Forensic science study enhances H.O.B. language arts unit
As part of their English Language Arts mystery genre unit, fourth-grade students at H.O. Brittingham Elementary School recently had a notable opportunity to collaborate with local law enforcement and explore how real-life mysteries are solved.
Delaware State Police Detective Elizabeth Zambrano, school resource officer, and Detective Krystle Wideman joined students for an interactive lesson focused on how evidence is collected and analyzed during investigations. Throughout the mystery unit, students are studying forensic science to help make their stories more logical and believable.
Designed to deepen student engagement in the curriculum and reinforce the idea that strong writers must become experts in their topics, the visit provided a positive, meaningful way for students to interact with local law enforcement.
During the classroom presentations, Zambrano and Wideman introduced students to different types of evidence and explained the process detectives use to determine what evidence is needed to solve a case. Students learned how observations, details and careful analysis each play a critical role in investigations. These are all skills that directly connect to effective writing.
Following the presentation, students rotated through hands-on learning centers where they experienced lifting and analyzing their own fingerprints, solved a case involving a missing cupcake, researched forensic science and completed a short assessment to demonstrate their understanding. Then they began to apply their learning to their mystery-writing projects.
“This experience helped our students see that the skills they’re learning as writers connect directly to the real world,” said Jessica Ryan, a fourth-grade teacher at H.O.B. “By studying forensic science and learning from law enforcement, they’re gaining the background knowledge they need to make their mystery writing more realistic and meaningful.”
