Back Issues
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theforensicteachermagazine@gmail.com
Spring 2021, Issue #37
This issue features a how to guide for using skeletal remains to quickly set up a forensic anthropology lab, a review of some of the most popular subscription box mysteries, a ready to go template your students can use for case studies, and a murder mystery designed to stimulate small group discussion and problem-solving. Plus, we rounded up several dozen cool forensic novelty items, true crime books, and forensic podcasts you somehow went your entire career not knowing about, but now you’re going to have to have. And that’s on top of the Mini Mystery, What’s Going On, Photo Mystery, The Morgue Guy, Stoopid Criminals, and everything else you’ve come to expect.
Summer 2020, Issue #36
An interview with Julia Dolan, forensic lab director for the ATF, a guide to jobs with the ATF, an evidence lab, a first day exercise, forensic truth or dare, an explosive exercise, a guide to hosting a virtual murder mystery, a compilation of online forensic activities, a cool combustion demo, and a treasury of advice for teaching online. Plus a Mini Mystery, What’s Going On, a Photo Mystery, The Morgue Guy, Stoopid Criminals, and more.
Fall 2019, Issue #35
An interview with Dana Schulze, Director of the NTSB, how to turn any worksheet into an escape room, making the most of guest speakers, a Christmas CSI mystery, a crime scene witness challenge, a cipher murder mystery, and exercises to demonstrate why your students aren’t good eyewitnesses. In addition, there’s a crossword puzzle and our regular features like the Mini Mystery, Book Reviews, The Morgue Guy, Stoopid Criminals, and more.
Spring 2019, Issue #34
An interview with Ken Moses, a fingerprint expert extraordinaire, an applied fingerprint identification challenge, a tutorial on rolling error-free fingerprints, a how-to fingerprint lab, a personalized rat autopsy exercise, a new take on pickle autopsies, a 10-print card from the FBI for your classroom a fingerprint crossword puzzle, and a fingerprint activity called “Sticky Fingers.” Plus a Mini Mystery, What’s Going On, a Photo Mystery, The Morgue Guy, Stoopid Criminals, and more.
Summer 2018, Issue #33
An interview with John Butler, a pioneer in the field of rapid DNA fingerprinting, a DNA quiz, a paternity exercise, an activity with The Innocence Project, a chance to eyeball DNA fingerprints, a DNA crossword, a simple fingerprint examiner competency test, the ultimate body recovery activity, and a chance to reconstruct a family tree using only DNA. Plus a Mini Mystery, What’s Going On, a Photo Mystery, The Morgue Guy, Stoopid Criminals, and more.
Winter 2017, Issue #32
An interview with Skip Palenik, an amazing trace microscopist, a lab about melting and burning fibers, another about fabric weaves, a webquest that links DNA to isotopes, an activity for footwear impressions in the snow, a way to compute time since death that doesn’t involve math, and a way to let your students use 21st century techniques on the 19th century Lizzie Borden case. Plus a Mini Mystery, What’s Going On, a Photo Mystery, The Morgue Guy, Stoopid Criminals, and more.
Summer 2017, Issue #31
Making sense of the mess at a crash scene is front and center in this issue. We’ve also got a cool end-of-the-year summative hands on assessment, a tape perforation lab, an STR DNA activity your students will sink their teeth into, and one of the easiest, sweetest decomp exercises ever. Plus a Mini Mystery, Summer Reading Book Reviews,New Products What’s Going On, a Photo Mystery, The Morgue Guy, Stoopid Criminals, and more.
Spring 2017, Issue #30
This issue starts with an interview with John Lentini, a legendary fire investigator, a fire and anthropology lab, a bloody footprint lab, the inside scoop on what appliances start fires, druggist’s folds explained, a glass density lab, and a peek behind the scenes of the US Fish & Wildlife’s war on chuparosas. Plus, lots more. If the Cypher ppt doesn’t download get it here. If you want the slides as PDFs click here.
Fall 2016, Issue #29
Our fall issue features an interview with Patricia Manzolillo, Laboratory Director at the US Postal Inspection Service, labs and exercises about how to analyze paper, another about analyzing ink, pollen as evidence, putting parents to good use, and a cypher activity that will leave your students on edge. Plus, a Mini Mystery, What’s Going On, Book Reviews, a Photo Mystery, Hot Links, The Morgue Guy, Stoopid Criminals, and more.
