Summer SAVY 2018: Session 2, Day 3 – Investigations in Forensic Science (Rising 2nd)
I cannot believe we’re already half way through our week at SAVY! This investigation has been so fun. I’m greeted daily with big smiles and lots of new predictions from the investigators. They can’t contain their excitement. Our suspect list is narrowing down and the students are drawing some strong conclusions!
Today we focused on CHEMISTRY! We started simply by discussing matter. We spent a lot of time understanding the that atoms and molecules are the “building blocks” to all matter, similar to how amino acids and proteins that are the “building blocks” of cells. The students grasped this concept quickly and were able to make that connection from our previous learning. We then discussed how liquids have acidic or basic traits and that water was neutral. Students were not familiar with the term “acidity” so this is where we focused our instruction and activities. We used litmus tests and the pH scale to sample 5 known liquids: kombucha, apple cider vinegar, coffee, milk, and water. Students LOVED seeing the litmus test react to the liquids. Seeing their smiles and the lightbulbs as their learning came full circle was such a joy. Lastly, we tested the acidity of the liquid (a spilled cup) found at the crime scene. Ask your child about what we were or weren’t able to conclude from our evidence and suspect information!
Dinner table discussion…
What information can be found in a liquid? What are liquids made of? How can acidic traits and basic traits be tested? How do forensic scientist use chemistry to analyze spills at a crime scene? Are those spills reliable…why or why not?
-Ms. Mills
Re-examining the Scientific Process
Studying Acidity using Different Liquids
We are down to our final two suspects! Who took the laptop- Ms. Brooke or Ms. Rachel? Ask your student who they believe is the culprit and why.
