Welcome to the Adventure!

Step into the captivating world of forensic science with The Science Fair Mystery, a thrilling twelve-lesson course tailor-made for sixth and seventh-grade students. Unlock the secrets of crime scene investigation and ignite your student's scientific curiosity while embarking on a journey to crack the case surrounding the annual science fair at Einstein Academy.

The Science Fair Mystery allows your students to delve into the riveting world of forensic science, where biology, chemistry, physics, and cutting-edge technology converge. This educational adventure is an opportunity to explore the practical applications of science within the confines of your classroom. Elevate your students' learning experience by embracing the multifaceted world of forensic science––the perfect addition to any science curriculum.

Our lessons and activities are meticulously crafted to fulfill the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). This course also satisfies the Common Core State Standards in Mathematics, English Language Arts, and Literacy, offering a holistic educational foundation for your students. For an in-depth exploration of these standards, refer to the comprehensive Standards Matrix in the appendix.

Community Learning courses are a dynamic force, igniting the imagination of young minds and nurturing youthful curiosity across the country for countless years. Thematic integration coupled with prolonged, hands-on engagement is the cornerstone of every Community Learning experience. 

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Who and Where Can You Teach The Science Fair Mystery? 

Our easy-to-manage materials and step-by-step plans support all instructors. No specialized knowledge is required to teach the course, making this entertaining forensic science mystery ideal for classrooms, after-school programs, intersession programs, museum groups, summer camps, youth groups, and clubs ––anywhere young people are gathered!

Hands-on Enrichment and Critical Thinking in Science 

Across the nation, there's a resounding call for hands-on activities that cultivate vital skills for students like critical thinking, confidence, competence, and scientific literacy. Educators and leaders recognize the influential role of high-quality after-school programs, especially those with a sharp focus on science, mathematics, and literacy. The Science Fair Mystery isn't just a course; it's an exhilarating mystery that unlocks the doors to these essential skills and more––allowing your students to immerse themselves in scenarios designed to inspire creative problem-solving, foster critical thinking, nurture teamwork, and get their hands dirty collecting evidence. The Science Fair Mystery is a gateway to a world of discovery and empowerment!

Initiate Exploration

Immerse your students in an exciting, hands-on learning experience with The Science Fair Mystery. The course is centered around a crime that unfolds in Mr. Phillips's science classroom just weeks before the much-anticipated annual science fair at Einstein Academy. Every year, a first-, second-, and third-place winner is named, and Mr. Philips will give a letter grade increase to the student who wins first place. The mystery begins when Mr. Phillips arrives at school one fateful morning and discovers a classroom infested with fruit flies. Sofia's science fair project has been sabotaged! Mysterious events keep happening throughout the week as more student projects are targeted, and the need to solve the mystery becomes more dire. Your students are about to become forensic investigators as they meticulously analyze evidence, conduct interviews, sharpen their observational skills, and narrow the list of suspects using their newfound expertise. 

We've got you covered with our course kit––stocked with everything your students need to unravel The Science Fair Mystery through a forensic lens. Get ready to spark your student's curiosity and deepen their problem-solving skills with this thrilling adventure into the world of science and investigation.

From Crime Scene to Classroom: Teaching the Science Fair Mystery 

Instructors, get ready to dive into The Science Fair Mystery––a teaching experience that's accessible and fun! We've got all your teaching needs filled in our lightweight carryalls, making the setup a breeze. Each lesson teaches a different forensic technique, encouraging scientific reasoning and immersing your students in exciting scientific processes

Once you've explored the lesson, vocabulary, and the desired outcomes, it's time to transform your classroom into a hub of group exploration. Our lessons provide clear instructions on how to set up each demonstration, utilizing the provided materials in our course kit.

Safety is our top priority, so we've covered you with specific precautions tailored to each lesson. The instructor should know where emergency assistance and supplies are located.

Each student activity in these lessons is a piece of the puzzle and could be the key to solving the mystery. The instructor should review the corresponding pages in the Student Book to guide their students through each lesson successfully. As the instructor, your enthusiasm is essential for keeping your students invested in the mystery!

Course Outline

The Science Fair Mystery comprises 12 lessons, designed each to take approximately one hour, for a class of 30 students. Your class size and ability level will determine the ultimate pace for the materials.

Lesson 1 - Time Will Tell: Creating Timelines and Sketching the Crime Scene
Students will learn to develop timelines and create rough sketches to represent the crime scenes. The lesson concludes by identifying suspects based on motive for ruining classmates' projects.

Lesson 2 - The Magic of Iodine: Unveiling Hidden Palm Prints
This lesson centers around the iodine-fuming method used to reveal hidden palm prints. Students will identify palm print patterns and analyze a print discovered at the crime scene.

Lesson 3 - Impressions Unleashed: Examining the Language of Tool Marks
Students will discover how investigators match impressions to the tools used in a crime. The lesson involves creating clay impressions, allowing students to identify the unique characteristics of tools left at the crime scene.

Lesson 4 - Hot Tips: The Chemistry of Flame Test Powder
Introduce students to the safe and effective use of the flame test method for identifying powders found at the crime scene. Students will learn how to examine the properties of different powder samples and accurately record their findings.

Lesson 5 - Witness Chronicles: Unlocking Clues through Observation
The lesson focuses on proper techniques when interviewing witnesses, such as the difference between open-ended and closed-ended questions. Students will read through witness statements and practice investigative questioning techniques.

Lesson 6 - Skidding Away: Tracking Mysteries in Skid Marks
Students will learn to tell the difference between tire tread and skid marks. The lesson focuses on analyzing skid marks to determine the type of transportation used in a crime, making it easier to unravel mysteries through tire evidence.

Lesson 7 - Glass Puzzles: Assembling Clues from Shattered Fragments
Dive into the science of glass refraction and its forensic applications. Analyze different types of glass and their refractive index while identifying the glass found at a crime scene.

Lesson 8 - The Print Detective: Dusting for Fingerprints and Patterns
Discover an alternative method for revealing latent prints using UV light. Students become print detectives through a hands-on search for fingerprints in their own classroom.

Lesson 9 - Student Stories: Following Hunches in Their Biographies
This lesson focuses on teaching students how to identify clues and relevant information about suspects while also learning that not all evidence immediately points to the correct suspect.

Lesson 10 - Fingerprint Frenzy: The Art of Dusting for Prints
Learn how to extract latent fingerprints from different surfaces and identify three common patterns found in fingerprints. Students will use this knowledge to analyze fingerprints found at the crime scene.

Lesson 11 - Interrogation Investigation: Role-Playing as Suspect Investigators
Students will practice their skills role-playing as suspect investigators and master the art of interrogation while reading body language.

Lesson 12 - Identifying the Culprit: The Thrilling Conclusion
Analyze each suspect's "Means, Motive, and Opportunity” and determine who sabotaged the science fair!

Supplies

Packed and labeled, each supply item and tools needed to solve the mystery in a organized in a way that makes the course easy to teach again and again.

The Science Fair Mystery Classroom Kit Includes: