Standards
2.1 Students understand scientific ways of thinking and working and use those methods to solve real-life problems.
2.14 Students understand the democratic principles of justice, equality, responsibility, and freedom and apply them to real-life situations.
6.1 Students connect knowledge and experiences from different subject areas.
Demonstrators
6.1
Interpret or analyze different perspectives of an event to determine the
influence of different subject areas.
2.1
Evaluate a variety of data in order to infer relationships and draw
conclusions.
2.14
Exhibit active democratic behavior and civic responsibility.
1. How do science and law play a role in solving crimes?
2. How is evidence evaluated to draw conclusions?
3. What is the role of a grand jury?
Mock Crime
¨ The diary of a crime is presented and witness testimonies are given. You will be given an opportunity to question each witness and draw conclusions.
¨ Working in a group, determine by consensus whether or not to indict based on 5 pieces of physical evidence and/or testimony.
¨ Using the group consensus, individually present your decision about indictment in your choice of media, i.e. written, PowerPoint, video, dramatic dance, etc. No matter what your choice of presentation style, you must include who, why, where, when, and how.
Scoring Guide
Distinguished
¨ Logically shows evidence of components (who, why, where, when, and how) in presentation.
¨ Communicates with audience, in a suitable tone and voice throughout presentation.
¨ Thoroughly explains supporting details for each component.
Proficient
¨ Shows evidence of components in presentation.
¨ Communicates with audience, in a suitable tone and voice.
¨ Includes supporting details for each component.
Apprentice
¨ Shows evidence of at least four components.
¨ Attempts to communicate with audience, in a suitable tone and voice.
¨ Supporting details are vague.
Novice
¨ Shows evidence of at least three components.
¨ Shows lack of communication with audience, in a suitable tone and voice.
¨ Little or no supporting details.
¨ Forensic science disciplines
¨ Definition of forensics
¨ Crime scene analysis
¨ Evidence types
¨ Fingerprinting types and techniques
¨ Hair analysis
¨ Understand grand juries and the indictment process
¨ Observing
¨ Predictions from data
¨ Comparing
¨ Formulate hypothesis
¨ Draw conclusions
¨ Collect and organize data
¨ Manipulate and use of scientific equipment
¨ Implements the writing process
¨ Questioning techniques
¨ Time zones
¨ Map reading
¨ Ordinal directions
¨ Technology skills: SmartBoard, PowerPoint, Internet Use, etc.
Lesson 1 - Introduction to
Forensic Science (1day)
Goal: To understand forensics and the different sciences involved.
1. Teacher will give directions as to the structure of the unit and an explanation as to class procedures and grading requirements.
2. Folders are provided for the forensic portfolios and requirements are explained.
3. Direct instruction through the use of PowerPoint presentation. The teacher will lead a class discussion over each of the sciences used in forensics and crime scenes.
4. Notes are required in the forensic portfolio.
Homework
Read three
mystery cases.
Lesson 2 - Fingerprinting
Lab (2 days)
Goal: Students will be able to identify fingerprint types and surfaces conducive to lifting fingerprints.
1. Teacher lecture on History of Fingerprinting while students take notes. Students will identify different characteristics of fingerprints and how those compare to their own.
2. In groups students take their own fingerprints using ink pads and identify types and characteristics.
3. In pairs students lift fingerprints from 5 different surface areas identifying fingerprint type and area lifted from.
4. Students will predict what surface materials from which fingerprints can be lifted.
5. Notes, handouts, and lab materials are required in the forensic portfolio.
Lesson 3 – Catch A Clue
(2 days)
Goal: Watch Clue critically and taking notes on location of suspects and other significant details.
1. Teacher instructs students to take notes in order to determine the identity of the murderer.
2. Students predict the outcome prior to being shown the conclusion.
3.
Notes are required in the forensic portfolio.
Lesson 4 - Hair Analysis
Lab (1 day)
Goal: Observation of different types of hair and hair characteristics using microscopes.
1. Instruction given as to proper use of microscopes and procedures to be followed.
2. Teacher demonstrates proper technique of hair analysis.
3. Working in pairs, a ten-step hair analysis is completed by students.
4. An artistic rendering of the proximal and distal ends is completed and compared with classmate.
5.
All handouts and lab work are required in the forensic portfolio.
Lesson 5 - Medical
Examiner Study (1 day)
Goal: Introduction of medical examiner work and forensic pathology by Dr. Baden, via video.
1. While watching the video, students will answer questions based on the video.
2. Notes are required in the forensic portfolio.
Lesson 6 - Crime
Introduction (1
day)
Goal: Students will understand the mock crime and the events surrounding the crime.
1. Read aloud and silently the mock crime description.
2. Answer questions about relationships between characters.
3. Several maps are given. Time zones, map reading, ordinal directions are reviewed.
4. Review the role of a grand jury and the indictment process. (Covered during previous unit.)
5. Students are expected to begin to develop a witness list to testify before the grand jury.
6. A question list for each witness is begun.
7. A detailed question list and the diary of the crime are required in the forensic portfolio.
Homework:
Complete a
question list for each witness.
Lesson 7 - Witness
Testimonies (3 days)
Goal: Students will understand the grand jury and indictment process and how that relates to solving crimes.
1. Over a three-day period, students call witnesses and use proper questioning techniques to record testimony.
2.
Using the grand jury process students begin to formulate possible
solutions to the crime.
Lesson 8 - Indictment
Process (1 day)
Goal: Students reach a consensus about whether to indict a suspect.
1. Manageable groups of students discuss the witness testimony, present their own ideas, and reach a consensus as to indictment.
2. A reporter from each group will share their decision with the class.
3. Directions will be given for the indictment presentation.
Lesson 9 -
Forensic WebQuest (2 days)
Goal: Students will gather information from teacher selected internet sites to complete a scavenger hunt and produce a digital crime scene.
1.
Teacher explains the parts of a WebQuest
Lesson 10 - Nova DNA Video
(1 day)
Goal: Students understand the history of DNA analysis and how it is used to solve a crime.
1. Students take notes on important aspects of DNA analysis.
2.
Notes are required in the forensic portfolio.
Lesson 11 - Forensics
Jeopardy (1 day)
Goal: Review of notes and concepts previously introduced.
1. Students are divided into teams and representatives are chosen.
2.
Using the COW (Computer on Wheels), and the SmartBoard, students will
play jeopardy as teams, but only the representative may ring the buzzer and
provide the question.
Lesson 12 - Organize and
Wrap-Up (1 day)
Goal:
Organize forensic portfolio, review for test, and complete any other
assignments.
Lesson 13 - Multiple
Choice Exam/Forensic Portfolio Due (1 day)
Lesson 14 - Culminating Performance and WebQuest Product due TBA