Web Links Cookie Jar Mystery: A Study in Forensic Science

Internet resources to help fill in background knowledge and extend lessons:

Lesson 1

Are you a good eyewitness? Check out the film and quiz at http://www.youramazingbrain.org.uk/asp/eyequestion1.asp

Here’s some fun: can you find nine people in this picture? www.orderofthewhitelion.com/Miscellaneous/Observationpowers.html

Lesson 2

Not everyone thinks handwriting analysis is a legitimate science. Read more about it at http://www.straightdope.com/columns/030418.html

The most infamous forger of the early 20th century, Joseph Cosey, is profiled at -  http://www.crimelibrary.com/criminal_mind/scams/lincoln_forgers/2.html

Lesson 3

Get a complete overview of the chromatographic process at www.rpi.edu/dept/chem-eng/Biotech-Environ/CHROMO/chromintro.html

Great photographs show you how your lab should look at  www.yesmag.bc.ca/projects/paper_chroma.html

Lesson 4

The Missouri State Highway Patrol displays a wide variety of trace evidence samples on their “Trace evidence” web site at http://www.mshp.dps.missouri.gov/MSHPWeb/PatrolDivisions/CLD/TraceEvidence/TraceEvidence.html

Even New York has a forensics laboratory with a photo gallery of trace evidence http://www.westchestergov.com/labsresearch/ForensicandTox/forensic/gallery/forgalleryframeset.htm

Read about the job of a trace evidence examiner and lots of other jobs in forensics on the Discovery Channel’s page athttp://www.discoverychannel.co.uk/crime/criminalists/trace_evidence_exam/index.shtml

Lesson 5

Toxicologists look for the chemical properties of unknown substances and in poisons. What do you know about poisons? http://www.poisoneducation.org/poisons.htm

You can learn a poison prevention song (a “jingle”) in English or Spanish by visiting http://www.poison.org/jingle/

Learn all about a career in toxicology (and check out the other science career links) on this USDA page http://www.agriculture.purdue.edu/USDA/careers/toxicologist.html

Lesson 6

Students in Ohio are trying to solve a classroom mystery much like the Cookie Jar Mystery. You can watch a video of students conducting a fiber analysis at their web site http://www.yellow-springs.k12.oh.us/ys-mls/fiber_analysis.htm

The FBI provides a comprehensive overview of fiber analysis and its use as evidence in solving crimes on its web site at http://www.fbi.gov/hq/lab/fsc/backissu/july2000/deedric3.htm#Fiber%20Evidence.

This web site contains many photographs and expanded definitions of natural and man-made fibers. Information about all kinds of fabrics available at http://www.fabrics.net/fabricinfo.asp

Lesson 7

Follow the FBI right into the lab (including one for hair analysis) when you investigate the case of “The Strange Flashlight” at http://www.fbi.gov/kids/6th12th/investigates/investigates.htm

Everything you ever wanted to know about hair evidence http://www.fbi.gov/hq/lab/fsc/backissu/july2000/deedric1.htm

Lesson 8

Allergic to pollen? Find out if you can expect trouble today at http://www.pollen.com/Pollen.com.asp

Pollen not only solves crimes, but helps us understand the migration of animals http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/kids/plants/story9/PollenIndex.html

Lesson 9

Learn all about teeth in humans and animals at http://www.earthlife.net/mammals/teeth.html

This funny comic book presentation tells weird facts about teeth http://www.rudimentsofwisdom.com/pages/teeth.htm

Lesson 10

More notes on shoeprint technology can be found at http://forensic.to/shoeprint.html

Lesson 11

An excellent introduction to Blood Groups, Blood Typing and Blood Transfusions can be found at www.nobelprize.org/medicine/educational/landsteiner/readmore.html

Lesson 12

Take a fingerprint field trip at the FBI - http://www.fbi.gov/kids/k5th/whatwedo2.htm

Fingerprint patterns - www.ridgesandfurrows.homestead.com/fingerprint_patterns.html

Explore fingerprints with the frequently asked questions athttp://www.cyberbee.com/whodunnit/fp.html

Lesson 13

A middle school mystery is investigated through the DNA lab at

http://www.madison.k12.wi.us/stugeon/dna_home.html

Lesson 14

You can test your statement analysis skills at

Have you ever wondered how a lie detector works? Check it out at

There are other ways to tell if someone is being “less than truthful” by the way they behave. Learn all the signs at http://www.blifaloo.com/info/lies.php

Lesson 15

Young detectives have always enjoyed the Encyclopedia Brown, Nancy Drew, and Hardy Boys series books, but there are many new titles (and games and puzzles) to be found at http://kids.mysterynet.com/

The Black Hole Gang helps kids explore more science concepts at http://www.blackholegang.com/

And you can watch a forensics video involving kids at http://pbskids.org/dragonflytv/show/forensics.html