Missing Money Mystery - An Introduction to Forensic Science

Program Outline

Who made off with Mr. Pfister's money?
Who ducked out with the dough?

Grades 3-5

Join in the fun as Junior CSI Investigators follow "crime scene" clues, practice their detective skills, and track down a bumbling bandit! Teachers and learners alike can't help but come to one thrilling conclusion:

Solving the Missing Money Mystery is fun!

Lesson 1: The Eyes Have It - Organization and Observation

The properties of objects, a mysterious "bag of stuff," and some peculiar foreign coins launch learners on the trail of a fugitive from justice. Explore the power of description in this exciting introductory lesson.

Lesson 2: Missing Money Map Making - Evidence at the Crime Scene

Wrongdoers, beware! Learners visit the scene of the crime and use real forensic techniques (such as triangulation) to begin the search for trace evidence that will point to a thief!

Lesson 3: Rock 'n Roll - Tire Tread Patterns

The plot thickens as Mr. Pfister asks his students to examine the strange pattern of tire tread evidence discovered outside his window. Can you figure out who rode the getaway bicycle?

Lesson 4: Dirty Work - Soil Samples

Another form of trace evidence gets the "detective treatment" in this fascinating lesson, as learners explore the work of forensic geologists and sort through soil samples, and chart their observations in their detective notebooks!

Lesson 5: Spies Like Us - Cryptograms

It may not be quite as challenging as the DaVinci Code, but the coded message left on Mr. Pfister's desk just might point to a clever thief. Learners uncover many secrets of the alphabet (and of master criminals!) in this deciphering activity.

Lesson 6: Pucker Up - Lip Prints

Does our crook have a crooked smile? Learners "lift," classify, and compare their own lip prints in order to unlock the patterns of this unique form of evidence.

Lesson 7: Powder Power - Solutions or Suspensions?

Don’t let our sneaky cash-snatcher get away! The plot thickens (and so do some solutions—or are they suspensions?) as students experiment with different mysterious white powders.

Lesson 8: Bloody Prints - DNA Evidence

The case is nearly cracked when students compare strands of suspects' DNA, and begin to close in on the real culprit. This authentic investigatory procedure explores genetic markers.

Lesson 9: Hot to the Touch - Fiber Identification

Adding It Up: Final Forensic Summary-Weave together the threads of a crime in an activity that allows learners to practice a proven technique in forensic fiber analysis. Then put on your deerstalker and set your Sherlockian sights on classifying the evidence. It's elementary, dear Watson!

Lesson 10: Who Dunnit? Analyzing the Evidence

Students test their analytical skills when all of the evidence is laid on the table—and will lead our detectives to point their collective fingers at the guilty party: mystery solved!No literature found.