It is always great to see students get excited about what we are learning in class.”

Elizabeth Becker | Imagine Prep teacher

Imagine Prep Surprise forensic science students recently put their skills to the test in a simulated crime-scene investigation.

Through hands-on activities, including a blood splatter lab, fingerprint dusting and handwriting analysis, students enrolled in the course used their knowledge from the first semester to solve a mock crime.

Elizabeth Becker, a forensic science, chemistry and physics teacher, said science students learn how to secure and collect evidence from a crime scene at the beginning of the year.

Then, they learn how to analyze different pieces of evidence.

This activity combines information from each unit that was covered in Semester 1 and applies it to a single goal, analyzing a whole crime scene.

Becker said she continues to provide this activity because she enjoys seeing her students use the skills they have learned throughout the semester.

“Getting to see and hear students take leadership in their group and collaborate with their peers,” Becker said. “Once we get outside it is great to see how they take ownership of their work. Every year my students do a great job working together, using resources in their notebooks when they need information and completing their assigned role in the crime scene investigation team.”

Becker added that offering elective options like forensic science gives students an opportunity to begin seeking out subjects and topics they are interested in a low stakes environment.

“The freedom in curriculum that electives provide allows me to change the units we study based on student interest,” Becker said. “It is always great to see students get excited about what we are learning in class, or even come back later as they approach graduation to let me know they are considering studying forensics in college because they were introduced to it in our elective class.”