10592 : Forensic Science Halloween Case Assessment | Crime Scene Investigation

Turn your impression evidence unit assessment into a Halloween forensic investigation!

In The Case of the Sabotaged Pumpkin, students take on the role of investigators after a school Halloween festival ends with a damaged contest pumpkin and missing prize candy.

Rather than completing a traditional test, students must observe, compare, interpret, and evaluate forensic evidence to determine what the evidence supports and just as importantly, what it does not prove.

Students examine four types of impression evidence:

• Fingerprint evidence – compare a questioned latent print with known fingerprints
• Footwear evidence – analyze a partial shoe impression and distinguish between similar shoe-sole patterns
• Tire tread evidence – compare a questioned tire impression with known tread patterns
• Tool mark evidence – compare damage to test marks produced by possible tools

The case is intentionally designed so that physical evidence is associated with multiple people of interest. Students cannot simply count the number of “matches” and choose a suspect. They must consider each person's role, statements, evidence location, and reasonable explanations for why evidence may be present.

As new investigative information is revealed, students bring their comparisons together in an Evidence Review before completing a final case analysis addressing the damaged pumpkin and missing candy separately. The final questions also challenge students to explain the limitations of impression evidence and distinguish association from proof.

What's Included:

• 8-page full-color student investigation
• 8-page printer-friendly grayscale version
• Four questioned-evidence comparisons
• Four persons of interest with statements and case information
• Evidence Review
• Final Case Review
• 100-point Investigator Certification assessment
• 3-page Teacher Guide & Answer Key
• Expected responses and grading guidance
• Color Certified Investigator: Impression Evidence certificate
• Printer-friendly certificate
• Science Explorers Terms of Use

Evidence Skills Assessed:

Fingerprint patterns and comparison • footwear impressions • tire tread comparison • tool mark comparison • class and distinguishing characteristics • evidence interpretation • contextual reasoning • limitations of forensic evidence • evidence-based conclusions

Perfect For:

Forensic Science • High School Forensics • Impression Evidence Units • Halloween Forensics • Crime Scene Investigation • CSI Activities • Unit Review • Alternative Assessments • End-of-Unit Assessments

Please Note: This is a classroom-based certification activity designed as an instructional assessment. It does not represent a professional, law-enforcement, or industry certification.