Forensic Science Lesson Plans

Background: During the 2006-2007 school year I started teaching a 9-week course on Forensic Science as one of our 8th grade activity classes. Since that time the unit has evolved to include additional topics and activities. In the past three years I have been working on converting all the materials to a digital format while still providing traditional printable materials for those interested.

UPDATE 1/30/24 - I have incorporated many of the forensic science lessons previously listed on this page into a new digital format, while still keeping printable workshets for teachers who use them. The PPT files provided for each unit below includes links to the digital notebook for students on the first slide (look in the left-side margin) as well as additional notes for teachers and links to online videos and other resources. .

CSI Digital Unit - Digital Unit Outline (Draft - work in progress) - This outline follows the digital format in the newest lessons. It will be helpful for those interested in the concepts covered in each unit as well as a general pacing guide. The slide numbers in this outline refer to the Google slides in the full digital student notebook. Each unit has a PPT (or two) with the link to the slides for those specific units along with helpful notes for instruction and links to other resources.

Also available - Supply Companies & Supply List (Updated 2023)

Digital Units Available (Printable materials provided as well)
Crime Scene & Evidence Basics (includes types of evidence)
Fingerprint Evidence
Impression Evidence
Trace Evdience (including hairs & fibers)
Blood Basics
Forensic Entomology
CSI Unit Final Project (Crime Scene Boxes)

Traditional Units (I will be adding digital versions during the spring of 2024.)
Chromatography
Forensic Anthropology
DNA Evidence
Arson Investigation
CRASH Unit
CSI Adventure (Geocaching Activity)

Daily CSI Challenges - Will be updated the summer of 2024 - I start each class period with a warm-up activity targeting forensic science concepts and other skills (observation, problem-solving, etc.) The challenges are in the form of PowerPoint presentations and include spot-the-differences puzzles, mini mysteries, trivia challenges, and vocabulary builders. I have also created several warm-ups that incorporate CSI-related videos that are available online. Click here to visit the Daily CSI Challenges page .

NOTE: All links previously availble on the Kid Zone are now listed in the Sites for Students area . Many of them were flash-based activities that are no longer available unless your school allows students to use the Ruffle extension on Chrome. I will add new resources as I find them to replace the outdated activities. Please provide the links your students need for assignments through your LMS or teacher website.
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Unit 1: Crime Scene Basics & Power of Evidence - UPDATED 2024 - I have incorporated all the previous units for crime scenes, eyewitness evdience, and overall evidence review into this unit.

Part A: Crime Scene Basics - During this lesson students learn basic vocabulary associated with crime scene analysis as well as explore forensic careers.

Part B: Power of Evidence - For this lesson students explore different types of evidence, such as physical, circumstansial, and testimonial evidence.

Also available .

Quizlet Crime Scene & Evidence Vocab Set - Available to use for review at the end of the unit.

Forensic Files - Case Studies - I utilize Forensic Files episodes as well as other media to conduct case studies. You will find these activities listed with the units on this page with l inks to the video.
NOTE: Thanks to Luann Snider for submitting the Forensic Files Graphic Organizer (pdf) that can be used with any of the Forensic Files episodes. I also have the Forensic Files Episode Worksheet (pdf) available or digital Google slide version that can be used with any of the Forensic Files episodes.

Classroom Quiz (doc) - Edit the document to ask questions about your classroom that could be answered by your observant students. I ususally print copies & have them complete the challenge in the hallway. It's always interesting to see what they think they remember vs. what they really see, which leads into a great discussion on eyewitness testimony.

Forensic Science A to Z Challenge Puzzle (pdf) - Students must use clues to identify forensic science terms and then find them in a "bent word" style word search. They use the letters that remain in the puzzle to figure out a mystery word.

Power of Evidence Puzzle (pdf) - Student use clues and their investigative skills to find terms related to evidence.

Memory Match Game (pdf) - This game challenges a student's ability to remember what they've seen as they examine cards with a variety of patterns on them. Game rules and pattern cards are provided in the download.

