The Detective badge is part of the “It's Your Planet - Love It!” badge set introduced in 2011.
When a Girl Scout Junior has earned this badge, she will know how to follow clues and discover facts like a real detective.
Activity #1: Practice the power of observation[]
- Create a crime scene for the girls to use their powers of observation. You can do the whole Mystery Festival sessions from the Lawrence Hall of Science, or just do part of it for the badge.
- Shake up a room activity. We did this from the badge book. We had the girls look around the room, then sent them down the hall to get drinks from the drinking fountain (a good distraction). While they were gone, the parent program leader hid 5 items, then asked them to figure out what was missing.
Activity #2: Communicate in code[]
Sometimes detective, spies, or special agents can't talk to one another because of the destance or the chance of being found out! They have to use other ways to get messages to each other. Try cracking one of these cool codes.
CHOICES - DO ONE:
- Learn come classic codes. First, try Morse code with one of your friends. Send them at least a five-word sentence. Then send the same message in Pigpen code, transposition, or another code. In what situations are these codes used?
- Create your own code with your friends. Write the letters in the alphabet, and beneath each, draw a picture or a symbol. Make a dictionary so you can remember the code.
- FOR MORE FUN: Find a page written in French, Spanish, Italian, or German. See how many words you recognize because you know "codes" from the English language.
- Make invisible inks. Write a messgae using a cotton swab dipped in lemon juice. Dry the paper in the sun or with a hair dryer to see the message. Then try again using baking soda and water - hold it under a light to see the words. Trade ideas with friends about why heat causes the inks to reveal your message.
- Tip: Let the inky dry completely before you try to read the message.
Note: we had one parent program leader work with the girls on this, while another set up a crime scene. They had to make up their own code to communicate
Activity #3: Fingerprint for fun[]
- Fingerprint basics. How to classify fingerprints. We tried this with washable ink pads and paper. Works better with plan printer paper and just drawing on the fingers with a pencil, then pressing the finger on the paper. The girls will need some magnifying glasses to do this
Activity #4: Try out detective science[]
Detectives use cutting-edge science to figure out what happened, whodunnit, and sometimes even to find a motive (the reason for an action). Try one of these.
CHOICES - DO ONE:
- Look at three kinds of "evidence." Use a microscope or magnifying glass to compare fabrics and soils. You might look at cotton, wool, and linen, or sand, dirt, and gravel. When detectives identify fabric at a crime scene, they can figure out what someone was wearing. Soil might be matched to the clothing of someone who was there.
- Find out about DNA. Work with a science teacher or other expert to find out what DNA is and what it's made of. What kinds of DNA evidence do forensics scientists use to help identify people? (Forensic scientists are scientists who use their skills to help solve crimes).
- FOR MORE FUN: Find a recent case in the newspaper or online where DNA played a part in convicting or freeing someone.
- Detect handwriting details. Find an article or story about detecting or detectives. Read it, then copy one paragraph in handwriting. Ask a friend to do the same. Compare your wiritng to see how it's alike and different. Finding details in handwriting can help detectives solve forgeries.
Activity #5: Follow the clues to solve a real mystery[]
Now that there's evidence you could make a great detectice, put your skills into action. Try solveing one of these three mysteries.
CHOICES - DO ONE:
- Ask friends to create a clue hunt. Follow at least five clies to find something fun, like a secret message. Then try writing clues yourself for your friends to follow.
- FOR MORE FUN: Sometimes detective have to go undercover so try your hunt in disguise.
- Find clues "on the scene." When a detective arrives at a scene, they look for clues about what happened and about people who were there. Choose a room, like a classroom or office, and be the detective. Sketch the "scene" and label the "clies" you see. For instance, chairs turned away from desks could mean students left in a hurry. Pictures of people in frames could tell you who is important to an office worker. Trade ideas with friends about what you think the clues could mean.
- Solve three online mysteries. (This advice is outdated and the websites referenced no longer have mysteries to solve).
Notes: (Social distanced suggestions). Check out EXIT games for "family puzzle room" games. Buy one for the troop, and pass the board game along to families to complete together. Most EXIT games are 10+.