National Endowment for the Humanities
Kennewick Man: Science and Sacred Rights
"Have respect for the dead!" Scholars investigate how science and religion often clash. As they look into the laws of science and the laws of religion, the legal ramifications at the federal level of both play into an argument they...
Curated OER
Whodunnit?
Want to create an exciting mystery activity? Investigators will identify the elements of a mystery, review mystery stories, then write their own mysteries. They engage in forensic science experiments related to mysteries and learn to ask...
Curated OER
Forensic Detectives: Archaeology at Work
Dig in! Middle schoolers learn about archaeology by exploring the remnants of the Chiribaya bodies found in Illinois. Compare archaeological investigations, and then write a mystery detailing the discovery of a body! Consider bringing in...
Curated OER
Underwater Forensics
Students 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 approved list.
Curated OER
Measurable You!
Conduct guided experiments and discussions while collecting anthropometric measurements. Your class will explore impact of experimental errors in a scientific system, and explain their observations/findings in writing. An introduction to...
Curated OER
Magnificent Microscopes Unit Including Mystery and Alternative Assessment Activity
After drawing and labelling a microscope, forensic science explorers use one to solve a simulated murder mystery. They examine each piece of evidence and draw what they observe at each magnification. Working in groups of four, your...
Curated OER
Forest Forensics
Pupils explore forests. In this "forest forensic" lesson students divide into groups and go through the stations using their clues to solve the questions.
Curated OER
Aviation History/Writing and Forensic Science
For this aviation lesson, students research Charles Augustus Lindbergh and other early aviators and their flying machines. They then write a letter to one of the aviators asking questions about the mechanics of flight and their flying...
Curated OER
Science: Entomology in Action
Students discover how coroners use insect life cycles to estimate the time of death in cases. they describe how forensic entomologists combine environmental factors with insect life cycles to note the changes. Students examine an...
Curated OER
Fingerprints
This activity provides an interesting way for learners to review vocabulary and practice comprehension skills. There is a six-paragraph passage about the process of fingerprinting and the role it takes on convicting criminals. Eleven...
Curated OER
Audio Engineers: Sound Weavers
Students explore audio engineering. In this career education and "sound" science lesson, students define related vocabulary and make connections between the music they listen to and the job an audio engineer does after listening to...
Curated OER
Genetics 5 Technology
Students, after studying extraction and gel electrophoresis, recombinant DNA, transgenic organisms, and reproductive cloning, summarize the main concepts in DNA technology. They analyze the applications of DNA: forensics, medicine,...
Curated OER
Magnificent Microscopes
Students use a microscope in a series of activities that are designed to help them explore the "invisible world" and make meaningful microscopic discoveries and learn the importance of the microscope as a tool in science and research.
Curated OER
DNA
Learners explore the basics of DNA and its history. In this DNA lesson students extract DNA from fruits and understand how it is used in forensics.
National First Ladies' Library
Science: The Purloined Letter
Students examine Edgar Allan Poe's "the Purloined Letter" from the perspective of a profiler. To sharpen search procedures, they examine the text and make lists of items and places in the house that were searched. Then students discuss...
PBS
Conceptualizing an Experiment
Students analyze information from a variety of sources in order to create a hypothesis about the origin of an interesting family artifact. They create alternative hypotheses based upon available information in order to understand that...
Curated OER
Classroom Identity
Students explore fingerprints. In this finger prints lesson, students investigate how to classify fingerprints. Students study large pictures of fingerprints and circle the patterns they know how to identify. Students then take their own...
Curated OER
Biotech in a Bag
Students carry out a series of experiments using self-locking plastic baggies. Each experiment demonstrates a phenomenon or principle of biotechnology.
Curated OER
To Dig or Not to Dig: The Stadium Showdown
Learners examine an ethical public dilemma. In this cultural resource lesson, students role play to examine their personal beliefs regarding the protection of cultural resources. They evaluate possible actions they can take to protect...
ConnectED
Crime Scene Investigation
How exactly does a crime scene investigation work? The resource, a unit on criminology, covers everything from the deductive reasoning skills needed for detectives to DNA fingerprinting, all the way to how to gather evidence and bring...
Curated OER
DNA-a Molecular Identity
Learners explore about what DNA is and several different DNA typing techniques. They examine three different situations where DNA typing was used to carry out justice. Students also identify and evaluate different uses of DNA typing...
Curated OER
Civic Engagement for Us?
Learners identify the different forms of civic engagement. They identify their responsibilities at the different levels of government. They also analyze young leaders running for office.