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Union Ridge School eighth-grade students on May 25 demonstrated their crime investigative skills during "Crime Scene Investigation URS."

The unit was part of exploratory classes for the eighth grade at Union Ridge School District 86 in Harwood Heights. Students were given substances to test and verify, said Cathy Lenzini, middle school science teacher.

The unit employed STEAM curriculum principles science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics she said, helping to instill scientific applications to students.

"If they want to be in law enforcement, maybe they want to go into the criminologist part where they can help solve crimes. There's a lot of science in criminology," she said. "These types of activities, they'll remember."

Students used beakers and directed heat to complete experiments. They recorded results as they tracked identification.

"I'm very impressed with the creative exploratory classes that our teachers provide students," said Mike Maguire, Union Ridge School District 86 superintendent. "This CSI class introduces students to the world of forensic science. Hopefully, these types of electives will help guide our students as they begin thinking about future professions."

Konrad Kruczek worked alongside classmate Krystian Szczech.

"It's pretty interesting because you get to think like a criminal," Kruczek said. "You need to know how to do everything, all of the procedures ..."

"You have to be one step ahead of them, smarter," Lenzini said, of the criminal thinking.

Maddi Polley evaluated her assignment up close as she measured.

"I think it's a good way to just learn about what people do in the real world," she said.

Going into the mind of a criminal is, "pretty sick," she said, adding "it breaks my heart a lot because I don't know why people need to be so mean to each other."

Gabby Czernicka and Allison Shuttleworth sat next to each other, using a rack of test tubes. They dissolved powder and observed liquid interaction.

"I think STEM (or STEAM) is useful in daily life," Shuttleworth said.

"We learn a lot in this class," Czernicka said. "It's fun to figure out how detectives use different substances."

Czernicka said she has respect for law enforcement, and the class helped to reinforce that appreciation.

"They are hard-working, a shout out to all of them," Gabby said, to first responders and law enforcement professionals who process crime scenes. "They're overall heroes."

Karie Angell Luc is a freelance photographer and reporter for Pioneer Press.

Excerpt from:
Students explore crime scene investigation at Union Ridge - Chicago Tribune