FBI Crime Lab (pdf) - Thanks to Stephanie Vallejo for sharing this worksheet for use with the History Channel's FBI Crime Scene DVD. Check out my new version of the FBI Crime Lab video worksheet that includes discussion questions (pdf) for each section. The DVD is available through the Amazon or the History Channel. It can also be found HERE.

Power of Evidence Challenge (pdf) - Challenge your students to this word search/scramble using terms discussed in the Power of Evidence presentation.

Christmas Cookie Mystery - Click the link to find this lesson listed on the Chemistry Lessons page to investigate white powders. The lesson can be adapted to fit any holiday in order to be used at other times of the year.

Murder & a Meal (pdf) - Thanks to Camron Stanley for sharing this lab investigating the science of vomit! The download includes student worksheets and teacher notes.

Unit 2: Fingerprint Evidence - UPDATED 2024 - Includes figerprint patterns, ridge characteristics, and latent print evidence

Part A: Fingerprint Basics - During this lesson students learn how to identify the different fingerprint patterns as well as other details that help investigators match fingerprints. They are able to practice making and lifting prints and are challenged to match unknown and known in the Fingerprint Challenge. I purchased ink pads with hard ink instead of sponges, which worked great! black powder, brushes, and other materials to make several kits to allow students to work in small groups. See my Supply Companies & Supply List for more information.

Part B: Latent Prints - During this unit students learn how to collect and analyze latent prints. I highly recommend the magnetic fingerprint wands and powder if you have the money available to purchase them. They are less messy than the traditional black powder and fiber brushes. See my Supply Companies & Supply List for more information.

Also available .

Quizlet Fingerprint Evidence Vocab Set - Available to use for review at the end of the unit.

Fingerprint Challenge (pdf) - Students use their investigative skills to match fingerprint samples.

Fingerprint Match - Download the activity files and challenge your students to analyze prints as they play a matching game. The sample prints could be used as identification practice prior to the game. Also check out their other Forensic Science materials for more ideas!

Fingerprint Data Analysis (PPT) - I use this activity with my students to analyze the distribution of fingerprint patterns in each class. After students complete the My Prints worksheet and classify their prints, they complete the top section of the Fingerprint Data Analysis worksheet (pdf). We calculate the percentages for each pattern and discuss how it relates to the expected percentages presented in class. We also analyze the distribution of patterns for males vs. females and discuss the results after students have completed the bottom section of the worksheet.

Fingerprint Guide (pdf) - This one-page handout includes examples for all of the ridge patterns and characteristics discussed in the fingerprinting lessons.

My Toe Prints worksheet (pdf) - Students are always interested in examining their toe prints to see how they compare to their fingerprints. Instead of using the incapax from the fingerprint unit, the students create their own "ink" by rubbing pencils on an index card and then pressing it to their toes. They use a piece of clear tape to lift the print and tape it to the correct spot on the worksheet.

Lip Print Activity (pdf) - Thanks to Dina Sbarra for sharing her lip print mystery activity. She went around the school and got lip marks from several teachers at her school on paper and then put them in sheet protectors. She had one teacher also mark their lips on a plastic cup (the criminal that destroyed her room). She toilet papered my room and the students had to find out who did it. She put the lip prints on the screen so they could look at the various types to help them classify the lip prints and identify the one from the culprit.

Unit 3: Impression Evidence - UPDATED 2024 - Students investigate impression evidence along with class and individual characteristics. The lesson includes investigations of bite marks and tire tracks.

The following activities have been included in the digtal unit and related student worksheets listed above:


Also available .

Quizlet Impression Evidence Vocab Set - Available to use for review at the end of the unit.

Tool Marks Challenge Teacher Information (pdf) - This activity challenges students to match tool impressions from a set of 12 tools. Teacher information and a student worksheet are provided in the download. I have uploaded a sample of my challenge page (pdf) and a PowerPoint teachers can use to introduce the toolmark activity and challenge.

Unit 4: Trace Evdience - UPDATED 2024 - This lesson provides an overview of trace evidence with an "up close" look at hairs and fibers using microscopes and an assortment of prepared slides. At the end of the lesson, I have students complete the Hair Challenge to test their ability to identify various samples. NOTE: I will be adding the fiber information to the notes and slides when I get a chance!


Also available .