Forensic Science Activities for High School Students
Forensic scientists use their skills to collect physical evidence, observe their surroundings and perform analysis to help catch the criminals. High school students have the skills and knowledge to perform detailed forensic experiments and record their observations. Forensic science activities can be used to expand students' understanding of material already covered. Activities can be created around fingerprint identification, bloodstain pattern analysis and DNA analysis.
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Fingerprints
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Fingerprint identification is one of the oldest forensic methods used to identify individuals. The ridges and furrows of each finger are unique to that person and can be compared to graphic representations for identification. The computer age has allowed scientists and law enforcement agencies to store a large number of prints and more easily compare them to new cases. Students can create their own fingerprints on a piece of filter paper, then develop them inside a glass jar with a few pieces of iodine at the bottom of the jar. Seal the filter paper inside for 10 minutes and the fingerprint should appear. Details on this and alternative methods of developing fingerprints are included on the Thinkquest website.
Bloodstain Patterns
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Students need to understand the science of blood spatter before they can analyze a "crime" scene. Experiment with dropping water balloons onto a cement surface from a variety of heights to understand how velocity affects blood spatter, as outlined by the Science Buddies website. Fill 10 water balloons with two cups of water each. Drop the first balloon from a height of four feet and observe the splatter pattern. Repeat with two additional balloons to verify the results. Change the height of the balloon drop to six feet, then eight feet, and do three drops at each height. Observe and record the spatter pattern for each height. An alternative to dropping balloons is to throw them against a brick wall from three different distances. Add objects to the drop area to understand how the absence of blood spatter can be significant.
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DNA Analysis
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The use of DNA analysis was introduced to forensic science in the mid 1980s. This process of identification can only be used when sufficient DNA is available for comparison from blood or hair. Not all materials will absorb blood, and some chemicals can be used to wash blood out of material.
A California science fair project describes how students can compare how blood is absorbed by white cotton, white polyester, colored cotton and colored polyester. Make three squares of each type of fabric. The first set of squares are the control squares, the second set will be soaked in salty water for 12 hours and the third set of squares will be washed with laundry detergent. Observe changes in the blood on each square.
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References
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- Photo Credit blood image by Sergey Galushko from Fotolia.com
