Master Detective Toolkit

Grab this briefcase full of investigator’s tools and get ready to track down some crooks! Learn about how detectives use forensic science to answer questions, gather evidence, and solve crimes. Experiment with the equipment and techniques used by real detectives to develop your own observation and problem-solving skills. First, you will set up your detective’s office and organize your tools. Then, you will do some exercises to hone your observation skills. Next, you will learn about securing a crime scene, and gathering and documenting evidence, including fingerprints, footprints, and tire tracks. After you have gathered evidence, such as hair and fibers, counterfeit currency, and soil samples, you will head back to the lab to learn how to analyze it. Finally, you can try your hand at deciphering codes, writing messages with invisible ink, and communicating with secret symbols. As your skills develop, you can use them to solve the practice cases. The 32-page, full-color experiment book guides your investigations with rich illustrations and step-by-step instructions. This is an inventive, engaging way to learn real science through roleplaying in imaginary adventures.

About Thames & Kosmos: Thames & Kosmos was founded in 2001 by a science museum director and her son, who saw the great need and demand for better science education materials — resources for parents and their children that are more engaging, more effective, more relevant, and more fun.