“It’s fizzing!” Jessica Carbonell whispered after adding a
mystery drop of liquid to mysterious white powder at the Extreme
Learning Center’s Crime Scene Investigation class. The 10-year-old
Gilroy scientist is one of 10 area students learning how to lift
fingerprints from the scene of a cri
me, mold tire tracks and analyze hair samples.
“It’s fizzing!” Jessica Carbonell whispered after adding a mystery drop of liquid to mysterious white powder at the Extreme Learning Center’s Crime Scene Investigation class.
The 10-year-old Gilroy scientist is one of 10 area students learning how to lift fingerprints from the scene of a crime, mold tire tracks and analyze hair samples.
Paper cups with traces of baking soda, salt, flour and sugar lined the table. Eyedroppers filled with iodine, vinegar and water lie waiting for eager hands.
Despite declaring that she didn’t really like science, Carbonell dove into the experiment called the Baffled Baker.
Using deductive reasoning, the class is to solve what the mystery ingredients are based upon the chemical reactions that occur when one liquid is mixed with a powder.
The experiment is designed to represent what actually happens when an unknown substance is found at a crime scene.
“A lot of times, criminals leave a substance behind at the scene,” academic coach Anastasia Beavers explained to students.
Criminologists must determine what these unknown substances are to help solve the crime.
Last year, Beavers was surfing the Internet when she came across a curriculum for the program. After interest spiked in the class, the Extreme Learning Center expanded its offerings to both the Morgan Hill and Gilroy sites.
Many of the campers felt inspired to take the class after watching television shows such as CBS’ CSI and the Discovery Channel’s Mythbusters.
“It’s fun. This is the best summer camp I’ve ever been to,” said 11-year-old Megan Hartman of Morgan Hill. “It’s because it’s more hands on.”
Other summer courses offered at the camp are Animation, Digital Photography, Math Workshop, Robotics, Chess, Web Design, and a Reading/Writing Workshop.
Classes are offered for one week periods. Sessions vary each week.
For more information call the Extreme Learning Center at (408) 782-5045.
