FIELD TRIPS : SCIENCEWORKS LAB : Crime Lab Caper

Someone has stolen our Bubble Capsule—the most popular exhibit in our Museum! Become Museum detectives and use fingerprint identification, fiber analysis and more to crack the case.

Michigan Curriculum Framework Benchmarks

• generate questions about the world based on observation (SCI.I.1.E.1)
• evaluate arguments or data (SCI.II.1.MS.1)
• follow procedures in the form of step-by-step instructions (SCI.I.1.MS.6)

Crime Lab Caper Pre-visit Materials

During Your Visit to the ScienceWorks Lab students will be expected to:

• Sit in tables of 6 students and (at least) 1 adult
• “Stop, look and listen” at the Lab teacher’s request
• Follow the hands-on procedures just as the Lab teacher or assistant explains them
• Handle materials and equipment carefully

It is important that teachers and chaperones:

• Help to focus the students’ attention
• Assist students with the hands-on activities and experiments when necessary
• Turn off cell phones and pagers during the lab

Vocabulary

Autoradiogram: An autoradiogram is an x-ray of pieces of DNA. Autoradiograms (or autorads) show a pattern of bands that look like a bar code. This DNA fingerprint is compared with others for matches.

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid): DNA is molecules found in living cells that carry the genetic information for an organism. DNA is a sort of genetic blueprint – it determines what an organism looks like how it moves, whether or not it has hair or scales, etc.

DNA Fingerprinting: DNA fingerprinting, also known as DNA profiling, is a method of comparing pieces of DNA. Since the DNA of each person is unique, DNA found in blood, hair, skin cells, or other genetic evidence left behind at a crime scene can be compared with the DNA of a suspect to determine guilt or innocence. Investigators compare the patterns of DNA using autoradiograms.

Fiber Analysis: Fiber analysis is a method of investigation that uses natural or synthetic fibers found at the scene of a crime. When looked at under a microscope, different kinds of fibers have very different structures. If investigators find fibers from a crime scene that match fibers from something that belongs to a criminal suspect, they can link that suspect to the scene.

Fingerprint Analysis: Fingerprint analysis is a method of identification that uses fingerprint patterns. Each individual’s fingerprints are unique. They differ from person to person based on distinctive patterns of ridges. If prints found at the scene of a crime match prints taken from a criminal suspect, investigators know that that suspect came in contact with that evidence.

Forensic Science: Forensic science is the practice of using science and scientific techniques to solve crimes.

Paper Chromatography: Paper chromatography is a method of separating the mixtures of chemicals, such as those that make up ink.

Crime Lab Caper Post-visit Materials

Post-visit activities will help reiterate new concepts and tie the ScienceWorks Lab experience to your classroom curriculum. Below you will find a classroom activity and a list of suggested resources for further information. We hope that you enjoyed your field trip. Visit us again!

Extend your experience with the Crime Lab Caper into other areas of your curriculum by trying one or more of the following ideas:

• Using the Crime Lab Data Sheets completed at the Museum, have small groups of students work together to make graphs and/or charts to represent the data they collected.
• Have students make up their own mysteries alone or in small groups. Mysteries might be written as short stories or as plays to perform for the class.
• Take your class on a field trip to a local crime lab, or invite a police detective, forensic scientist, or person in a related occupation to come to class, make a brief presentation, and answer student questions about their work. Ask the presenter to explain the scientific basis for what they do.
• Encourage students to read mysteries – literature that stimulates logical thinking processes and problem solving skills can extend the learning done in the rime Lab class to mathematics, language arts, social studies, and other areas.

Suggested Resources

Books

Butler, William Vivian. The Kid Detective Handbook. Little, Brown & Company, Boston, MA. 1995.
Walker, Pam and Elaine Wood. Crime Scene Investigations: Real-Life Science Activities for the Elementary Grades. The Center for Applied Research in Education. West Nyack, NY. 1999.
Walker, Pam and Elaine Wood. Crime Scene Investigations: Real-Life Science Activities for Grades 6–12. The Center for Applied Research in Education. West Nyack, NY. 1999.

Internet

DNA Extraction
Forensic Science Web Pages