Forensic Science Investigation

Students in Kristina Braithwaite’s Forensic Science class built different variations of popsicle-stick houses—just to burn them down so they could be analyzed for the possibility of arson. While building the houses, students were asked to come up with stories about their houses and the people who “lived” in them. When it came time to set the houses on fire, they were asked to start the fires in the place they were supposed to have started in the narrative of their story (a doorway, a couch, etc.). After the house burned for three to five minutes, the “fire department” (another student from the group) put out the fire. Kristina’s next class will analyze the remains of the houses to see if they can solve the crime through an arson investigation. 

Brighie Hogan ’23 said, “This lab was one of my favorites this year! From creating the story, to building, to setting the house on fire, it was a very fun project. Learning about how investigators solve arson cases in a hands-on way was super interesting!”