Forensic Science Activities for Kids: 15+ Fun Forensic Science Projects

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Students of all ages will enjoy these forensic science activities for kids. Many kids dream of being a detective and solving mysteries. They read mystery books and want to try out a few of the activities themselves.

These forensic science activities for kids are a great addition to a forensic science curriculum. They can also be combined with books and videos to create a forensic science unit study.

Forensic Science for Kids

Forensic science is the use of science to investigate evidence and help solve mysteries and crimes. Forensic scientists carefully examine evidence such as fingerprints, DNA, handwriting, footprints, fibers, and other clues to determine what happened and how the evidence is connected.

For kids, forensic science provides a fun way to explore scientific concepts through hands-on investigation. These activities encourage children to make observations, collect and analyze evidence, look for patterns, ask questions, and use critical thinking to draw conclusions. Along the way, they can learn about biology, chemistry, and the scientific process.

Forensic science also makes an engaging hands-on science topic because children get to act like real crime scene investigators. Instead of reading about scientific concepts, they can examine fingerprints, extract DNA, analyze evidence, and solve mysteries. These forensic science activities for kids turn science into an interactive experience that encourages curiosity and problem-solving.

Please note that not every activity will be appropriate for every child at every age. I did not list ages or grade levels with the activities because every child is different. Some younger students are not bothered by activities related to crime, and others are more sensitive to certain subjects. Please look through any crime lab items and use your best judgment for your family.  At the end of this post, I share forensic science topics that are likely to be appropriate for each grade level.

Fun Forensic Science Projects for Kids

forensic science activities for kids written above a fingerprint card and a crime fighters case book
Save these forensic science activities for kids so you can always find them!

Fingerprint Activities for Kids

Fingerprints can be an important part of forensic investigations. Kids can learn about fingerprints in a couple of ways.

Make your own fingerprints

This is a very basic way to look at the unique patterns in fingerprints. Even younger children can participate in this activity. Students just need to firmly press each finger on an ink pad and then press their fingers on a piece of white paper to leave a print. Give the ink a minute to dry and then look at the fingerprint patterns with a magnifying glass.

This free printable fingerprint card from the FBI is a great resource for anyone interested in lifting and evaluating fingerprints. Printing it on cardstock is recommended, but not necessary.

Lift fingerprints

Fingerprint lifting pads are a special piece of clear tape. They allow students or forensic professionals to lift fingerprints off of surfaces. Students might enjoy trying to take fingerprints from a variety of places.

Fingerprint balloon experiment

Pressing inked fingers on deflated balloons is another way to examine fingerprints. Let the ink dry and then inflate the balloon. The print will automatically enlarge as the balloon is blown up. A very light-colored balloon will work best so that you can easily see the fingerprint.

Classify fingerprint patterns

After you have lifted fingerprints, try to classify the patterns. There are three basic fingerprint patterns:

  • Loops
  • Whirls
  • Arches

Loops are the most common fingerprint pattern and are found in 60-65% of fingerprints. They enter the fingerprint from the side, curve upwards, and then exit the fingerprint from the same side of the finger they entered.

Whirls are the next most common fingerprint pattern. They are found in 30-35% of fingerprints. Whirls are the most complex of fingerprint patterns. The fingerprint ridge follows a spiral formation, but there is a lot of variety in whirl appearance.

Arches are the least common fingerprint pattern. They are only found in 5% of fingerprints. Arches do not have any curves or spirals. Instead, the ridges go from one side of the fingerprint to the other.

Strawberry DNA Extraction

Forensic science can involve learning about DNA. Every living organism has DNA, not just people. Students can extract DNA from strawberries with just a few simple supplies.

STEAM Powered Family has the full directions, but you will need:

  • Very ripe strawberry (or fully defrosted frozen strawberry)
  • Plastic freezer bag
  • Clear dish soap
  • Table salt
  • Water
  • Isopropyl alcohol (or rubbing alcohol)
  • Coffee filter
  • Clear cup or test tube
  • Tweezers
  • Syringe, measuring cup, or measuring spoons
  • Paper towels

This is one of the most classic forensic science for kids activities. My kids did this years ago and really enjoyed it.

Blood Type Simulation

Mail-order kits make it easy to type blood samples at home; however, not everyone is comfortable with poking themselves to draw blood. An online digital blood type simulation is a great alternative.

In this online forensic science activity, students will perform blood typing for two soon-to-be parents. They want to know if their blood types will indicate problems for their new baby.

The simulation walks students through every step of the blood typing process. There are even animations to make it a little more realistic. After the simulation is completed, there are assessment questions. Students learn about the process of blood typing without any needles thanks to this online activity.

Shoeprint and Impression Evidence

Shoeprints can be evaluated as 2D impressions or 3D impressions. An example of 2D impressions is shoeprints left on a dusty floor. An example of 3D impressions is shoeprints left in mud.

Create a Shoeprint

Kids will love creating a shoeprint using oil and cocoa powder. Let them create their own shoeprints for a few pairs of shoes and then see if they can match the prints to the correct shoe.

This forensic science for kids activity might be best with older shoes or completed outside. Some forensic science activities are messy!

Analyze a Shoeprint

In this printable forensic science for kids activity, kids are trying to determine who jumped out of a window and landed in a garden. Students will analyze several shoeprints and compare them to a suspect’s shoeprint.

