Preparing Staff for "The Cookie Jar Mystery"

Training Tips

Introduction

Welcome to the Staff - Training Notes for The Cookie Jar Mystery, a series of 15 - hands-on lessons in forensic science designed for 5th to 8th graders. - This program is ideal for after-school programs, summer and vacation - camps, scout troops and anywhere that young people gather.

Who can teach The Cookie Jar Mystery?

Any responsible, - enthusiastic and well-briefed group leader, teacher, volunteer, parent, - or other motivated adult can teach The Cookie Jar Mystery. The - text is easy to read and understand, the set-ups are detailed and - uncomplicated, and the processes and procedures are clearly explained in - the Lesson Plans.

What special skills does the instructor need to teach The - Cookie Jar Mystery?

No special technical or scientific (or - forensic!) skills are necessary to teach The Cookie Jar Mystery. - Instructors should be well organized, motivated and observant - individuals. Volunteers - such as other instructors or parents - can be - helpful in ensuring that all students are proceeding through their labs - and making progress in their understanding. The Cookie Jar Mystery is - fun, so enthusiastic and positive instructors are essential - "cheerleaders" in the learning process.

The Cookie - Jar Mystery seems to contain a lot of "labs" that require "special - handling" - do all of these experiments really work?

Absolutely! Each - activity in the course has been designed to teach an important lesson - in scientific reasoning and to conduct a scientific process.

How can instructors most effectively - deliver the lessons in The Cookie Jar Mystery?

Teaching any lesson in The Cookie Jar Mystery is easy if - the instructor is well-prepared. Follow these steps before every lesson:

• Read the entire lesson so - you know what sort of outcome you are trying to achieve.
• Familiarize yourself with the vocabulary and - background information.
• Identify - the corresponding pages (where appropriate) in the Student Activity Book - and review them so you know how to guide students to "fill in" their - part of the activity. This step is essential because much of what - students accomplish in their books will ultimately contribute to solving - the mystery and becoming part of their Crime Scene Envelope evidence.
• Open the CourseKit and locate all of the materials - you need for each lesson.
• Set up - your classroom so that it’s easy for students to work in groups of 2 or - 4.
• Set up - your demonstration area with all appropriate materials at hand.
• Review any safety precautions related to the - particular lesson you are going to teach, and make sure you know where - emergency help and supplies are located.
• Review the entire lesson with any volunteers who - will help you teach the lesson.

Once your lesson has started…..

Before you - begin each lesson, review "the case so far…" by reminding - students of the materials and processes they’ve explored in previous - lessons. Review some vocabulary. Ask students if they have developed any - theory of the crime. . . .

When you introduce new - material and procedures, take a moment to assess how much students - already know. For example, in a lesson on fingerprints, ask - students to look at their own fingertips and describe them. Ask them - where one can find fingerprints around the house and which rooms are - likely to yield the most fingerprints. Where else is it common to find - fingerprints?

Students will be stimulated when they get a chance - to "show off" a little of their crime-solving knowledge.

A note about safety

All of the materials and activities in The Cookie Jar - Mystery have been prepared with the greatest concern for student - and instructor safety. Please read safety precautions closely before - every lesson and make sure that when you are working you have provided - adequate light, space, and information to ensure that all participants - are afforded the highest standard of safety possible.

Extend your lesson

Instructors - particularly those with access to - computer labs - can extend their lessons by reading through many of the - activities described in the Other Directions, Discussions and - Destinations section at the end of each - lesson. Even if there’s no computer available in the classroom, many - activities can be adapted by an instructor who takes the time to visit - the recommended websites before delivering a lesson.

Consult your colleagues

Many lessons in The Cookie Jar Mystery - have cross-disciplinary applications. Talk with other teachers in your - school or program about the ways in which what they are teaching might - connect to your lesson. As you plan and prepare, ask your colleagues for - good "discussion starters". Show them the activity sheets and materials - you are using, and ask for their experience in teaching about science - processes. The Cookie Jar Mystery is a great jumping-off point for - lessons in character education, too!

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Cookie Jar Mystery Staff Training