Story and photos by Skyler Dastgah-Bradford ‘29
To widen students’ horizons through engaging experimental labs and activities, Winter Term 2025 provided a select number of seventh and eighth graders with the opportunity to learn more about crime scene investigation. This class, known as Who Killed Pikachu?, led by Middle School Science Teacher Michelle Bouchard and Middle School Math Teacher Kristina Jones, has been a hit for the past two years throughout the MICDS Middle School.
Over two weeks, students worked diligently to uncover the mystery of who killed Pikachu, deeply evaluating the “crime scene” and various items and possible leads found there.
The students’ first assignment was to find a match to a lipstick stain they uncovered on a glass from the crime scene itself. By using the technique of paper chromatography, a scientific method used to separate color chemicals or substances, the students were able to compare the suspect’s lipstick with other well-known lipstick samples, including Revlon, CoverGirl, Wet ‘n Wild, etc. Sadie Moore ’29 stated she especially “enjoyed discussing with [her] peers about their discoveries during the Lipstick Smear Lab.”
Another favored activity the students partook in was a Blood Spatter Lab. Using fake blood (consisting of ketchup, food coloring, and water), Middle School students learned more ways to discover different aspects of a crime scene. Equipped with syringes, droppers, and bottles, students experimented with different types of “blood” spatters, stains, and sprays and observed the results of different heights from which the substance was dropped. Wilson Froehlich ’29 remarked that he “loved being able to squirt the [fake blood] against the wall and see the different types of splatters and stains it created.”
While labs were a highlight of this class, students engaged in some other ways of learning more about crime scene investigations happening in the real world. Each day, before partaking in their labs, students worked silently, reading multiple different articles to learn more about what they are experimenting with and doing in class and how it is used in crime scenes in the real world. The class, as a whole, also watched videos to understand these new topics better.
Additionally, during this class, these students engaged in various labs that have not yet been mentioned, including a Handwriting Analysis Lab, a Fingerprint Analysis Lab, and a Fiber Analysis Lab. The Fiber Analysis Lab allowed the students to learn about some of the techniques used to trace evidence by examining and testing the flammability of different fiber samples. To conclude this exciting class, the students had the opportunity to listen to a guest speaker, the new Director of Campus Safety & Security Bob Graeff, who shared about his job here at MICDS.
In conclusion, the students are sure to be disappointed this beloved Winter Term class is coming to an end. They are not prepared to trade in their magnifying glasses for textbooks as they transition back into the normal school schedule.