Forensic Science Teacher Resources

TV dramas tend to exaggerate the forensic science components. Learn what true forensic chemistry looks like in an installment of a larger series covering reactions. Viewers see that chromatography, mass spectrography, and methodical...

Someone stole a diamond-making machine. Who done it? Scholars use forensic science at six different stations to determine the culprit. They analyze fingerprints, use their senses, and complete chemistry experiments to determine the...

High schoolers explore what it takes to be a forensic scientist or pathologist. They view a PowerPoint, discuss what education and skills are needed to succeed as a pathologist. They play a game to test their observation skills, a skill...

In this science website and worksheets, students read the definitions and applications of forensic science. They read about DNA, fingerprints, and handwriting analysis. They carry out an ink chromatography experiment and record the...

Although the methods are all scientific, forensic science was started by police officers rather than scientists, who relied on observation and common sense. Young detectives use many tools to solve crimes around the school in a...

Mr. Bergman has been murdered and we need you to solve the crime! The cross-curricular unit covers 11 different types of forensic science and includes 17 activities. Scholars perform blood type analysis, blood spatter analysis, height...

Flame tests determine if there is a specific metal in a chemical compound. Young forensic scientists review their understanding of flame tests and hydroxide precipitates by solving puzzles. The timed review encourages mastery.

Can science put an end to the poaching of endangered species? Show your young forensic experts how biotechnology can help save wildlife through an exciting electrophoresis lab. Grouped pupils analyze shark DNA to determine if it came...

Forensic scientists depend on their observation skills to analyze evidence down to the molecular level. Middle and high schoolers practice making observations and predictions with a series of crime scene activities, which includes a...

Freddy's Friendly Fruit Market is under attack by fruit flies, and it is up to your aspiring biologists to solve the crime! By reading and analyzing the phenotypes, detectives determine which fly is responsible. This memorable assignment...

Students identify the different parts and functions of the cardiovascular system. In this forensics lesson, students collect and analyze evidence on a fictional crime. They describe different causes of cardiac arrest.

Students engage in DNA manipulation using forensics techniques. Students investigate topics involved in forensics studies such as cloning, electrophoresis, gene mapping, replication, and transcription.

Use food coloring in electrophoresis. The last segment in a four-part series mimics DNA fingerprinting by using chromatography. Teams conduct chromatography on food coloring to find colors that use similar pigmentation in their makeup.

Amazing historical crime scene photos and information is shared by Deborah Blum, an author who has done a tremendous amount of homework on forensic science! Perhaps you could show this to upcoming chemists as you are inspiring them to...

Students use forensic science to positively identify any suspected drugs submitted to the laboratory. They determine the identity of the drugs found in the bodies of drug-overdose victims. Students use TLC to identify the active...

Middle schoolers explore shipwrecks. In this forensic lesson, students watch a video about a shipwreck and how scientist use forensics to answer questions about the ship. They research and report about a shipwreck from the teacher's...

Students examine forensic science. In this video based lesson, students examine the tools and techniques of forensic science. They write a report about a fictional crime scene from the Discovery video.

Students examine the different careers associated with chemistry and see how it is used everyday.  In this forensic lesson students research a chemistry related career and write a presentation to give to the class.

The chances of a DNA mismatch occurring in DNA fingerprinting is one in a billion. Here learners see how using the differences in people's DNA, specifically Short Tandem Repeats (STRs), cutting them out using restriction enzymes, and...

It's a classic case of whodunnit - with a forensic twist! Learners observe a crime scene and compile evidence, along with emergency phone calls, fingerprints, and interview statements to find the criminal and solve the crime.

Students explore forensic science and its uses in criminal investigations. They solve a fictional crime by identifying and analyzing the fingerprints, strand of hair, and thread samples for evidence. After completing charts for each,...

Get ready to play detective! The eighth video in a series of ten explains two types of chemical separation methods via chromatography. The class experiences how substances move and deposit, based on solubility, then how to compare the...