‘4-H Investigates’ murder mystery
4-H’ers learned through hands-on research how biotechnology is used to solve crimes. Photo Courtesy Peggie Lewis
Sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade 4-H’ers from nine North Carolina counties got to figure out “who-done-it” at a special 4-H camp in June. Specifically, the 4-H participants from the Northwest District of North Carolina Cooperative Extension investigated who killed the fictional Professor Halftrack and what the suspect’s motive might have been.
The murder mystery was part of a biotechnology camp, “4-H Investigates,” sponsored by Extension and partially funded by a grant from the North Carolina 4-H Development Fund.
The young investigators learned first-hand from law enforcement officers how to collect evidence at a crime scene and how technology can be used to solve crimes. The investigators then worked in teams to gather evidence, question suspects and solve the mystery. Along the way, the youngsters were given the opportunity to conduct experiments, which helped them solve the crime and better understand biotechnology.
During the camp, the 4-H investigators went behind the scenes at the Surry County jail and courthouse, as well as Hodges Funeral Home and the N.C. Large Animal Diagnostic Lab, both in Elkin.
At the jail, the campers visited with inmates, asking questions about life in prison. At the funeral home, the funeral director explained the procedure of preparing a body for burial. And at the N.C. Diagnostic Lab, the investigators learned about necropsy by watching a doctor perform an examination and determine the cause of death of a livestock animal.
The group also participated in other hands-on workshops conducted by Cooperative Extension staff and volunteers, experts from the Wilkes County Sheriff’s Department and Wilkes Community College, as well as from a fellow 4-H’er. Through these workshops, the investigators learned how biotechnology is used in professions other than law enforcement, such as medicine and agriculture, to cure disease, develop better yielding crops and prevent diseases from spreading in animals.
The 4-H’ers got to try their hand at everything from crime-scene photography to fingerprinting. They learned how to take teeth impressions and even extracted their own DNA. A workshop on fruit DNA analysis taught them about genetic engineering. They also learned that blood spatters (it does not splatter) through the instruction of Ryan Archer, a Guilford County 4-H’er. He also helped the investigators determine which household product could best be used to lift fingerprints.
“The program is designed to get kids excited about science and show them all the different career opportunities available to them,” said Peggie Lewis, 4-H agent in Guilford County. “We’ve already heard from one of the participants that, as a result of this experience, he wants to become a forensic scientist. This is a unique program, and we really hope to expand it next year. ”
— Suzanne Stanard
The murder mystery was part of a biotechnology camp, “4-H Investigates,” sponsored by Extension and partially funded by a grant from the North Carolina 4-H Development Fund.
The young investigators learned first-hand from law enforcement officers how to collect evidence at a crime scene and how technology can be used to solve crimes. The investigators then worked in teams to gather evidence, question suspects and solve the mystery. Along the way, the youngsters were given the opportunity to conduct experiments, which helped them solve the crime and better understand biotechnology.
During the camp, the 4-H investigators went behind the scenes at the Surry County jail and courthouse, as well as Hodges Funeral Home and the N.C. Large Animal Diagnostic Lab, both in Elkin.
4-H'ers did experiments in biotechnology.
Photo Courtesy Peggie Lewis
Photo Courtesy Peggie Lewis
The group also participated in other hands-on workshops conducted by Cooperative Extension staff and volunteers, experts from the Wilkes County Sheriff’s Department and Wilkes Community College, as well as from a fellow 4-H’er. Through these workshops, the investigators learned how biotechnology is used in professions other than law enforcement, such as medicine and agriculture, to cure disease, develop better yielding crops and prevent diseases from spreading in animals.
The 4-H’ers got to try their hand at everything from crime-scene photography to fingerprinting. They learned how to take teeth impressions and even extracted their own DNA. A workshop on fruit DNA analysis taught them about genetic engineering. They also learned that blood spatters (it does not splatter) through the instruction of Ryan Archer, a Guilford County 4-H’er. He also helped the investigators determine which household product could best be used to lift fingerprints.
“The program is designed to get kids excited about science and show them all the different career opportunities available to them,” said Peggie Lewis, 4-H agent in Guilford County. “We’ve already heard from one of the participants that, as a result of this experience, he wants to become a forensic scientist. This is a unique program, and we really hope to expand it next year. ”
— Suzanne Stanard