Description
Create your very own crime scene, (not in a literal way of course), and build your own mystery. Participants will have to use their detective skills (as well as some science) to work out “whodoneit”!
Using principles used in real crime scene investigation and forensic science, you can create a series of experiments that allow participants to learn about biology, physics, and chemistry in a hands-on way, as well as using some lateral thinking to deduce who committed a crime.
These activities can be facilitated with well-trained volunteers, but ideally, these CSI experiments should have a relevant researcher or expert on hand to explain the science, as well as give some real-world context to how these experiments are conducted in real life. Therefore affiliation with a research institute is recommended, but not necessary.
A CSI event could be done in a single location, however, it might be easier to divide a venue into a number of “stations” where each experiment is set up, and have participants move around these stations.
Experiments could include, DNA extraction, Chromatography, fingerprint matching, blood spatter analysis, paint and fibre matching.
After all the experiments have been conducted, participants can then try and solve the mystery and see if there investigation has lead them to the true criminal!
Target Audience
- Adult citizens
- Children 7-12
- Teenagers
You can do it with all those groups, but we did it with professionals from different fields like public engagement or the cultural and creative sector.
Benefits
Benefits
By adding some “real-world” context, as well as a little TV drama to the event, participants are able to engage with the science behind these methods in a fun and interactive way. Participants take an active role in their learning and can interact with experts in the field, which can create long term interest in a particular field of study or career pathway.
Preparations
There are a number of external orgnaisations that offer these sorts of experiences, but it is possible to organise these events independently. You would need to find a suitable venue (this might be a school or a community centre), reach out to experts to help facilitate, train volunteers and set up experiments and the mystery behind the event.
A list of useful resources can be found at the following website:
https://a2zhomeschooling.com/explore/chemistry_kids/csi_unit_study_forensics_for_kids/
Resources
provide top CSI Whodunit Forensic Science workshops for schools, colleges, corporate team building and informal educational groups. They also provide some free resources on their website to run your won CSI event.
Sci-High CSI Forensic Science Events
STEM Activities provide exciting CSI Whodunit Forensic Science events for enhancement and to support curricular forensic science. They can be tailored for all year groups in primary schools, secondary schools, sixth forms and colleges. We show forensic science all the way from the crime scene to the courtroom.