Spring 2016, Issue #28
The spring issue features an interview with Dr. Ray Murray, a forensic geologist, articles about how geology has solved crimes, a cool soil lab for your students, and a blood lab that lets your students determine if a red stain really is blood, and if it is, if it’s human plus four other tests to do on it. Plus, a Mini Mystery, What’s Going On, Book Reviews, a Photo Mystery, Hot Links, The Morgue Guy, Stoopid Criminals, and more.
Fall 2015, Issue #27
Our fall issue features an interview with Toby Wolson, one of the finest blood spatter guys working today, a messy, but wonderful blood spatter lab, an exercise to use smart phones to analyze blood spatter patterns, an ABO & Rh blood typing lab, and a new take on an exercise all about Locard. Plus, a Mini Mystery, Crossword Puzzle, What’s Going On, Just For Fun, Hot Links, The Morgue Guy, Stoopid Criminals, and more.
Summer 2015, Issue #26
The summer issue features an interview with FBI Special Agent Mike Kortan, the guy who makes sure Hollywood plays fair with the FBI, exercises on setting up and processing a crime scene, crowdsourcing for your classroom, an awesome tool marks lab, and helpful hints from our readers to make your forensic classes easier. Plus a Mini Mystery, What’s Going On, Just For Fun, Hot Links, The Morgue Guy.
Spring 2015, Issue #25
Our spring issue features an interview with the real Gil Grissom, a peek inside the real CSI-Las Vegas crime lab, a great impression activity for your students, a virtual crime scene, a lesson on bone fractures, a checklist for critiquing forensic TV shows, some ideas of things to be on the lookout for when summer eventually arrives, a Mini Mystery, What’s Going On, Just For Fun, Hot Links, The Morgue Guy, Stoopid Criminals, and more.
Summer 2014, Issue #24
This is our ballistics issue and it has a lot going on for your students. We talk to Peter Diaczuk, a firearms expert from John Jay College, there’s a firearms quiz, a lab using barcodes to compare bullets, a trajectory lesson using marshmallow guns, an inexpensive bullet lab, a Mini Mystery, an exercise comparing evidence from the Lindurgh baby murder, A Day in the Life of a firearm examiner, What’s Going On, Just For Fun, Hot Links, The Morgue Guy, Stoopid Criminals, and more!
Spring 2014, Issue #23
Our spring issue features an interview with forensic entomologist Dr. Neal Haskell, a maggot activity, a fingerprinting lab, a closer look at ninhydrin, an easy lab about hair, another about anthropometry, a Mini Mystery, What’s Going On, Just For Fun, Hot Links, The Morgue Guy, Stoopid Criminals, and more.
Fall 2013, Issue #22
Our fall issue is all about odontology and forensic accounting. It includes an interview with Dr. Lowell Levine, forensic dentist, two very different odontology labs, an exercise in forensic accounting, an ethics game, a lab reconstructing faces starting with a skull, a review and quiz on circumstantial evidence, a liar’s primer, a Mini Mystery, A Day in the Life, What’s Going On, Just For Fun, Hot Links, The Morgue Guy, Stoopid Criminals, and more.
Spring 2013, Issue #21
Our spring issue is all about digital forensics. Between its electronic covers is an interview with a digital detective, activities for recovering data, passwords, files, telling fake digital photos from real ones, career advice for students who want to do this full time, a Mini Mystery, A Day in the Life, What’s Going On, Just For Fun, Hot Links, The Morgue Guy, Stoopid Criminals, and more. You won’t find this stuff in textbooks because it’s too new, but you can get the facts now!
Fall 2012, Issue #20
Our Fall issue explores the world of art theft via an interview with Robert Wittman, founder of the FBI’s Art Crimes Unit. You’ll like a special lab that lets your students see fingernails are just as individual as fingerprints. There’s a great bug lab, one on hair, a list of resources for anyone who wants to take a free course on forensics. A day in the life of a latent print examiner, a Mini Mystery, Just For Fun, Hot Links, The Morgue Guy Labs, Stoopid Criminals, and more.
Spring 2012, Issue #19
Our Spring issue features an interview with Lesley Hammer, a high school teacher turned CSI, a toxicology vs chemistry lab, a lab on presumptive blood test false positives, two autopsy activities, two decomposition activities, a lesson where pH is used to solve a murder, a definitive guide to using long bones for height estimates, an activity to make reading fun while students get their hands wet in the lab, a Mini Mystery, Just For Fun, Hot Links, The Morgue Guy Labs, Stoopid Criminals, and more.
