Synopses & Reviews
The fascinating world of forensic science is introduced to students in this interactive book that shows them how to find clues, analyze evidence, and crack the case. Combining hands-on investigation with history, science, and technology, kids will have fun learning about the world of forensics, collecting evidence, and performing their own crime lab analysis. The open-ended activities encourage students in the seventh through ninth grades to use their imaginations and skills to experiment, create, and solve problems, while entertaining illustrations and fascinating sidebars illuminate the topic and bring it to life. Educational “Words to Know” are highlighted and defined within the text to reinforce new vocabulary. Projects include documenting a crime scene, identifying fingerprints, analyzing blood splatter, and extracting DNA, and additional materials include a glossary, and a list of current reference works, websites, museums, and science centers.
Review
“Students interested in science or technology might accidentally learn to like history after reading this book.” —School Library Journal on The Industrial Revolution
Review
“This combination history and activity book from the Build It Yourself series will enliven home school and classroom history units. . . . Mooneys narrative is engaging and very readable.” —Childrens Literature Review on Explorers of the New World
Review
Winner 2013 Silver Moonbeam Children's Book AwardWinner of a 2013 Society of School Librarians International Honor Book Award
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 peoples understanding of the scientific method. . .an appealing and age-appropriate STEM resource."
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 and extracting DNA, to dealing with footprints and tire tracks and finding a forged signature. With entertaining illustrations and informative Forensic Fact sidebars that offer more information about the topic, this book will not only engage the reader but also make the young person want to know more about the subject."
Dwight E. Adams, Ph.D., Director, Forensic Science Institute, University of Central Oklahoma
This age-appropriate book is an excellent example of both the breadth of forensic science and the amalgamation of science, art, technology, and law. It provides excellent hands-on exercises to reinforce the content.”
Clea Koff, forensic anthropologist and author
"Forensics gets at the essence of crime scene investigation. A must-read for any young student interested in how science can help solve crimes.”
Marla Conn, educational consultant
"This title is perfect! Forensics aligns to the Common Core CCR standards for reading informational texts and science/technical subjects.”
James Creecy, DNA Evidence Coordinator, Forensic Science Institute, University of Central Oklahoma
"Carla Mooney did her homework! I particularly enjoyed the experiments at the end of each chapter. As a forensic scientist, educator, and parent I am happy to recommend this introduction to the fascinating world of forensics.”
Synopsis
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 sidebars
illuminate 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. Forensics meets common core state standards in language arts for reading informational text and literary nonfiction and is aligned with Next Generation Science Standards. Guided Reading Levels and Lexile measurements indicate grade level and text complexity.
About the Author
Carla Mooney is a writer whose work has appeared in Golfer Girl, Highlights, and Learning Through History. She is the author of several books in the Build It Yourself series, including Amazing Africa Projects You Can Build Yourself, Explore Rivers and Ponds!, Explorers of the New World, George Washington: 25 Great Projects You Can Build Yourself, and The Industrial Revolution. She lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Samuel Carbaugh is the illustrator of Amazing Math Projects You Can Build Yourself, Discover the Desert, Food: 25 Amazing Projects, George Washington: 25 Great Projects You Can Build Yourself, Robotics, and Timekeeping. He lives in White River Junction, Vermont.