Is your primary school carrying out themed work or a project on forensic science? It’s a powerful way of introducing a range of scientific principles to the pupils and showing how science is used in the real world. There are lots of opportunities for practical work and role-play around simulated crime scenarios.

The book ‘How to be a Forensic Scientist’ by top forensics educator and former forensic scientist Simon Shawcross is packed with information and practical ideas that can be fitted in to suit your project. It deals in a very accessible way with how work at crime scenes is carried out, and all the major evidence types including fingerprints, DNA, footwear marks and mobile phones. There are sections on maths in forensic science, writing reports, and how forensic scientists give evidence in court.

The book helps schools to tailor projects to their own requirements – you can dip into it for information about different evidence types and ideas for practical – and link the projects to literacy and numeracy. Forensic Science is of equal interest to girls and boys and can show them how practical work and scientific ideas go together to produce powerful outcomes.

A teacher reviewer said: ‘This book is a great resource for any Primary classroom teacher who is looking for a creative way to teach science in context. The book can be worked through or dipped into at various points, and has questions, scenarios and explanations from everything from examining a crime scene, looking for fingerprints, maths in forensic science and interpreting evidence as well and many other things. Really great for a half termly project and can be applied across the curriculum, and ideas can be adapted in lots of different ways. Great to get kids engaged in forensic science!’

To purchase the book from Amazon please follow this link.