Winter 2011, Issue #18
80 page super-sized issue focusing on junk science in forensics and the courtroom. An interview with John Douglas, FBI profiler, an activity about ethics, another about graphology, one about hair, Information about decorating your classroom, an incentive to study evidence details for clues, Voir Dire explained, a wrongful execution, a Mini Mystery, Just For Fun, Hot Links, The Morgue Guy, Labs, Stoopid Criminals, and more.
Summer 2011, Issue #17
An interview with Sasha Alexander, TV role model, a ton of information about shoe impressions, a footprint lab, learn how a Missouri teacher’s students help the FBI, an evidence type lab (class and individual), tips and techniques for new forensic teachers, the skinny on optics in forensics vs. TV, A Day in the Life of: a ballistic firearms expert, a Mini Mystery, Just For Fun, Hot Links, The Morgue Guy, Labs, Stoopid Criminals, and more.
Spring 2011, Issue #16
110 page triple sized issue. An interview with Dr. Jay Siegal, analytical chemist. Eight labs and activities about arson and explosions to do with your students, and seven more articles. How to get your students to write, and how to do a burned bones study, plus a budget, digital microscope round-up. There are also book reviews, Forensic Crossword Puzzle, a Mini Mystery, Just For Fun, Hot Links, The Morgue Guy Labs, Stoopid Criminals, and more.
Fall 2010, Issue #15
An interview with Crime Thriller author Tess Gerritsen, the Inventor of “Rizzoli & Isles” on TNT, recipes and procedures for visualizing hidden blood, using codes to learn forensics, top 10 body farm myths, reconstructing shredded documents, environmental CSI, a hair quiz, Forensic Crossword Puzzle, Mini Mystery, Just For Fun, Hot Links, The Morgue Guy Labs, Stoopid Criminals, and more.
Summer 2010, Issue #14
An interview with John R. Dobies, Forensic Game Warden and Environmentalist, Pickle Autopsy, Would You Be A Reliable Witness? Barcode fingerprints, Using teeth to learn forensics, how to make a blood spatter cage, a complete questioned document lab, using urban myths for critical thinking, Mini Mystery, Just For Fun, Hot Links, The Morgue Guy Labs, Stoopid Criminals, and more.
Spring 2010, Issue #13
An interview with Dr. Cyril Wecht, forensic pathologist, forensic mentoring, a comprehensive fingerprinting lab, using TV forensic show mistakes to learn, using dogs to learn soil analysis, how to make a crime scene dummy, an easy tire tracks lab, a blood quiz, hot websites to look at, upcoming forensic event calendar, forensic crossword puzzle, Mini Mystery, Just For Fun, The Morgue Guy Labs, Stoopid Criminals, and more.
Winter 2010, Issue #12
An interview with Dayle Hinman, former profiler and host of truTV’s “Body of Evidence”, using art to learn forensics, an easy urine analysis lab, how to set up and run the excavation of a body activity, how to recover fingerprints from submerged objects, two mini-labs, a DNA quiz and forensic higher ed programs. The history of Forensic Documentation Examination, Forensic Crossword Puzzle, Mini Mystery, Just For Fun, The Morgue Guy Labs, Stoopid Criminals, and more.
Fall 2009, Issue #11
An interview with Frank Hicks, questioned document examiner, how to get your students to love doing book reports, duct tape forensics, making a bloody mess, blood drop physics, tabletop crime scenes. Our Forensic Myths quiz, cool live links, and forensic higher ed Programs. The history of forensic toxicology, Forensic Crossword Puzzle, Mini Mystery, Just For Fun, Hot Links, The Morgue Guy Labs, Stoopid Criminals, and more.
Summer 2009, Issue #10
An interview with Dr. Michael Baden, forensic pathologist, suggestions on how to make the most of summer, using plants to learn forensics, how to get your own GC/MS ASAP, backlight forensics, a special section for teachers new to forensics (how to set up, process, and run a crime scene). A decomposition quiz, cool live links, and forensic higher ed Programs. The history of forensic teeth marks, Forensic Crossword Puzzle, Mini Mystery, Just For Fun, Hot Links, The Morgue Guy Labs, Stoopid Criminals, and more.
