Forensics Basics Project: Crime Scene Processing How-To Video
This Forensics Crime Scene Video Project is a fun, creative way for students to demonstrate their learning of how to process a crime scene, document evidence, and collect evidence. Student groups will first create a Crime Scene. Then they take on the roles of CSI experts! Their goal is to create a How-To video, as if teaching new CSI students how to properly process a crime scene.
This Forensics Crime Scene Project is a fun, creative way for students to demonstrate their learning of how to process a crime scene, document evidence, and collect evidence. Student groups will first create a Crime Scene. Then they take on the roles of CSI experts! Their goal is to create a How-To video, as if teaching new CSI students how to properly process a crime scene.
There are two Rubrics to choose from:
Simple Rubric: a bit less detail provided in the rubric, giving students and the teacher more flexibility on how to complete and grade the assignment.
Honors Rubric: more detail and specifics. This is the rubric I use for my students and includes all of the topics in the Unit 1 Forensics Basics notes and activities available from Science of Curiosity on Teacher Pay Teachers
Both Crime Scene Project Rubrics ask students to:
secure the crime scene
Search for and mark the evidence
Use Forensic Photography to document the evidence
Create a Crime Scene Sketch, measuring and recording the location of each item of evidence in the scene
Collect the evidence using proper techniques
Properly label and seal the collection bags
Very detailed answer keys to both rubrics are included in this resource to give you ideas on what to teach in the Unit and how to grade your students’ projects.
Feel free to change or add anything to the rubric to best fit your class! Everything is editable!
Here is a great example of a student-made Crime Scene How-To video. It does not follow the rubric, but I find it is still very helpful to show students. It gives them an idea of how it all will come together!
Also Included in the Resource:
Evidence Labels – print these for your students to use as they document and collect evidence
Student Sign Up Sheet – a great way to assign groups, or allow your students to sign up into their own groups. This is also where they will turn in their videos by pasting the share link beside their group names! Easy and organized!
Here is a list of materials groups will need to complete the Project:
Some way to take video. Students often use their phones for video recording. They can also record to a school assigned computer or iPad.
Evidence bags – gallon sized ziplock bags work great
Other Evidence collection containers – brown paper bags for body fluid items, smaller rigid containers for fragile items
Masking tape – used for sealing the evidence bags and for taping evidence labels to bags
Crime Scene/Police tape – this can be ordered on the internet and is pretty inexpensive. I have also used yellow streamers from the dollar store!
Common Approach Path – create by cutting out squares of cardboard/poster board, or use construction paper sheets. I provide six squares to each group
Measuring tape or yard stick
Ruler (to include in crime scene photos)
Evidence markers – Make these out of cardstock and reuse them every year!
White paper – used to make paper bindles (see this video if you are not familiar with the druggist fold)
Graph paper or white paper – used for the crime scene sketch.
A box dedicated to each group to store all their things over multiple class days – Empty paper boxes from the copy room work great!
This is truly one of the best projects. I look forward to it every year! Students always turn in great videos and have such a fun time doing it!
