The Cookie Jar Mystery: A Study in Forensic Science

Interactive "CSI" style inquiry based Forensic Science curriculum.

Like any good CSI mystery in which the clues are layered one upon another, Cookie Jar Mystery organizes lessons and forensic science laboratory activities into a suspenseful, progressive experience that brings kids and teachers to one common, thrilling conclusion: The Cookie Jar Mystery is fun!

Full Curriculum Kit -Program Outline

Grades 5-8

Lesson 1: Heads Up-Observation Skills
You can't believe your eyes or can you? Budding CSI investigators love to explore the challenge of visual memory and eyewitness testimony in this activity of "Did You See That?"

Lesson 2: Beyond the Naked Eye-Handwriting Analysis
Students will think twice about forging a signature after this revealing look at how we write tells the story of who we are!

Lesson 3: Think Ink-Ink Chromatography
The telltale composition of ink can help CSI's identify the perpetrator when students make their own ink chromatographs. Easy-to-follow instructions lead the way in your classroom's forensics laboratory.

Lesson 4: Evidence on the Move-Locard's Principle
Locard's Principle suggests that the contact between two objects creates the opportunity for scientific evidence to "trade places." Trace evidence is the subject of this fascinating lesson.

Lesson 5: The White Stuff-White Substance and Toxicology
Take a powder, please! Students get a closer look at the differences in white substances (Of course they're all non-toxic!) and at the world of poison science in this riveting research.

Lesson 6: Pull Some Strings-Fiber Analysis
Can scientific analysis of fibers help identify our thief? Students use handy pocket microscopes to get up close and personal with fiber analysis, and learn to distinguish between class evidence and direct (conclusive) evidence.

Lesson 7: Hair We Go-Hair Sample
Who knew hair could be so complex? In this activity, can our junior gumshoes match a hair sample to the correct suspect? This absorbing inquiry will have students scratching their heads (and plucking their own hair!) as they delve deeper into the Cookie Jar Mystery.

Lesson 8: Follow the Grain-Pollen Analysis
Achoo! Pollen as evidence? Learners explore another form of trace evidence that often tells where something happened. Students do the legwork in the field as they practice with this essential tool.

Lesson 9: Make an Impression-Bite Marks
Surprisingly simple materials provide all you need for another great lesson in comparing and contrasting for students to "sink their teeth into."

Lesson 10: Shoo-In-Shoe Print Evidence
Want to "make an impression" on learners? Students use their own shoes to work just like real police officers, and then investigate more evidence found at the scene of the crime.

Lesson 11: Bloody Brilliant-Blood Types
Of course, it's not real blood - but we do provide blood evidence substitute encourages learners to handle evidence just like genuine CSI laboratory technicians. This lesson in blood typing provides a great jump start for future scientists, geneticists and crime scene detectives.

Lesson 12: One of a Kind-Fingerprint Evidence
Oh, the things we leave behind! Everything you always wanted to know about whorls and ridges, fingerprinting technique and more with authentic Ten Cards for each student to make a record of his/her prints.

Lesson 13: Crack the Code-DNA
Learning to unravel the mystery of our genetic code revealed in this straightforward explanation and lesson helps learners narrow the field of suspects.

Lesson 14: Let's Talk-Questioning Our Suspects
A lie detector isn't the only way of getting at the truth! In this lesson, our junior CSI detectives learn the meaning of the "norm" and how knowing the norm helps sort truth tellers from liars. Students also return to the "scene of the crime" for another look.

Lesson 15: Who Dunnitt?-Examining & Analyzing All the Evidence
Means, motive and opportunity all come together in this culminating activity that encourages students to put all of the puzzle pieces together and finally solve the Cookie Jar Mystery!

Classroom Kit - Program Outline

Module 1 - The Crime Scenario
To kick off the series, students are introduced to the classroom caper through observing the re-created crime scene of the broken cookie jar and surrounding clues. Students learn about the steps of the investigation, chain of custody and the identities of the four suspects in question.

Module 2 - Always Leave A Note: Handwriting and Ink Analysis
Students examine the most obvious clue — the note left behind at the crime scene. They explore handwriting analysis by comparing the note to suspect's writing samples and then conduct chromatography tests on the pens found on each of the suspects.

Module 3 - Without A Trace: Examining Hair and Fiber Evidence
Students learn about the famous French scientist, Edmond Locard, often referred to as the grandfather of forensic science who believed “every contact leaves a trace.” Students will examine and compare both hair and fiber samples found at the crime scene to that of the suspects.