Crime Lab Chemistry: A Chromatography Mystery (GEMS Teacher's Guide for Grades 4-8)

In this updated forensic science primer, student detectives use paper chromatography to investigate solubility, pigments and separation of mixtures to solve a mystery. Teachers can use this unit to draw upon students' interest in and enthusiasm for solving mysteries to convey important scientific concepts, methods and techniques. Several mystery scenarios are suggested, and teachers can create their own. Teachers will find new activities more clearly aligned with standards.