Forensics Lap-n-note

[Rose King]

My 11 yro has asked to do a study on forensics. I am trying to get my thoughts together on it. I think we will start with the photography lapbook (crime scene photos), then move on to fingerprinting. I'm not sure what else to put in our big notebook. I want to finish the study with court procedures. Anyway, what do you girls think? Too much? I am still at the thinking stage. Thanks for any advice you may have.

Rose

[Maclibrarian]

My son did a class with other homeschoolers and they looked at ink (get it wet) and hair & thread samples (microscope), footprints, They watched Bill Nye video(s?). At a police museum they were able to build faces using software that I know is available for purchase. Can't remember anything else.

[Rose King]

Thank you for the ideas. Did he love it? I know I will take her and have her fingerprinted. We live in such a small rural area, we don't even have enough kids for a homeschool group. I think we make just take this as far as she wants to go with it. Sounds like it could get to be a HUGE project. Thanks again.

[Judy Alkema]

I would bet that your local police station would have SOME information - if you explain what you're doing, they might even get interested enough to take your child 'behind-the-scenes' and let him/her see some items and ask some questions. You'd have to decide what you'd find appropriate for your 11 year old, of course...

They should definitely provide you with a fingerprint kit - you can get them as handouts of folded card with the 'ink pad' right inside, so you could add that directly into the lapbook as 'realia'.

You could look at the relatively new DNA check system. If you have some extra money, you can actually get a DNA analysis done and receive a printout and graphic back - some online sites even specialize in creating 'artworks' from your DNA, believe it or not - so that could spark a great discussion on genes, genetics, the structure of DNA, and so on.

Grim and graphic, but horrifically fascinating to preteens - the science of decay is essential in forensics. Forensic scientists actually need to know the life cycle of maggots/flies so that they can identify the approximate time of death. The same with the breakdown of soft tissues, hard tissues, cartilage and bone. Again - you'd want to decide just how much detail you want your 11-year old to know.

You could look at ancient forensics - the peat bog men, mummies, radiography, etc. - no gore but plenty of detective work.

Check out a few of the murder mysteries actually written by forensic scientists (read them first!) - most have an author's blurb inside the back cover where you can find that information. Sorry I haven't got any names at the front of my head atm, but I know there are several!

Hope those ideas help....
Judy

[Stephanie]

Am I allowed to post the name of a source that has a homeschool curriculum designed for this age group in forensic science? This is what I am doing with my son. Right now there is a free download available, though it isn't as comprehensive as the paying version. It gave me a start on what to study with him. Please let me know if I can post it. I don't want to step on any toes.

Stephanie

[Rose King]

I am sorry it has taken me so long to get back to you. I would love to have this information. I am not sure about what all we can post. Could you e-mail me off list? How old is your son? I have also found some pretty good places to go, and a really great workbook if you are interested. My e-mail is [e-mail] Thanks again.

Rose

[Rose King]

Thank you so much. I am sorry it has taken me so long to answer. I am not able to be online everyday. You gave me some great ideas.

Rose

[Cariann]

I am putting together a class and hopefully a lapbook for our homeschool co-op jr high or high school classes... My dad is a deputy Medical Examiner for one of the counties here in Oregon so I have an inside line (I've grown up with forensic science although it isn't my area of interest).
I'm not planning on really working on the unit until this summer but will share what I come up with...

[Rose King]

I would love that. Thank you so much for replying. Anything you can think of will be great.
Rose