Welcome to The Missing Money Mystery: An Introduction to Forensic Science!
This fun, 12-lesson course is specifically created for elementary students. It is designed to ignite curiosity and stimulate authentic learning by creating real-life contexts ranging from lab analyses to print-making to criminal investigation.
Instructors are supported by easy-to-manage materials and step-by-step plans. No specialized knowledge is required to launch the course, making this entertaining forensic science mystery ideal for classrooms, afterschool programs, intersession programs, museum groups, summer camps, youth groups, and or clubs!
To get a better understanding of this course, you can read through the complete course overview by visiting our website and clicking The Missing Money Mystery course kit. This will also give you a detailed description of each and every lesson.
You can even watch a helpful introductory video to the course by clicking here!
If you’d like to dive even deeper, you can follow along with this article to read through additional resources that will help you with each of the twelve lessons in The Missing Money Mystery.
Lesson 1
Figuring Out Forensics: Organization and Observation
Check out The Kid’s Page created by the FBI. This page has information on the history of the FBI, safety, and various breeds of “working dogs,” as well as a variety of games.
You can also visit Questacon; Australia’s national science and technology center. Questacon simply creates a better future for children through engagement with science, technology, and innovation.
Lesson 2
Securing the Scene: Collecting Evidence
The following activity will enrich what has already been learned in this lesson about crime scene evidence and mapping.
Pretend a crime has been committed in your bedroom! Follow these steps to secure the scene:
- Make a sign identifying it as a crime scene.
- Make observations of the room and take photographs, if possible.
- Measure the room and begin your rough sketch.
- On the sketch, draw in windows and doors, which are your fixed points.
- On the sketch, start adding furniture.
- Identify the evidence, measure it from fixed points, and include it in your drawing.
Lou-Lou, Dan the Man, Peg the Leg, and Jake the Jock are all suspects in a mystery involving a broken classroom aquarium. Chocolate candy and blue paint are two of the clues. Go to CyberBee to further solve the mystery; a rich Internet resource maintained and tested by teachers.
Lesson 3
Powder Power: Solutions or Suspensions
How does a chemical reaction happen? Check out this free science site; Chem4Kids.com to find out!
To watch a fun, educational video on chemical reactions in action, head over to the Smithsonian’s YouTube Channel!
PBS Kids leverages the full spectrum of media and technology to bring the world of science to young imaginations. Try playing these videos to get kids excited about and involved in chemistry.
Lesson 4
Natural or Not: Fiber Identification
Head over to Brittanica’s website to learn more about the history of fabrics and the importance of each and every one. Students can even take a short, textile quiz by clicking here.
Additionally, the FBI website provides a thorough, but approachable overview of fiber analysis in forensic investigations.
Lesson 5
Tracking the Tires: Tread Patterns
How do scientists analyze tire tracks? Head over to North Carolina’s School of Science and Mathematics YouTube Channel to watch the full video on Tire Tread and Track Evidence.
See forensic field specialists preserve a tire impression by watching this YouTube video; Mold Making Tutorial: Forensics Impressions using Fast Curing Silicone Rubber. (At the bottom of the video screen, opposite the pause button, you will see a cog wheel with HD printed over it. Click this and select “Playback Speed”. Change this to “2” and the video can be watched in just over 4 minutes).
Lesson 6
Cast a Clue: Shoe Print Evidence
Geography4Kids offers a suite of free earth science activities for young students. Exactly how is soil a layer of our earth? Simply head over to this page to find out!
The process of soil formation happens in a variety of different ways. Click here to learn about the five most important factors involved in soil formation.
If you found these links helpful, keep a lookout for the next section of resources which will include lessons seven through twelve of the Missing Money Mystery.
We’d love to hear your feedback or any questions that you might have. You can email us at any time by sending a message to info@commlearning.com.
