You’ve passed Rookie Training. It’s time to get your tools together and learn some useful detecting techniques. Collecting the right tools is important so that you are ready whenever a mystery comes along or you feel the need to do some investigating. The first thing you need is something to easily carry all of your stuff in. A backpack is perfect for this. Your hands are free and you can run at a moments notice. Check around your house and see if you can collect some of these important tools:

• notepad
• pen or pencil
• measuring tape
• tape
• scissors
• flashlight
• magnifying glass
• tweezers
• envelopes
• ziploc bags
• sunglasses
• a couple hats
• gloves
• a paintbrush
• camera
• Snacks – Never forget the snacks!
• Print Clue Collection Sheet
• Print Suspect List

One tool you will surely want is a magnifying glass. Play this game to practice identifying things that are under a magnifying glass: What’s Under the Magnifying Glass.

Talk the Talk Word of the Day: Bug – A hidden microphone used to secretly listen to conversations.

This is your last day of Rookie Testing. If you can pass today your official training will begin. This session will test your power of concentration. Ace Detectives need to be able to think on their feet. An Ace can make quick decisions on the fly using superior concentration skills. Aces keep focused and are not easily distracted. Let’s see if you can concentrate hard enough to outsmart your own brain! Try this:

Did you think that was hard? Let’s make it just a little harder. Click the link below. You will again say the color the word is printed in, you will not read what the word says. For example, for the word, RED, you should say “Blue.” Read the list as fast as you can. When you have finished, click on the “Finish” button. The time it took you to read all of the words will be shown. Then, click on “Continue Experiment.” You will then be shown word list #2. Read the list as fast as you can.

• Neuroscience for Kids Color Test

Was there a difference between the time it took to read Word List #1 and Word List #2? Take the test over and over until the time you get for Word List #2 gets closer to the time you get for Word List #1.

Why is this test so hard? There are two kinds of information coming to your brain: the spelled out word and the color the word is printed in. The two kinds of information cause interference in your brain. Your brain has to figure out which problem to solve first. This is called the “Stroop Effect.” If you didn’t already know how to read, this test would probably be easier!

These test show you how important it is to train your brain to concentrate.

Talk the Talk Word of the Day: Alibi – The story an accused person tells to show he or she could not have committed a crime.