Inferences, Evidence, Crime Scene Investigation

Students will find and record clues throughout 5 different stations that allow them to practice making inferences. This "real world" lesson asks students to become text detectives to find evidence that supports their inferences. Students must read through eye witness accounts, police reports, a media blast, observe a crime scene, and analyze some forensic evidence to collect information. At the end of the five stations, they must write up a police report.

You will need to set up your crime scene and have some access to devices with internet to complete all five stations. This lesson will take two 45 minute periods, or one block class. For my students, I had them work in partners and they had 10-12 minutes at each station. I would also recommend using a larger space like a library or science lab so there is more room for your setup.

You can modify this lesson based on the needs of your students!

What is included: CSI Evidence Packet (recommended to print one per student); Police Report; Eye Witness Accounts; Character Profiles; Newspaper Media Blast; Forensic Hair Samples; Shoe Print; Stop Sign; and pictures of the crime scene. You can simply print these items out.

Please note: To create the crime scene, you will need to add a few items yourself.

Not included in this bundle: Caution Tape; soda can; grocery list; candy or gum wrapper. These items were all used in the crime scene, so you will need to find these items to reproduce the crime scene. The footprints, stop sign, and hair samples are all Google search images and included in the bundle.