November 18, 2009

Grade 5 students in Cily Rueda's Scotia Scholars class, new this year as part of the school district's OPAL enrichment program, studied the power of forensics in investigating crimes. The students made plaster of paris imprints of their shoes as well as impressions of their bite marks on two pieces of Styrofoam.

Working with them were Patti and Bud Bertino, "traveling scientists" who walked the students through the plaster making and teeth impression steps. They have studied assessing fingerprints in previous classes.

"They would be at a real crime and be able to begin their investigations by what they see and find," said Rueda.

"The more evidence you can collect, the better chances you have of solving that crime," Patti Bertino told the students.

Below are some pictures from today's class activities:
student making a plaster shoe imprint students making plaster shoe imprints
students making plaster shoe imprints students making plaster shoe imprints
students making plaster shoe imprints students making foam imprints of their teeth
students showing the foam imprint of her teeth student showing the foam imprint of her teeth