POST FALLS - With aliens and autopsies, you're bound to raise eyebrows.

Post Falls Middle School students in Marilyn Howard's seventh-grade life sciences class are digging into an "Autopsy and Investigation" project that gives them clues to solve fictional criminal cases using evidence left behind.

Suspects in the cases include an alien from outer space they created, their classmates and teachers.

"It's a hit, especially when students are already into 'CSI,'" Howard said.

Students learn about investigative work through hands-on stations, including fingerprinting, DNA extraction and weapon, glass and fabric identification.

"I like to experiment with stuff to solve a mystery," student Nick Schmidt said. "It beats reading out of a book."

Classmate Braden DeBoer added: "You get to learn and have fun at the same time."

The project develops problem-solving and teamwork skills for students, Howard said. It may also open their eyes to careers such as chemistry or law enforcement.

The project is among 19 in the region that have been funded in the past few months by more than $6,700 in donations to DonorsChoose.org, a nonprofit that connects donors with public school teachers who need classroom materials.

Horace Mann Insurance has contributed $580,000 to school projects nationwide through the nonprofit. Camy Popiel, a local Horace Mann agent, saw the PFMS project at work on Thursday.

"Alien autopsy just has a click to it," Popiel said as she watched the student detectives at work. "This is a very lively room. If I'm in middle school, this is a class I want to take. It's not normal like history or math."

Next week students will investigate three teacher "suspects" in a theft of Associated Student Body funds and determine the culprit using their investigation techniques.

Howard said funding for classroom supplies has been tight - teachers often contribute their own money for materials - so the assistance is appreciated.

"It's wonderful," she said. "Otherwise we wouldn't have been able to do it."