Handwriting and Ink Analysis

Handwriting Analysis

Handwriting analysis, otherwise known as graphology, is a way forensic scientists use a handwritten document to determine a suspect. They look for characteristics such as letter formation, slant, loops, and pen pressure. To explore this with kids, ask multiple people to write the same sentence. Then compare the writing samples. Look at how the letters are formed, spacing between words, and any other identifying characteristics.

Indented Writing Experiment

This simple forensic science for kids experiment will help children understand pen pressure. You will need:

  • 2 Pieces of white paper
  • Hard writing surface
  • Pencil
  • Dark crayon (red, blue, black, etc.)

Stack the pieces of paper and place them on the hard surface.

On the top paper, write a message or draw a picture.

Remove the top piece of paper. The bottom piece of paper should look clean.

Lightly rub the crayon over the paper and see the message or picture appear. The writing appears because the crayon doesn’t fill in the indented spaces.

This can be repeated multiple times, playing around with pencil pressure.

Ink Analysis

Even if ink samples look the same, they may have been written with different inks. This forensic science activity uses chromatography to solve a crime. Students will determine which suspect stole a famous painting by analyzing the note that was left.

Pickle Autopsy

A pickle autopsy is a way for kids interested in forensic science to get the idea of an autopsy without any blood or gore. It is essentially an investigative dissection.

It does require a few minutes of teacher prep to set up the forensic lab.

This free printable pickle autopsy page asks students to:

  • Draw the pickle exterior
  • Access and label the pickle interior
  • Collect and examine tissue samples
  • Test the pH
  • Dispose of the body
  • Determine the cause of death

Crime Scene Investigation

Kids interested in becoming forensic scientists will love collecting and evaluating evidence to solve this crime. The Grizzly family, aka the three bears, returned from a weekend away and discovered that someone had been in their house. The furniture was ruined, food was eaten, and the burglar was even in their beds.

Crime fighters will complete a few activities dealing with a few different types of evidence in order to identify the correct vandal. They will:

  • Evaluate the point of entry
  • Take an impression and analyze shoe prints left in the garden
  • Examine fingerprints
  • Record data about hair samples
  • Do handwriting analysis

This free printable activity is a great way for kids to practice their forensic science skills. They will see how multiple forms of evidence work together to help solve forensic science investigations.

Digital Crime Scene Investigation

Students will have a chance to conduct a digital crime scene investigation from the safety of their homes with this forensic science activity.

The scene opens with a dead man on the docks. It is not bloody and gory; the man is lying on the ground. We can click on the circles to gather more information about the scene. Some of the clues are real clues about the crime. Other clues are just red herrings. The game will tell you which clues are not relevant to the case, but it is a good reminder that not everything in a crime scene pertains to the crime. Forensic scientists have to use both their observation skills and critical thinking skills.

Students will evaluate the clues and try to solve the mystery.

Trace Evidence Activities

Locard’s Exchange Principle states that whenever two objects come into contact, there will always be a transfer of material. This principle is why forensic scientists search crime scenes for trace evidence. Trace evidence is any small material left at a crime scene. Trace evidence can include items such as:

  • Human hair
  • Animal fur
  • Clothing fibers
  • Soil
  • Paint chips
  • Glitter

This forensic science for kids trace evidence activity uses glitter and gives kids practice looking for and examining trace evidence.

Try an Activity from The Forensic Teacher

The Forensic Teacher offers quite a few science projects. The hands-on activities include:

  • Tire tracks lab
  • Shoe prints
  • Paint chip lab
  • DIY autopsy
  • Analyzing paper
  • Using maggots to find the time of death
  • Examining money
  • Dill pickle autopsy
  • Using reading as an intro to autopsy
  • Question document lab
  • Easy fingerprint lab
  • Trace evidence
  • PH murder
  • TV CSI mistakes
  • Using art to solve crime
  • Process a crime scene
  • Forensic geology
  • Tool marks

Forensic Science Unit Study

The forensic science courses from Science of Curiosity are great for high school students who want to learn more about forensic science. There is a full curriculum, but there are also individual units so you can choose the forensic science activities most beneficial for your student. The categories of activities are:

  • Trace Evidence
  • Fingerprints
  • Blood Evidence
  • Ballistics, Arson and Explosives
  • DNA Evidence
  • Impressions
  • Death Investigation
  • Projects

Research Forensic Science Jobs

High school students who have an interest in forensic science might want to do a little bit of research to help decide on their future careers. There are quite a few different areas that deal with the study of forensic science. Some forensic science careers include:

  • Arson investigator
  • Computer forensics examiner
  • Forensic accountant
  • Crime scene investigator
  • Forensic anthropologist
  • Forensic document examiner
  • Forensic sketch artist

Students can share their research findings through essays, PowerPoint presentations, or discussions.

Forensic Science Activities by Age

While it is true that homeschool families have the flexibility and freedom to decide which forensic science activities are right for their kids, I thought it might be helpful to share suggested topics for each age range. The world of forensic science is big, and what is appropriate for a high schooler is not always appropriate for elementary students.

Elementary Forensic Science

  • Fingerprints
  • Shoeprints
  • DNA extraction
  • Simple observation and mystery solving

Middle School Forensic Science

  • Chromatography
  • Blood typing
  • Trace evidence
  • More complex crime scenes

High School Forensic Science

  • Forensic science labs
  • Career research
  • DNA
  • Toxicology
  • Forensic anthropology
  • Forensic entomology

If you enjoyed these forensic science activities for kids, you might want to check out the educator resources available online through the International Spy Museum.

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Welcome! My name is Jennifer. I am a teacher at heart. Before my children were born I was a public school teacher. Now, I am a homeschooling mom of two.