Forensic Science Christmas Activity Crime Scene Investigation & Fat Analysis

Looking for a FUN Forensic Science Christmas Activity? This public-school, low-prep activity is EASY to set up and FUN for students! Students will use brown paper bags to investigate the fat content of cookies. This information will be used to solve a holiday mystery. Then, students will examine motives for each suspect in the mystery and write a short article. Your students will love this Holiday-themed, engaging FUN FORENSICS activity... NO ONE DIES! This activity aligns with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and is perfect for integrating STEM into your Holiday-themed lessons.

The Story:

Help! Just before the Holiday Cookie Contest is about to begin, volunteers realize that a prankster took the Nutrition Facts labels and used them to make paper snowflakes! They need your help to quickly identify which label goes with which cookie….

Activity 1:

Analyze fat content of cookies and then match labels to cookies.

Activity 2:

Examine the motives of suspects and write a short newspaper article to share the details.

What's Included in this Forensic Science Christmas Activity:

• Detailed Student Instructions: Detailed step-by-step instructions with photos (printer-friendly version also included) and data tables are included.
• Comprehensive Teacher's Instructions: Includes setup instructions, prep, and an answer key.
• Three Informational Reading Passages: Detailed and student-friendly texts that provide background knowledge on forensic biochemistry, examining motives, and an article about the Horse Meat Scandal.
• Mock Crime Scene Scenario: A fun and intriguing Holiday mystery centered in the town of Pineville, at an annual holiday cookie contest.
• Hands-On Fat Analysis: Step-by-step instructions for students to conduct their own analysis of the fat content of cookies using the "brown paper bag test."
• Assessment Tools: Follow-up questions to assess students' understanding of the material.
• Creative Writing Prompt: An opportunity for students to write their own ending to the mystery, fostering creative thinking and writing skills.
• Editable Nutrition Facts: Easy-to-use, editable Nutrition Facts labels for you to modify the labels for whichever cookies you choose to use in the activity.*

Educational Value:

• Promotes Critical Thinking: Students analyze evidence and deduce the culprit, developing important critical thinking skills.
• Real-World Science Application: Demonstrates the practical application of forensic biochemistry in solving crimes.
• Interactive Learning: Encourages active participation and hands-on experience with scientific concepts.
• Cross-Disciplinary: Incorporates elements of biology and language arts.

*IMPORTANT NOTE TO BUYERS!!!

This activity was written using cookies from Panera Bread. You can purchase cookies from Panera Bread and use the prepared labels included in the activity. Or, you can use any cookies of your choosing. Results will be best if you purchase cookies from a bakery or if you bake the cookies using store-bought cookie dough, as opposed to baking "homemade" cookies.

Note:

1. You must have access to the nutrition facts for each cookie for this activity to work well.
2. Choose cookies with different fat content so the students can attempt to match their results with the nutrition facts.

Looking for more fun Holiday Science Activities.... Check out these resources:

• Ugly Christmas Sweaters: Endangered Animals
• Forensic Science Christmas Activity
• Holiday Two Truths and a Lie
• Holiday Bingo
• Holiday/Christmas Crossword Puzzle
• Snowflake Craft - Borax Crystal Science Ornament with SEL
• Milk Plastic Biology Ornament
• Snow Crystal Ornament Object Lesson
• Curdled Milk Ornament Object Lesson
• Color Changing Ornament Object Lesson
• Copper Patina Ornament Christmas "Chemistree"
• German Candle Pyramid Heat Transfer Activity

SAVE $$ With Holiday Bundles:

• Christmas Activities for Science (9 Activities)
• Holiday No Prep Science Bundle (3 Activities)
• Holiday Crime Scene Investigations (4 Activities, Growing Bundle)
• Christmas Science Ornaments (3 Activities)
• Christmas STEM Sunday School Object Lessons (3 Activities)

Looking for more Fun Forensics activities? Check out...

• Forensic Science Urinalysis Crime Scene Investigation
• Forensic Science Chromatography Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) Activity
• Mystery Powders Forensic Science Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) Activity
• Forensic Science Fingerprinting Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) Activity
• Halloween Forensic Science Crime Scene Investigation Blood Spatter Activity
• Thanksgiving Forensics CSI DNA Extraction and Fingerprinting Gel Electrophoresis
• Forensic Science Christmas Activity Crime Scene Investigation & Fat Analysis
• Valentine's Day Forensic Science Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) Activity

FUN FORENSICS BUNDLES:

• Fun Forensics Mega Bundle of 4 (Urinalysis, Mystery Powders, Chromatography, Fingerprinting, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas/Holiday, Valentine's Day)
• Fun Forensics Bundle of 4 (Urinalysis, Mystery Powders, Chromatography, Fingerprinting)
• Holiday Crime Scene Investigation Bundle of 4 (Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas/Holiday, Valentine's Day)

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