Forensics: Uncover the Science and Technology of Crime Scene Investigation (Inquire and Investigate)

Product Description Forensics: Uncover the Science and Technology of Crime Scene Investigation introduces students to the fascinating world of forensic science and shows them how to find clues, analyze evidence, and crack the case.Combining hands-on activities with forensic science, kids will have fun learning about the world of forensics, evidence collection, and crime lab analysis. Entertaining illustrations and fascinating sidebarsilluminate the topic and bring it to life, reinforcing new vocabulary.Projects include documenting a crime scene, identifying fingerprints, analyzing blood spatter, and extracting DNA. Additional materials include a glossary and a list of current reference works, websites, museums, and science centers. From School Library Journal Gr 6-9-Fans of the many popular crime-scene television programs will feel right at home with this title. After an introduction to the field of forensics, the remaining six chapters look at how evidence is found, identified, and interpreted. "Fingerprints," "Blood," and "Bones and Bodies" focus on physical evidence. The last three chapters consider other types of evidence including residues and forgeries but not cybercrime. Each chapter opens with an anticipatory question. Generous side columns are filled with "Forensic Facts," explanations of forensic careers, and other miscellaneous information. Cartoon illustrations mostly fill up space and sometimes work against the text. The "Inquire & Investigate" activities that conclude each chapter are closely tied to the topic and will give readers hands-on "behind-the-scenes" experience. The instructions can get dense but are not overly technical. The most involved projects are perhaps the DNA extraction activity and the "Shoe Print Impressions." A few activities use open flames and some require readers to find their own recipes for ingredients but provide no URL suggestions. Frequent charts and occasional graphs are needed for record keeping and analysis but no examples are provided. A complete glossary explains the many forensics specific terms. The total package is worthy of consideration.-Carol S. Surges, formerly at Longfellow Middle School, Wauwatosa, WIα(c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. Review • Booklist "Like other titles in the Inquire and Investigate series, this book focuses on a high-interest topic in a cutting-edge field to reinforce young people’s understanding of the scientific method . . . an appealing and age-appropriate STEM resource." • Other books in the series: • Praise for Music: Investigate the Evolution of American Sound • School Library Journal "This overview is a STEAM advocate's delight. . . . an admirable synopsis of the multicultural history of American music." • Praise for Genetics: Breaking the Code of Your DNA • Booklist "A solid resource that shows life science and biology students the practicalities and marvels of genetics." • National Science Teachers Association ". . .The book is written to the reader and I would use this book for a supplement if required to use a textbook. If I was not required to use a textbook, I would use this book for secondary classes. This book would be good to use with students that struggle with reading and content." • Winner 2013 Silver Moonbeam Children's Book Award • Bookloons.com ". . .this student directed approach to learning looks at the world of forensic science. The reader is shown how to find clues, analyze evidence and thus crack the case just the way real forensics investigators do. Carla Mooney's approach to this topic is to bring together hands-on investigation with history, science and technology as the young detectives discover how to carefully collect evidence and perform their own crime lab analysis. Designed for middle school students, the projects outlined in this book range from identifying fingerprints, analyzing blood spatter an