Eric Rude

This forensic science lab gives students an opportunity to learn how to find the source of blood spatters. Using a set of spatters of known size, the students will measure the width and length of each spatter, calculate the sine and then determine the angle of impact. They will use strings, raised to those angles, to find the point of convergence, which indicates where the source of blood was located. This includes photos of the setup, the blood spatters themselves, student instructions and da

In this Forensic Science lab, students will examine bones which were "attacked" by various weapons. They make predictions about the effects these weapons will have on bones. Then, they need to make detailed observations and measurements of marks on bones, and try to match the marks to the list of weapons.

This is a hands-on, minds-on forensic science lab in which students explore the effects of height and angle of impact on blood spatter. Students are will create their own simulated "blood" spatter samples, collect and share data, then come to conclusions about how different heights can result in different sizes of spatter and how different angles will affect the shape of the spatter. This lab not only relates to forensic science, but also uses mathematics, graphing, and the scientific method.

This is an open-ended, student-designed lab I have done both with high school sophomores and with Advanced Placement seniors. Students are given samples of simulated "Martian" sand and must design (and perform) ways to test it for life. In order to do this, they must explore signs of life and what resources living things need.