Law and (Snack) Order: A Scientific Investigation with 5/6 Teacher Bryan Adams
The transition from Lower School to Middle School brings exciting new responsibilities and opportunities. In science, moving to 5th grade means students conduct more complex experiments using scientific methods and materials. To introduce the 5th graders to their new science room, lab materials, and curriculum this year, 5/6 Science Teacher Bryan Adams had them solve a mystery involving missing snacks from their classroom. During this mini-unit, the 5th graders practiced working through the scientific process by making critical observations and inferences, analyzing sets of data, accurately testing and experimenting different samples, and drawing conclusions based on the results of multiple data points.
Upon realizing their snacks had been confiscated, the 5th graders observed the scene, where the culprit had left several identifiable pieces of evidence. Within minutes, students were posing questions, collaborating on observations, formulating hypotheses, and sharing ideas about next steps. After determining what evidence from the scene required further examination, they devised a plan.
Before diving into the physical evidence, Bryan provided the students with data tables tracking the movement of faculty in and out of the building around the time the snacks went missing to help narrow down the list of possible suspects. Then, the students composed interview questions to ask each of the four people under consideration: Neal (Interim Head of School), Julie (Head of Middle School), Mr. Mark (PE Teacher), and Angela (7/8 Science Teacher). While awaiting their responses, the students began examining the physical evidence.
The students identified three key pieces of evidence they needed to test: a water-blotted handwritten note on a paper towel, a mysterious powder on the countertop, and a fingerprint left in the powder. Using the original note as a control, they tested how different markers—Sharpie, Expo, and Crayola—reacted to water. They concluded that a blue Crayola marker was used to write the note. They followed a similar process to figure out what the powder substance was. They gathered four common household powders—baking soda, baking powder, flour, and cornstarch—and mixed each with water, vinegar, and iodine. The students determined that the powder that had the same reaction as the mystery substance was baking powder.
The students received their interview questions back with answers from each person in question, along with photos of their current office spaces. Upon examination, they found suspicious details in the interviews and offices of both Neal and Julie, including a blue Crayola marker in Julie’s office and baking powder in Neal’s office. To finalize their investigation, they conducted a fingerprint test, which provided the definitive data they needed to reach a verdict. They were then asked to write a persuasive argument that stated their determination and included several pieces of proven evidence or data to support their claim.
Neal and Julie joined the class to hear the results and reveal who confiscated the snacks. The culprit was… Julie!
Neal and Julie joined the class to hear the results and reveal who confiscated the snacks. The culprit was… Julie!
Located in College Park, MD, Friends Community School is a progressive Quaker K-8 day school, founded on the belief that every child is a valued member of our community. We offer a challenging curriculum imbued with strong values of equality, integrity, community, environmental stewardship, simplicity and peaceful conflict resolution, rooted in our Quaker heritage.
Friends Community School
5901 Westchester Park Drive
College Park, Maryland 20740
301-441-2100
5901 Westchester Park Drive
College Park, Maryland 20740
301-441-2100
