be more motivational than turning your students into super sleuths to learn scientific principles and techniques? This unique resource for science teachers in grades 6-12 gives students the chance to become crime scene investigators with 68 lessons and labs in life, physical, and earth sciences as well as critical thinking.

Like real-life forensic scientists, students observe carefully, think critically, conduct lab tests, document results, and try to meet the burden of proof to solve crimes ranging from check forgery to murder! And for added fun and interest, an original cartoon character, "Crime Cat," enlivens the pages as he sleuths his way through each new mystery, sifting evidence and observing details.

All 68 lessons and labs include complete background information for the teacher and reproducible student worksheet. And for easy use, all material is printed in a big spiral-bound format that folds flat for photocopying of any page as many times as needed and is organized into four convenient sections that cover all major areas of the science curriculum.

I. CRITICAL THINKING — In Section 1, you will find 17 ready-to-use lessons and labs that reinforce skills of observation, experimentation, and logical thinking with titles such as Who Wrote This? (document forgery) ... Whose Lipstick? (chromatography of lipstick) ... Tattle-Tale Type (Typewriter comparison) and ... If the Shoe Fits (shoe print impressions).

II. PHYSICAL SCIENCE — Section 3 provides 14 reproducible lessons and labs that apply the principles of chemistry and physics to identify unknown substances, recognize patterns, and determine the chain of events such as Print Patterns (fingerprint identification) ... Fiber Don't Fib (fiber analysis) and ... Glass Chip Tips (glass identification).

III. LIFE SCIENCE — Section 3 features 20 lessons and labs focusing on evidence left at crime scenes by living things and teaches principles of inheritance, DNA analysis, skeletal structure, and characteristics of hair and skin. Just a few examples are What a Cell Can Tell! (DNA fingerprinting techniques) ... Take a Bite Out of Crime (dental forensics) and ... Hairy Cat Caper (hair identification).

IV. EARTH SCIENCE, ARCHAEOLOGY, AND ANTHROPOLOGY — The last section offers 17 lessons and accompanying labs that feature unidentified remains, mummies, skeletons and more and demonstrate how reconstruction of past events can influence the outcome of a criminal investigation. Sample lessons and labs include Where Is My Mummy (preserving flesh) ... Dating—Radioactive Style (forensic archaeology) ... The Dirt on Crime (evidence from the soil) and ... Making No Bones About It (skeletal evidence).

No matter what science area you're teaching, Crime Scene Investigations can be an intriguing supplement to instruction. You'll find your students will be eager to learn science concepts and solve a mystery at the same time!

About the Author

Pam Walker (B.S., biology, Georgia College; M.Ed., Ed.S., Georgia Southern University) has been a teacher since 1981 and has taught science, biology, applied biology/chemistry, physics, health and physical education in grades 9-12.

Elaine Wood (A.B., biology and secondary education, M.S., and Ed.S., West Georgia College) has more than 14 years of teaching experience in physical science, biology, chemistry, physics, and applied biology/chemistry in grades 7-12 and has conducted research in genetic engineering.

Product Details

• Spiral-bound: 269 pages
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass; 1 edition (June 15, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0876281358
• ISBN-13: 978-0876281352
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #952,474 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent way to add excitement to science class, February 26, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Crime Scene Investigations: Real-Life Science Labs For Grades 6-12 (Spiral-bound)

This book is an excellent way to add excitment to science classes. Students get to use hands-on activities to solve various "crimes." The book is well written and easy to follow. It is good for various grade levels. (I use it in 8th grade Physical Science Class as part of an Events Based Science Curriculum. I recommend it highly

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A useful, interesting, and fun book, August 14, 2000

By 

John R. Somers - See all my reviews

This review is from: Crime Scene Investigations: Real-Life Science Labs For Grades 6-12 (Spiral-bound)

I was introduced to 'Crime Scene Investigations' while attending a teaching workshop. I ordered it right away for my high school level Criminal Justice class. It is full of experiments which apply to virtually every unit my class covers. With the help of the book, I have set up a classroom Crime Lab, of which I am quite proud. We are able to perform an astounding number of experiments, and the lab causes quite a stir with our visitors.

As a retired police officer, I am very aware of the validity of the lessons presented in 'Crime Scene' and feel they would be of value to any of my students who decide on a career in Law Enforcement.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very worthwhile book for a science or criminal justice class, October 20, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Crime Scene Investigations: Real-Life Science Labs For Grades 6-12 (Spiral-bound)

I bought this book to use with my criminal justice class. It contains many simple science experiments which add a lot to the crime scene processing and investigative parts of my class. In addition, it provides short 'whodunnits' which add interest and excitement to the science.