Spring 2009, Issue #9
An interview with Frank Bender, a forensic sculptor who gives faces back to the dead. Using Shakespeare to learn forensics, a paint chip lab, how your students can make a polygraph, how to do a mummy study, options and suggestions for your final exam, a bloodspatter quiz, cool live links, and forensic higher ed Programs. The history of The Secret Service, Forensic Crossword Puzzle, Mini Mystery, Just For Fun, Hot Links, The Morgue Guy Labs, Stoopid Criminals, and more.
Fall 2008, Issue #8
An interview with Jeffery Deaver, author of The Bone Collector, using food to learn forensics, FBI bad guy picture quiz, Ewww! Another Decomp article, how to treat your students to a virtual autopsy, Preserving footprints in the snow, making and running a realistic crime scene. Forensic Crossword Puzzle, Mini Mystery, Just For Fun, Hot Links, The Morgue Guy Labs, Stoopid Criminals, and more.
Summer 2008, Issue #7
An interview with Dr. Herb MacDonell, Inventor of the MAGNA Brush and the world’s greatest blood splatter expert. Using garbage to learn forensics, forensic news, fingerprint quiz, how to set up a crime scene, where to find money for forensics, fake blood recipes, AFIS: What is it and how it is different from what’s on TV. Forensic Crossword Puzzle, Mini Mystery, Just For Fun, Hot Links, The Morgue Guy Labs, Stoopid Criminals, and more.
Spring 2008, Issue #6
An interview with Carol Henderson, President of the AAFS, Using History to Learn Forensics, Search Warrant Quiz, Digging For Bones (anywhere), Forensic Dentistry and how to use it in your classroom, Cadaver Blood For Teaching Blood Clots (not quite what you think), Forensic Higher Ed Programs, The History of Forensic Biotechnology, Serial Killer Crossword Puzzle, a Mini Mystery, Just For Fun, The Morgue Guy, Stoopid Criminals, and more.
Winter 2008, Issue #5
Interview with Dr. Richard Saferstein, Using Money to Learn Forensics, Forensic Crossword Puzzle, Quiz on the Miranda Rights, Alternative Light Sources Explained and Applied to Your Classroom, How to Place Your Students in Jeopardy (and Who Wants be a Millionaire and others), Examining Hair Under a New LIght, Forensic Higher Ed Programs, The History of Forensic Entomology, The Morgue Guy, and Stoopid Criminals.
Summer 2007, Issue #4
Interview with Discovery Health Channel’s Dr. G., Medical Examiner, a Comparison of TV’s CSI With the Real Las Vegas Crime Lab, Fingerprint Chemistry (and labs you can use in your classroom), Using Art to Learn Forensics, Decomposition Made Easy, The Training of Cadaver Dogs, A Day In The Life of a Fire Investigator (continued), Forensic Higher Ed Programs, The History of Forensic Chemistry, The Morgue Guy, and Stoopid Criminals.
Spring 2007, Issue #3
Interview with Dr. Bill Bass, Inside a Toomark laboratory, Making a Bloodspatter Device, Book Reviews, How You Can Set Up a Body Farm, Finding Money For Your Forensics Program, Using Forensics To Learn a Foreign Language, A Roundup of Budget Digital Microscopes, A Day In The Life of a Fire Investigator, Forensic Higher Ed Programs, The History of Forensic Entomology, The Morgue Guy, and Stoopid Criminals.
Winter 2007, Issue #2
Interview with Dr. Henry Lee, Inside a Forensics Firearms Laboratory, Using Bloodstains to Learn Geometry and Trigonometry, How One School started a 4-year Forensics Program, High School Forensics Competition, Adapting Bloodspatter Exercises for Students With Disabilities, The History of Fingerprints, Using Bloom’s Taxonomy With Forensic Education, Fake Blood Recipes, The History of Toolmarks, How Students Can Get a Forensic Career, Book Reviews, and Stoopid Criminals.
Fall 2006, Issue #1
Interview with Kathy Reichs, How to Set Up a Crime Scene, How to Process a Crime Scene, Forensics for New Teachers, Teaching Forensics to Students With Disabilities, Reading and Writing Across the Curriculum with Forensics, New Websites for Forensics, The History of Crime Scenes,, Book Reviews, and Stoopid Criminals.