Getting Kids More Interested in Science is Easier Than You Think

Science can be dull for some students. Not everyone has an interest in science, but making it fun can help with studies and with class participation. Subjects we study as children could possibly become building blocks for careers as adults. It's important that children actively participate in class, to learn and retain the curriculum.

Science teachers can take advantage of popular programs like CSI and make their own mock crime scene for the class. A list of things that will be needed can be sent home with the students, and parents can send the items they have around the house to school. Some of the items would be red food coloring or Halloween vampire blood, pet hairs, human hairs, plastic zipper baggies, latex gloves, clear packing tape (for lifting hairs and fingerprints), dark eye shadow and a large cosmetic brush (for dusting for fingerprints), and anything else that may be deemed necessary for the type of crime scene that will be set up. When dusting for fingerprints with eye shadow, brush a generous amount of the eye shadow over the print, press clear packing tape to the print, and place the tape on a white index card.

Students can be split into groups of 5 or more, depending on class size, and work as individual CSI teams. Some students will not be grouped into a team, and they will be suspects. Those students will be sent home with information about the "crime" so that they can play their role during this class activity. A CPR dummy or science class skeleton can serve as the "victim" if no child is available to play that role. One student from each team can be the captain, and that person will interview the suspects. Each student will be required to take notes on his or her own notebook, and compile evidence within their own groups to try to solve the crime.

Since this project will likely consume all of the time allowed for class, the homework can be writing a report naming what evidence was found, how it links to each suspect, and each child's determination of "who-done-it." While children will not be experts at identifying fingerprints, the lifting of fingerprints will serve as part of investigating, and nothing more. This exercise will serve as a tool to show children that science can be more than just opening a text book and reading information. It allows hands-on participation, as well as the opportunity to challenge their minds.

This exercise can teach students a new respect for science. Exercises like this one can be used several times during the school year, and can even be used as a reward for classroom behavior, or for a day when all students handed in completed homework assignments or did well on a quiz. Bringing new ideas to the classroom that make the subject interesting and hands-on will help those struggling to get more interested and hold their attention.