It sounds like the basis for an interesting program, at least. For our exhibit, we discuss something about changes in forensics, and early methods. I have attached some information that a researcher in our department created as staff background information. Maybe it will be helpful, and after you look it over we can discuss more. Regardless, I will be curious to hear what you decide to focus on and how the program goes!

  Your email came to me second hand from a co-worker on the listserv.  I’ve discussed the following program with our local forensics experts from the Washington State Patrol.

  Fingerprints:

   Ink ‘em and print ‘em out—use a plain ink pad, have each attendee print out their thumb print and talk about the unique qualities of fingerprints and the various types of prints  (loop, whorl, etc.)  
   Let several people pick up clean glasses  
   Dust for fingerprints  
   Show a slide under a microscope of a fingerprint  
   What materials are good to check for fingerprints?  What materials don’t capture fingerprints well?

  Fiber Identification:

   Show computer power-point slides of enlarge fibers and the kids guess what they’re looking at  (Hair, fur, string, wool, cotton, silk fibers…)  
   Organic matter:  microscopic pieces of marijuana plant, mud, sand, gravel samples.

  Ballistics:

   What are the marks that meake each gun/bullet/casing unique?  Show slides of rifling marks on a casing.

  Fake Crime Scene a la CSI:

   Creat a fake crime scene with a dummy victim.  Include clues to investigate.  Fake blood, fake weapon, etc.  Discuss position of victim.  
   Show the procedure an investigator would use to keep the crime scene protected.  (Plice barrier tape, gloves, photographs of the scene before any investigation is done, using a vacuum device to live microscopic fibers, hair, bagging the evidence for later use.)  
   Describe what story the evidence “tells” about the crime.

  Perhaps some of this will work for your program.  Good luck!


  I talked with my contact at the Division of Criminal Investigation here in Iowa, and he said he was going to try to cover the following:

With the younger group (we're doing one program with 3rd-5th graders), he said he would go over fingerprinting--how they pick them up, how they analyze them, that kind of thing. He was also going to go over finding clues at crime scenes--what they look for and how they analyze any evidence they pick up.

For the other program he is doing for us, which will be older--teens and adults--he thought he might bring in some pictures of crime scenes, and go into a little further detail when it comes to body fluids like blood. He is still deciding how much he wants to talk about with that older group.

I hope this helps! 

  We have a guy from our local Department of Criminal Investigation come in and do programs with our patrons.

I could get some information from him and send it along to you about what he covers. 

  I'm planning a program similar to that this summer, for grade school

kids, but maybe some of it might be helpful. One of the detectives from the Sheriff's Dept. is coming to talk to kids about how they solve crimes--what kinds of questions they ask eyewitnesses, paying attention to details, etc. He's also going to fingerprint the kids and talk a little about fingerprints.

Then all the kids will be given a "detective notebook" and someone is going to to come into the room, turn on the light, change a few things, take off a coat, etc. etc. The kids will have to write down as much about the person as they can observe.

Here's another observation game that's fun if you want to have some sort of activity along with the talk. Have someone walk around the room with a tray of various items and tell the kids to pay attention. After the person has left, tell the kids to write down as much as they can remember about the person walking around with the tray. We did this at a staff party and everyone thought it was fun.