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. I use this project at the end of my Crime Scene Basics Unit as an assessment.

Student groups will 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 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 make grading easy!

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.

Here is a list of things that student 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 all year. It takes some prep work, especially the first year, but well worth it! Students always turn in great videos and have such a fun time doing the project!

This resource is part of Unit 1: Forensics Basics. Here is what is available in Unit 1:

• Crime Scene Processing: Teach your Forensics students the basics for how to secure and process a crime scene
• Evidence Collection: Students access a fun online Interactive crime scene and learn how to collect different types of evidence
• Learn to Sketch a Crime Scene: Fully digital, or for class, students learn the basics of how to create a crime scene sketch and are given two chances to practice their skills 
• Forensic Photography:How to photograph a crime scene, learn and practice!
• Class vs. Individual Evidence: A fun, digital (or paper!) activity that teachers students how to identify the difference between Class and Individual forensic evidence 
• Direct vs Circumstantial Evidence: Students learn the difference, and discover the unreliability of eyewitness testimony
• Crime Scene Processing Video Project: Students take on the role of CSI experts and apply all of their knowledge to making a Crime Scene Processing How-To video
• Review Game: A super fun whole-class review game that allows teams to compete against each other with some wacky twists and turns!
• Forensics Basics Unit Assessment: 25 Multiple choice questions on a self grading Google Form!

There is more to come! Click the ‘Star’ on the Science of Curiosity Store page to be notified when more resources are made available!

• Forensic Autopsy Report - help your students practice their skills as a Medical Examiner!
• Arson Investigation - NO PREP
• Blood Spatter Lab - Student centered, learn by doing
• Forensic Files Video List - find the perfect Forensic Files video for every topic
• Forensic File Video Guide - FREE
• True Crime Book Project: Increase literacy in your Forensic Science Class!
• Murder In Miniature Forensics Project - students create their own crime scene diorama and then process the scene as an Investigator. Complete with full rubric, PowerPoint and photos of example projects

**Stay Curious!**