Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
Assemble A Detective Kit
Purchase materials for investigating the crime scene, including a flashlight, goggles, disposable gloves, yellow caution tape and a magnifying glass.
Purchase equipment for preserving evidence, such as a disposable camera, baby powder and a makeup brush for fingerprint dusting and plaster of Paris for casting footprints. Include cotton swabs, re-sealable plastic bags and empty baby food jars for sample collection.
Decorate a pencil box, tool box or canvas tote bag to look like a detective kit. Write "Junior Detective" on the kit and store the items inside.
Stage A Mystery
Write a coded message on white paper using lemon juice. The message can reveal a clue about the suspect, demand a ransom or lead to key pieces of evidence.
Plant evidence at the scene of the crime by leaving fingerprints on a mirror or television, a hair beside a fallen knick-knack or a trail of crumbs.
Leave footprints across the floor, under a window or leading around a bush. Make animal footprints that your child must identify, or use different shoes that your child must match to the wearer.
Prepare your "witnesses" with details about the crime they can share when your child conducts interviews.
Follow The Clues
Introduce your child to the crime by giving him the coded message. Help him hold the paper over a heat source, such as a light bulb, to reveal the clue.
Hover around the crime scene, giving your child hints about where to find possible clues. Allow your child to find and collect the evidence himself.
Show your child how to brush baby powder over any fingerprints using the makeup brush. Let your child press a piece of tape over the fingerprint then remove it to life a copy of the print.
Show your child how to set a plaster cast to preserve a footprint. Mix a small amount of plaster of Paris, then pour it into the footprint. Let the plaster set for at least 30 minutes, then dig it up and brush off the dirt.
Help your child interview the witnesses, making sure he notes key pieces of information.
Review the evidence with your child, but allow him to arrive at the correct solution on his own. Allow your child to state his evidence before nabbing the suspect and closing the case.