Timeline

=Timeline =

February to August—pre-game phase
During this period you can register, prepare and plan for //Murder under the Microscope//.

Weeks 1–2
Site orientation and class preparation Class preparation includes:
 * teacher finding out the level of students’ background knowledge
 * students developing an understanding of environmental issues
 * students researching issues described in the activity cards (available in the Resources section).

Week 3
The investigation hots up! A list of possible villains will be available on the website. The students should:
 * interrogate the website for clues
 * brainstorm places to obtain further information on crime sites, victims and villains
 * investigate issues in each crime site
 * research the victims and their habitats
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">report back to the whole class on findings.

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Weeks 4–5
<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Investigators are encouraged to use the website to receive some hints from experts. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Catchment HQ’s crime site investigator visits the crime site to report on the crime and the suspects in the case. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Using knowledge gained while working on the activity cards (in the Resources section), student investigators now begin the process of research and elimination to try to identify the correct victim, villain and crime site. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Research methods include using classroom resources; online searches; telephoning, writing to or emailing organisations that may have information on the victims and villains; and sharing the information with other members of the team. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Daily clues are posted on the website from Catchment HQ personnel. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Students can post questions to the website science experts and check answers to questions others have posted. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">At the end of this period, student investigators have 24 hours to make their accusations.

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Week 6 and after
<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Investigators can now prepare a digital story that shows how a local environmental action has resulted in an improved environment in their local area. They can then include their entry in the Connected Learning Awards. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">http://www.cli.nsw.edu.au/webdesign/ <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">This is where the early hard work and research can really pay off.