Halloween Forensic Science Crime Scene Investigation Blood Spatter Activity

Are you looking for a fun and engaging science activity for Halloween? Introduce your students to blood spatter analysis in forensics and how investigators use blood droplets in forensics to solve crimes. You will definitely want to add this not-so-scary, hands-on experiment to your list of mock crime scene investigations (CSI) activities.

Your upper elementary or middle school students will love this mock crime scene classroom activity! This activity was designed for my homeschool co-op, but it can be used without any traditional classroom without modifications. This is a great alternative to graphic or scary CSI activities. This lab is easy to set up with common materials you can easily find at your local grocery store. Tested and approved by my students - this is a FUN activity that your students will love!

Here is the scenario:

Max, the Johnson's dog, frequently escaped to explore the haunted history of Hollow Street and returned with eerie souvenirs. One evening, their daughter Ana discovered a blood-streaked newspaper Max brought, causing panic until her brother Carter confessed it was a fake mix for his Halloween prop. Inspired, Ana used the newspaper as a prop for a ghostly tale for her drama club's performance.

What will students do?

• Learn the basic principles of blood spatter analysis in forensic science
• Develop and articulate predictions
• Conduct controlled experiments, adjusting variables like angle and height to determine their effects on blood spatter patterns
• Accurately measure blood spatter dimensions, analyze their data, and draw conclusions based on their findings
• Demonstrate the ability to represent their experimental results visually using graphs, ensuring they select appropriate graph types, axes, and scales for their data
• Interpret their experimental findings, comparing their results to initial hypotheses and drawing logical conclusions based on evidence
• Creatively apply their understanding of blood spatter analysis to construct a fictional narrative, showcasing their ability to use scientific information in an imaginative context.

4 Activities Included:

• Activity 1: Blood Spatter Patterns - Students will drop fake blood from various heights and angles to create different sizes and shapes of blood droplets
• Activity 2: Blood Spatter Data Collection - Students will measure the length and width of blood spatters in a table
• Activity 3: Blood Spatter Data Analysis - Students will use data that was collected to construct two line graphs, showing the relationships between angle, height and size of blood droplets
• Activity 4: Constructing Mock Crime Evidence and Stories - Students will create mock evidence using fake blood droplets and blood spatter patterns. Then, they will create a story to go with their evidence and present it to their class.

Suggested Timeline:

Day 1:

• Introduce Blood Spatter in Forensic Science
• Activity 1: Blood Spatter Patterns

Day 2:

• Activity 2: Blood Spatter Data Collection
• Activity 3: Blood Spatter Data Analysis
• Activity 4: Constructing Mock Crime Evidence and Stories – Steps 1 & 2 (creating evidence and brainstorming story ideas)

Day 3:

• Activity 4: Constructing Mock Crime Evidence and Stories- Steps 3 & 4 (writing and presenting story and mock evidence)

Looking for more fun Halloween Science Activities.... Check out these resources:

• Halloween Science Candy Nutrition Comparison Hexagonal Thinking Activity
• Force and Motion Pumpkin Pendulums
• Nocturnal Animals Hexagonal Thinking Activity
• Nocturnal Animals Hexagonal Thinking Activity with ChatGPT
• Halloween Bingo
• Halloween Bullying Prevention - Fogging a Bully (DIY Fog Chamber)

GRAB THE HALLOWEEN SCIENCE BUNDLE AND SAVE!!

Looking for more Fun Forensics activities? Check out...

• Forensic Science Urinalysis Crime Scene Investigation
• Forensic Science Chromatography Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) Activity
• Mystery Powders Forensic Science Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) Activity
• Forensic Science Fingerprinting Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) Activity
• Thanksgiving Forensics CSI DNA Extraction and Fingerprinting Gel Electrophoresis
• Forensic Science Christmas Activity Crime Scene Investigation & Fat Analysis
• Valentine's Day Forensic Science Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) Activity

FUN FORENSICS BUNDLES:

• Fun Forensics Mega Bundle of 4 (Urinalysis, Mystery Powders, Chromatography, Fingerprinting, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas/Holiday, Valentine's Day)
• Fun Forensics Bundle of 4 (Urinalysis, Mystery Powders, Chromatography, Fingerprinting)
• Holiday Crime Scene Investigation Bundle of 4 (Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas/Holiday, Valentine's Day)

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