15+ Forensic Science Activities that No One Knows

I’m passionate about incorporating critical life skills into our daily routines as a mother of curious 🧐 kids. My son and I have just lately been interested in the fun world of forensics. 

Forensics is an interesting way to engage curious minds while nurturing essential skills. From fingerprint analysis to mystery-solving, these hands-on adventures are simple, ensuring enjoyable learning. 

Our house has developed into a gathering place for entertaining and informative events, where everyday tasks become interesting chances for exploration.

Fascinating Forensic Activities for Your Kids

I am pleased to share with you a variety of fascinating forensic activities that we have explored together in this blog post. 

These interactive activities are designed to be simple and enjoyable, with the goal of inspiring your kids’ interest and exploration. 😁

Teeth Impressions

I presented my son with an intriguing Teeth 🦷 Impressions project. We made dental molds out of safe playdough to see the differences between our teeth. My son giggles as he stamps the soft clay with their brilliant whites. 

We talk about how, similar to fingerprints, each imprint differs much as in detective work.

Pro Tip: 

Have your children create teeth impressions using playdough. It’s entertaining and safe. Describe how each print, like a fingerprint, is different. 

Sensory Observation 

I scatter mystery items across the living room—soft fabrics, bumpy toys 🧸, fragrant flowers. Blindfolded, my son explores each with his fingers, guessing what’s what solely through touch. 

This sensory escapade not only fuels the imagination of your kids but also hones their observation skills.

Pro Tip: 

Scatter different things in the room—soft fabrics, bumpy toys 🧸 , fragrant flowers 🌸 . Let them explore using just their sense of touch. It’s a simple way to spark imagination and improve their ability to notice and understand the world around them.

Blood Typing

For this fun experiment, I turned our kitchen into a temporary laboratory. I provide a colorful and safe environment by using red, blue, and yellow water, which stands for the blood 🩸 types A, B, and O. My son used droppers to carefully match the “blood” in order to determine their blood types. 

This practical lesson grabs students’ interest in their bodies and transforms learning into a fun game.

Pro Tip: 

You can use red, blue, and yellow water to symbolize blood types A, B, and O. Allow your children to experiment with droppers to determine their “blood” type. This makes for a vibrant, interactive lesson that makes learning about our bodies fun and informative for your kids. 

Solving a Mystery

At home, we go right into exploring mystery when my son and his friends are here. 

I create interesting settings and hide hints throughout our living room. Each kid is given a magnifying glass 🔍 and an assignment: solve the puzzle 🧩 ! They draw murder scenes, examine fingerprints with great anticipation, and examine mysterious powders. 

Pro Tip: 

You can provide each kid with a magnifying lens, disperse clues in various locations, and utilize commonplace objects as props. Keep it basic, like powders that are mysterious or fingerprints.

Ciphers and Codes

I hand out papers with simple ciphers and codes, making it a game for my son to crack them. We create our own secret languages, exchanging notes 🗒️ and solving mysteries. With colorful markers, my son and I decode hidden messages.

Pro Tip:

Use different symbols for each letter when creating ciphers. Make a cheat sheet for reference. Encourage kids to swap codes and messages. Use colors to make it even more fun. 

Fingerprinting

I turn our kitchen into a Fingerprinting Lab 🥼 . Armed with non-toxic powder and clear tape, we turn ordinary objects into crime scenes. I guide my son in dusting surfaces for fingerprints, carefully lifting them onto tape. 

It’s a hands-on adventure that not only entertains but also introduces the wonders of forensic science.

Pro Tip: 

Turn your kitchen into a fun Fingerprinting Lab for kids. Use non-toxic powder and clear tape to discover the world of forensic science. Dust surfaces and lift fingerprints onto the tape — it’s a hands-on adventure that entertains and teaches at the same time. 

Footprint Analysis 

I transform our backyard into a detective haven with a thrilling Footprint Analysis activity. I scatter “clues” – footprints made from toys 🧸 or cutouts. My child and I talk about the different shapes and sizes, comparing them to the shoes we wear. 

It’s a simple way to introduce the idea of tracking and identification to your kids, turning your home into a mini crime-solving adventure. 

Pro Tip:

You can create toy footprints, compare sizes to shoes 👟 , and spark curiosity. It’s a fun way to teach tracking and identification, making your home a cool crime-solving zone.

Ink Chromatography

We create magic on paper with simple supplies like filter paper 📄 , markers, and water. First, we drew colorful dots with markers on the filter paper. After that, we add a splash of water to see how the colors separate and reveal their secrets.

My son was fascinated as he witnessed the magic unfold, turning our kitchen into a mini-science lab 🧪.

