Murder at the Monastery

Science

MYP

Brother
Giuseppe
has
been
murdered!
This dreadful deed
occurred on Monday night during
dinner, when a power outage
allowed one of his enemies in the
monastery to stab him.
The police chief has tried to
interrogate the monks, but they
have taken a lifelong vow of
silence and are not speaking! The
chief is getting frustrated! You are
a forensic scientist and must
analyze the situation to find the

The knife used in the murder (Exhibit Z) was found with food samples
still on it. Small food samples remained on each monks plate, as well.
The meal that night consisted of mashed potatoes, roast turkey,
cranberry sauce and lettuce. It was served as a buffet, so each monk
only took what he wanted to eat. In the confusion, however, all the
cutlery on the table was mixed together.
The plate of each monk still remained on the table. It is your job to find
the foods that were on each plate. The conditions and eating habits of
each suspect are also well known and are displayed below:

Monk
Condition

Marvolo
Vegetaria
n

Albus
Diabetic

Percival
Tom
Does not eat Doesnt eat
potatoes
sweets

Task:
Prepare a forensic report for the chief of police about
the murder.
Steps:
1. a. Each menu item is a relevant source of one of these nutrients:
protein, carbohydrate or glucose. Match each menu item (except for
lettuce) with its nutrient.
b. State the colour that your murder weapon is labelled.
2. a. Analyze the murder weapon with food tests; find the type(s) of
food on it.
b. Analyze the food samples from each plate and determine the
type(s) of food on them.

include a results table to show how you recorded your findings

(Data Collection)

include clearly labelled photographic evidence of each food test

(Data Collection)

3. Conclude who the murderer was, based on your results. You must
also provide evidence proving the other monks innocent of the crime.
(Conclusion)
You will be assessed under the following criteria:

Criterion C: Processing and Evaluating

DATA
COLLECTION &
PROCESSING

CONCLUSION

MYP 2

VALIDITY OF
PREDICTION

METHOD
EVALUATION

IMPROVEMENTS &
EXTENSIONS

LEVEL

Correctly collect,
organize,
transform and
present data in
numerical and/ or
visual forms.

Accurately
interpret data
and describe
results using
correct scientific
reasoning.

Discuss the
validity of a
hypothesis based
on the outcome of
a scientific
investigation.

Discuss the
validity of the
method based on
the outcome of a
scientific
investigation.

Describe
improvements or
extensions to the
method that would
benefit the scientific
investigation.

Correctly collect,
organize and
present data in
numerical and/or
visual forms.

Accurately
interpret data
and describe
results using
scientific
reasoning.

Outline the
validity of a
hypothesis based
on the outcome of
a scientific
investigation.

Outline the
validity of the
method based on
the outcome of a
scientific
investigation.

Outline
improvements or
extensions to the
method that would
benefit the scientific
investigation.

Accurately
interpret data
and describe
results.

State the validity

of a hypothesis
based on the
outcome of a
scientific
investigation.

State the validity

of the method
based on the
outcome of a
scientific
investigation.

State the validity

of a hypothesis
with limited
reference to a
scientific
investigation.

State the validity

of the method
with limited
reference to a
scientific
investigation.

Correctly collect
and present data
in numerical
and/or visual
forms.

Collect and
present data in
numerical and/or
visual forms.

Accurately
interpret data.

State improvements
or extensions to the
method that would
benefit the scientific
investigation.

Label

Pro

Glu

Partial =
7

Complet
e=6

Partial =
5

Complet
e=4

Partial =
3

Complet
e=2
State limited
improvements or
extensions to the
method.
Partial =
1

None of the above standards have been reached.

Colour

Complet
e=8

=0

Starch

BLUE

RED

BLACK

GREEN