Forensic Science

[gef918]

I have a 6 yr old coming to me for a week next month - for up to 2 hours each morning. He's very bright and keen to be a forensic scientist when he's older, so I thought I'd do lots of forensic science activities. So far, I've come up with:

making fingerprints and identifying loops, whorls and arches
making a plaster cast of a footprint
comparing and matching handwriting samples
doing some simple chemical tests on household ingredients, e.g. flour, salt, sugar, baking powder
making a facial reconstruction using playdough
decoding a message written in invisible ink

Any CSI fans out there who can give me more ideas?

[hectors house]

Gosh can't imagine a 6 year old knowing what they want to be when they are older, I am OLDER and still don't know what I want to be! Don't think it would work with printers but with old fashioned typewriters you could tell which typewriter the letter came from. (see showing my age). How about making a ransom note by cutting out different letters from newspapers? - (from the criminal angle)

Have you got a junior microscope for looking at hair and threads from different types of material?

Or you could just get Silent Witness box set and leave him to it!

[AliceK]

Gosh can't imagine a 6 year old knowing what they want to be when they are older, I am OLDER and still don't know what I want to be! Don't think it would work with printers but with old fashioned typewriters you could tell which typewriter the letter came from. (see showing my age). How about making a ransom note by cutting out different letters from newspapers? - (from the criminal angle)

Have you got a junior microscope for looking at hair and threads from different types of material?

Or you could just get Silent Witness box set and leave him to it!

Why not? My DD is aged 6 and she is adamant she wants to be a scarecrow when she's older

xxxx

[gef918]

Thanks Hectors house. Some good ideas - I do have a microscope and the ransom letter sounds like fun.

Keep the ideas coming...

[shortstuff]

Why not? My DD is aged 6 and she is adamant she wants to be a scarecrow when she's older

xxxx

Thats priceless x

[FussyElmo]

Yes best advice ignore CSI and NCIS.

In fact set up an experiment that takes 6 weeks or more to get the results from. Then he will know what a real forensic scientist has to do

[smurfette]

[QUOTE="AliceK;1343244"] Why not? My DD is aged 6 and she is adamant she wants to be a scarecrow when she's older xxxx[/QUOT

Lol how cute!!

[Glitter]

What about going for a walk through a muddy park or wood and try to identify footprints (dog, different sized people).
You can dust your house for fingerprints using a large soft make up brush and an old powder compact.
Take a magnifying glass in to the garden to look for clues.

Are we allowed to plan around our own interests? This all sounds a lot of fun, but I don't think my children would be bothered.

[specks4]

These ideas sound great just to do with older minders in general, might have to get planning.

[Jayse74]

I got one! Get a picture of a family member, print and stick it to card. Maybe do a few.

Then cut them up and do face re-constructions, photo fit id that kinda thing.

EDIT: Oh and at least the child is wanting to be something positive at least lol! Imagine having a mindee that wanted to be an MP.... how would you deal with that?

[maisiemog]

Why not? My DD is aged 6 and she is adamant she wants to be a scarecrow when she's older xxxx

My DD is going to be a chef with purple hair who rides a pink glittery motorbike!

[Dragonfly]

Still giggling from the I want to be a scarecrow reply

[AliceK]

Still giggling from the I want to be a scarecrow reply

lol, No idea why she wants to be a scarecrow but it's been her wish for a long time now bless her

xxx

[Maza]

Can't think of anything to do specifically with forensic science but in my investigations box I have torches of different kinds, magnifying glasses, mirrors, magnets, prisms, droppers...

Bicarbonate soda and vinegar investigations always go down well. Torches and mirrors - bouncing light...

[JCrakers]

lol, No idea why she wants to be a scarecrow but it's been her wish for a long time now bless her

xxx

Mmmmm. Are you secretly hoping she changes her mind as she gets older. I've heard there's not a lot of money in that career.

[AliceK]

Mmmmm. Are you secretly hoping she changes her mind as she gets older. I've heard there's not a lot of money in that career.

Lol, hmmm, well she did tell me one day she wanted to be a childminder like me and there's not much money in that either lol. Some days standing in a field seems quite appealing.

xxx

[wee_elf]

chalk outlines....or is that too far?!!

[SYLVIA]

Lol, hmmm, well she did tell me one day she wanted to be a childminder like me and there's not much money in that either lol. Some days standing in a field seems quite appealing.

xxx

As a childminder I have spent days standing in fields!!

[cupcakencookie]

Why not? My DD is aged 6 and she is adamant she wants to be a scarecrow when she's older

xxxx

Mine wants to be a dog!

[tulip0803]

Why not? My DD is aged 6 and she is adamant she wants to be a scarecrow when she's older

xxxx

MY DS wanted to be a Pokémon Trainer at that age - he is training to be a vet and he said it is the closest job he could find