Pro Tip:

You can draw dots on the filter paper with markers, add a splash of water, and watch the colors spread and reveal hidden secrets. 

Hair and Fiber Analysis

I collect samples from around the house 🏠 —different hair strands and fibers. We examine textures and colors, learning how each is unique with a magnifying glass. Then, I have a discussion with my son about how real detectives use these clues to solve mysteries. 

Pro Tip: 

Collect different hairs and fibers, then use a magnifying glass 🔍 to check out their textures and colors. Every little detail is unique.

Handwriting Analysis

I introduced my son to Handwriting Analysis at home, and we transformed our kitchen into a mini forensics lab 🥼! Equipped with magnifying glasses and paper samples, we compare and decode the different twists and turns in our handwriting. 

Pro Tip: 

You can let your kids use different writing ✍️ tools and paper types to see how they affect writing and to experiment with writing speed and pressure, too.

Mystery Powder Analysis

I gather everyday powders like sugar, salt 🧂, and baking soda to create mysterious mixtures, and with magnifying glasses 🔎 in hand, I let my son observe textures, colors, and reactions. 

It’s a playful crime-solving adventure as we guess and check our way through this hands-on investigation.

Pro Tip: 

I recommend you use small amounts, wear safety glasses 🥽, and note reactions. It’s like being a detective with magnifying glasses.

DNA Extraction

First, I gather items from our kitchen: a ripe strawberry 🍓 , dish soap, salt, and rubbing alcohol. With my little scientist by my side, we mash the strawberries in a ziplock baggie, adding a pinch of salt 🧂 and soap. After a good squish, we filter out the mush and add cold rubbing alcohol. 

Pro Tip:

You can make fun science at home with a strawberry DNA 🧬 experiment! Mash a ripe strawberry with a pinch of salt and dish soap in a baggie. Filter out the mush and add cold rubbing alcohol.

Crime Scene Sketching

We transformed the living room into a mysterious crime scene. I guide my son to observe, measure, and sketch, teaching them the basics of forensic art. We use pillows as “clues” and draw our own detective masterpieces.

Pro Tip: 

You can also teach and encourage your kids to observe, measure, and sketch.

Detective Obstacle Course 

I use pillows, tables, and toys to construct a difficult route with obstacles and hints. 

You can give your kids magnifying glasses 🔎 and detective hats 🎩 to solve “mysteries” and find hidden evidence as they make their way through the course. 

It’s a delightful combination of creativity and skill development, bringing laughter and the thrill of exploration to our afternoons.

Pro Tip: 

You can vary the difficulty levels of the clues and use vibrant markers to make them visually appealing. Encourage collaboration to spark creativity and solve problems.

Document Detective Expedition 

Grab a magnifying glass, some pens 🖊️, and paper. First up, we learn about document examination. I hide notes around the house, and my son examines them for clues. 

We talked about handwriting, ink, and paper types. He then had to play “detective” to match the notes with suspects.

Pro Tip: 

To make an invisible ink solution, combine equal parts water and lemon juice. Encourage your children to write messages on paper using cotton swabs or tiny brushes. When the paper has dried, uncover the hidden messages using a magnifying glass or holding it up carefully to a lightbulb.

Toolmark Detective

We play the “Toolmark Detective” game at home occasionally. I gather various tools 🛠️ and objects with distinct marks, like keys 🔑 , coins, or toy tools. With magnifying glasses in hand, we inspect and compare the marks left behind. 

We then discuss how each tool creates different impressions and how forensic examiners use these marks to solve mysteries. It’s like being a detective, examining clues! 

Pro Tip: 

For a closer look at tool marks, gently press soft modeling clay onto the marked surface, then carefully peel it off. This clay impression helps magnify the details, making it easier to analyze the marks left by different tools. It’s a fun and simple way to explore tool marks, just like real forensic experts!

Splatter Analysis

At home, I turned a simple art project into a fun detective game: Splatter Analysis! We covered our table, wore old clothes, and dipped brushes into colorful paints. My son flicks the brush onto a blank sheet. Then, we inspect the splatters closely. 

Using magnifying glasses, we discuss the patterns, sizes, and directions of the splatters, turning them into a detective challenge.

Pro Tip: 

To create different splatter patterns, experiment with brush sizes and flicking distances. Splatters are typically larger when larger brushes and closer flicks are used and become smaller when smaller brushes and farther flicks are used. You may increase the fun and variety of your detective work by experimenting with these variations!

Conclusion

In conclusion, exploring the world of forensics with your kids can be both fun and educational. 

I would say that these hands-on activities, from teeth impressions to splatter analysis, spark curiosity and develop critical skills in your kids. 

I hope you try them out and share your thoughts in the comments below.