Crime Lab Box

Crime Lab Activities

There's been a terrible crime in the Science Museum and the three activities in the box will allow the students to work out the identify of the perpetrator.

Fuming fingerprints

Prototype testing at Dunraven School, London

In this activity, your students learn how to develop latent fingerprints with vapour-deposited superglue fumes – just like the technique used by real crime-scene investigators. They will use the fingerprints to help find the identity of the thief in the Science Museum from our crime story! It is essential to use a fuming-cupboard in this activity, but the fuming chambers and additional materials safely are provided in the box.

Swipe card

 
Prototype testing at Tom Hood Community Science College, London

Your students will code and decode cards from this box for two reasons. First, they will learn that the magnetic strip on cards such as credit and travel cards always has a hidden code. Second, they will discover this hidden information may help them identify the thief in our crime story.

Casting

Prototype testing at Elstree School, Reading

Students will investigate to what extent bite marks can be used to identify a suspect. Because your teeth are as unique as your fingerprints, police officers can also use dental records to identify somebody. This activity provides the final piece of evidence to solve the Science Museum’s crime story.

What you'll find on the memory stick

On the memory stick in the box we have included PowerPoint presentations for each of the activities, posters to advertise your club sessions, logbooks for your students to record their work, detailed club leader notes, reorder information and a 3-minute film to set the scene.

Click on the image to watch a clip from the Crime Lab film

There are a limited number of these boxes available to schools so order yours now by contacting the Education Booking Office on 020 7942 4777.

Please Note: these boxes have been developed for use in a school environment, and some activities require standard lab safety equipment. They are not suitable for use outside school settings.