Forensics for Kids: The Science and History of Crime Solving, With 21 Activities

by Melissa Ross

Overview

2023 AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize for Excellence in Science Books finalist

What kind of science does it take to solve a crime?

Forensics for Kids provides the complete history of forensic science, giving readers a comprehensive understanding of the crime-solving advancements that led to modern forensics. Author Melissa Ross reveals fascinating stories, famous cases, pioneers who led the way, and what forensics might look like in the future.

Twenty-one engaging activities offer readers hands-on experiences with modern forensic methods.
Kids will:

• Collect and compare fingerprints
• Use chromatography to investigate a writing sample
• Match hair samples with volunteer "suspects"
• Recreate a face with clay on a small plastic skull
• Make a plaster cast of a shoeprint and compare it to a shoe print database
• And much more!

Kids can become the next real-life Sherlock Holmes or Nancy Drew after exploring the science of forensics.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781641606943
Publisher:	Chicago Review Press, Incorporated
Publication date:	04/26/2022
Series:	Chicago Review Press For Kids Series
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	144
Lexile:	980L (what's this?)
File size:	6 MB
Age Range:	9 Years

About the Author

Melissa Ross is a former junior high and high school teacher. She is the author of the children's books Today I Am a Penguin and Supermoon, and a freelance writer for children's magazines. Ross has been a member of SCBWI of for many years. She lives in Fort Worth, Texas.

Table of Contents

Time Line 

1. What Is Forensic Science? 

Mystery Robbery 

Powder Experiment 

2. Forensic Science in the Nineteenth Century 

Anthropometric Measuring 

Fingerprints 

Forensic Photography 

Hair Analysis 

3. The Many Forms of Identification 

Odontology 

Composite Drawing 

Clay Face Reconstruction 

4. Modern Forensics Moves Forward 

Search Patterns 

Create a Shoe Print Database 

Tire Tread Prints 

Tool Mark Examiner 

5. Not the Usual Forensics 

Chromatography 

Handwriting Analysis 

Forging Artworks 

Hacking into the Cookie 

6. Fires and Explosions 

Linking Evidence to a Suspect 

Water Balloon Explosion 

7. Reaching Back and Heading Forward 

Design a Forensics Lab 

Unique Hands 

Resources 

Editorial Reviews

"A great nonfiction companion to the murder mysteries that young readers love so much, like Souder's Coop Knows the Scoop, Bunce's historical Premeditated Mrytle, or the excellent and somewhat underappreciated Club CSI series.” — Ms. Yingling Reads

From the Publisher