Fairytale Forensics Learning Unit

A collection of lessons / activities in the form of a presentation with slides to inspire, instruct and guide through each activity. This unit uses well known fairy tale stories and characters to explore story and citizenship themes through a fairy tale crime topic.
The activities are designed to build from one another and can be followed consecutively, or used as a stand-alone lesson or activity in any order.

Teachers notes are included in the presentation and a document with screen shots of each slide, notes and links.

This presentation can be bought as part of a bundle which includes lots of supplementary materials such as templates to enhance the lessons. These resources are optional and linked to specific lessons so you may prefer not to use them or to purchase individually.

Key ideas, concepts and questions explored

• Good and bad deeds
• What is a crime?
• Victim or Villain? Viewpoints and motivation, do two wrongs make a right? Mitigating circumstances.
• Truth, Lie or Excuse? Consider complexity moving from black and white to shades of grey.
• Perspectives and Persuasion, considering, expressing and explaining a viewpoint.
• Investigation. Questions: who, what, why, when, where. Fact and Opinion, looking at evidence.

Critical Thinking Skills Focus

• Reasoning
• Expressing an opinion
• Considering differing viewpoints
• Explanation
• Persuasion

Ways of Working

• Discussion
• Drama (hot seating, role play)
• Writing (different genres and styles – forms, reports, statements, social media posts, case files, persuasive, factual).
• Drawing

Contents

1. Introduction (assess prior knowledge). Police line-up of fairy tale characters
2. Right, Wrong or Crime? Discussion, vocabulary.
3. Right, Wrong or Crime? Write a list. Share and compare with classmates.
4. Victim or Villain. Consider case of Jack and the Giant.
5. Truth, Lie (or excuse) show and share your opinion.
6. Arrest or Release (or keep for further questioning) show and share your opinion.
7. Criminal Case File. Record personal details, crimes, witnesses, defence.
8. Present your Case (drama) take turns to be the accused and questioners and have a discus about your case. (Questioners in role as witness / victim / law enforcement etc.).
9. Perspectives and Persuasion Writing Prompts. Four styles to choose from – police report, lawyer case notes, reporter article and suspect/victim social media post.
10. Detective Evidence gathering. In small forensics teams collect the evidence from a scene. Photograph, bag and label each item.
11. Special Agent Investigation Board. Examine a sample investigation board then apply the questions (what, when, why, who, where) and different aspects (crime scene, suspect, witness, evidence, victim) to assigned case. Create investigation board.
12. Magic Mirror. Draw a portrait of the meanest, guiltiest or biggest villain from the fairy tale world in the magic mirror frame. Explain your choice. Who would be the kindest or most heroic of them all?