Tiverton Middle School: Forensic Science

It's said that "dead men tell no tales" -- yet their bones have some interesting stories to reveal. That's what police depend on when the only clues to a crime are the bones of the victim. Then it's time to call in the "bone detectives". Following forensic anthropologist Dr. Michael Charney step-by-step through an investigation, this book shows how a person's sex, race, age, height, and weight can be determined from studying his or her bones and teeth; how markings on bones can be "read" to establish cause of death; how a sculptor uses clay to reconstruct a face from a skull so it can be publicized in the media and possibly recognized; and how all of this information can be used to help crack a case. Curious young readers will revel in every eerie detail of award-winning journalist Donna Jackson's lively text and Charlie Fellenbaum's full-color photographs as they discover how these fascinating detectives help the stories behind the bones come to life.

FEATURES: - Pairs social studies and science thematically - Shakes up the curriculum with Shocker facts that interest this age group, and a lively page layout that encourages readers to discuss and share knowledge with one another - Builds background knowledge and vocabulary through front-of-book features labeled Get on the Wavelength and High-Powered Words - Includes a Comprehension Coach that appears regularly to model and reinforce key comprehension strategies - Provides links to relevant Internet Web sites - Exposes students to a variety of formats and text features

How does psychological profiling work? How can science detect art fakes and forgeries? The 'Why Science Matters' series demonstrates how the science we learn at school is important in every aspect of our everyday lives. Using case studies and investigations, the series describes the development of science and technologies that can improve our lives - or lead to new scientific challenges and controversies. In 'Fighting Crime', we find out science can transform the chaotic jumble of specks, smudges, splinters, and stains at a crime scene into the story of the crime and the identity of the criminal. We learn about the careful analysis of evidence, such as DNA and fibers, the chemistry of catalysts, fires, and explosions, and how forensic scientists can accurately determine the time of death of a murder victim.

In this fascinating book, forensic anthropologist Dr. Elizabeth A. Murray takes readers into the forensic labs where experts use advanced technology to determine the identities of bodies whose names are unknown. Through a range of scientific methods, forensic specialists piece together the stories.