Forgery Detection- The Paper Trail

This exercise introduces the younger student to the document section of a crime lab. Through a variety of scientific techniques the students will examine the processes of document analysis and discover how common documents might be part of a crime scene.
Students will do physical and chemical analysis of paper and inks. They will use various techniques to analyze handwriting and produce and retrieve hidden messages. Each group will then prepare a document to be authenticated by other class-mates. This activity is for children grades 5-8 and will take 4-5 class periods to complete. There are enough materials in this kit for 24 students in groups of 4.

Materials Included:

Teachers Manual Paper samples Spray bottle Hand lenses Pencil samples Chromatography tubes Alignment tool sheets

Student packet Ethanol Tincture of iodine Cotton swabs Pen samples Chromatography paper

Materials not included but needed:

Lemon Juice White paper Old newspaper Paperclips Desk lamps and/or hot plates

Scissors Water Microscopes Spray starch