St. Forensic Science Content Skills Assessment Big Ideas Core Tasks Students will apply the major concepts in biology, chemistry, and physics as the basis for solving crimes Students will recognize and analyze alternative models and explanations I. Introduction to Forensic Science A. What is the CSI Effect? B. History of Forensic Science C. Locard Exchange Principle II. Crime Scene Procedure A. First Responder Technique and Responsibilities Students will define and distinguish forensic science and criminalistics. Students will recognize the major contributors to the development of forensic science through history. Students will demonstrate an understanding Locard s exchange principal through a laboratory setting. IA. Students will describe the CSI Effect and how it is affecting criminal investigations IB. Students will be able to put the major scientific discoveries that influenced forensic investigations in chronological order IC. Students will demonstrate an understanding of Locard's exchange principle in a laboratory setting by analyzing evidence left on clothing IIA. Students will demonstrate proper First Responder Techniques in various hypothetical situations Winter: Mock Trial Spring: Final Project, cumulative assessment of both trimesters, variety of methods IA. Class Presentation of news articles relating to the CSI Effect IB. Slideshow activity IC. Locard T-shirt Lab IA, IB, IC. Quiz IIA. First Responder Situation Analysis IIA. First Responder Hypothetical Situation Response IIA. Quiz Content Skills Assessment Big Ideas Core Concepts Students will apply the major Students will distinguish between 1 of 6
Shafai Forensic Science St. concepts in biology, chemistry, and physics as the basis for solving crimes the various types of evidence and its use in court, namely physical evidence. Students will recognize and analyze alternative explanations and models. Students will design and conduct scientific investigations by identifying questions and concepts that guide forensic science. III. Types of Evidence III.A. Students will be able to describe and identify the major classes of evidence IIIA. Identifying all types of evidence in Forensic Files "True Lies" Episode IIIA. Identifying all types of evidence in a crime scene report created by another student group. IIIA. Quiz IV. B. Crime Scene Sketch IV. A, IV. B., Quiz IV. Murder vs. Suicide IV.A. Students will be able to describe the major characteristics and statistics relating to suicides and murders in the United States IV.B. Students will use deductive reasoning to determine if a crime scene was a double murder or suicide V.A., V.B., Handwriting Lab V.A., V.B., Handwriting Quiz based on suicide notes from crime scene V. Handwriting Analysis VI. Ink Analysis V. A. Students will be able to define key terms regarding handwriting analysis such as "subconscious characteristics, letter slant, etc." V. B. Students will be able to compare and contrast handwriting samples to determine if they were written by the same individual. VI. A. Students will be able to conduct, compare, and contrast ink chromatography samples to identify ink samples VI. A. Ink Chromatography Lab Suicide Blues based on a crime scene involving pens, ink, and a possible murder/suicide VII. A. Quiz VII. B. Fingerprint Analysis Lab VII. C. Fingerprint Match Challenge VII. D. Fingerprint Self-ID activity 2 of 6
Shafai Forensic Science Students will be able to St. VII. Fingerprint Analysis VII.A. Know the major fingerprint ridge patterns and their respective subclasses. VII. B. Know the history and significant contributions to the acceptance and developments of fingerprint technology. VII. C. Distinguish between visible, plastic, and latent fingerprints. VIII. Footprint and Tire Tread Analysis VII. D. Demonstrate various forensic methods used to collect, analyze, and identify fingerprints. VIII. A. Explain the forensic significance of class and individual characteristics to the comparison of tool mark, footwear, and tire impressions. VIII. A. Quiz VIII. B. Who Did it? Footprint and Tire Tread Lab VIII. C. Tool mark demo/activity Trimester 2 Begins IX. Firearms and Ballistics IX. A. Understand gun control issues. IX. B. Describe techniques for rifling a barrel. IX. C. Recognize the class and individual characteristics of bullets and cartridge cases. IX. D. Use a comparison microscope to compare bullets and cartridge cases. IX. E. Identify the lab tests for determining whether an individual has fired a weapon. IX. A. Activity: Bullet Comparison and Firing Pin Impressions IX. B. Complete the firearm tutorial IX. C. Student slideshows of research on assigned firearms IX. D. Quiz X. Bullet Trajectory and Distance X. Students should be able to X. A. Bullet Trajectory Lab and Quiz based on Numb3rs episode 3 of 6
Shafai Forensic Science St. predict and calculate a X. B. Quiz bullet s trajectory and distance XI. Forensic Pathology, Forensic Anthropology, and Time of Death XI. A. Students should be able to graphically calculate time of death using accumulated degree hour and hours to maggot development and to calculate the PMI based on environmental conditions XI. B. Learn how an autopsy is performed. XI. C. Demonstrate techniques to determine the gender, sex, age, and height from bones. XI. D. Describe differences in skull features among three major racial categories. XI. E. Identify bones belonging to the human skeleton vs. non-human bones. XI. F. Understand how forensic anthropologists obtain information from bones. XI. G Examine the stages of a body s decomposition. XI. A. Lab: Estimating Age, Gender and Height from Bones at a Crime Scene XI. B. Autopsy video, decomposition video XI. C. Skeleton puzzle XI. D. Quiz XII. Forensic Odontology XIII. DNA Typing XII. A. Students should be able to compare and contrast teeth marks by measuring the distances between teeth and using other observational methods XIII. A. Distinguish between the four organic compounds. XIII. B. Recall the structure and composition of DNA, chromosomes, and genes. XIII. C. Explain how genetic information is used in the synthesis of proteins. XII. A. Bite Marks Activity XII. B. Bite Mark Lab XII. C. Quiz XIII. A. Opinion Paper: Should the US Government establish a DNA Database for all citizens? XIII. B: PCR lab with DNA fingerprinting XIII. C. Quiz 4 of 6
Shafai Forensic Science St. XIII. D. Explain how genetic information can be altered (through mutations or genetic engineering) and how such a change may affect and organism. XIII. E. Contrast DNA strands that code for the production of proteins with strands that contain repeating base sequences. XIII. F. Explain the technology of polymerase chain reaction and how it applies to forensic DNA typing. XIII. G. Understand the use of DNA databases in criminal investigation. XIV. Hair and Fiber Analysis XIV. A. List and understand the parts of a compound, stereoscopic and comparison microscope. XIV. B. Define magnification, field of view, working distance, and depth of focus. XIV. C. Outline forensic applications of the scanning electron microscope. XIV. D. Recognize and understand the cuticle, cortex, and medulla areas of hair. XIV. E. List the three phases of hair growth. XIV. F. Distinguish between human and animal hair. XIV. G. Assess the probative value of hair and fiber samples. XIV. H. Describe the role of DNA typing in hair comparisons. XIV. I. Understand the difference between natural and manufactured fibers. XIV. A. Lab: Microscopic Observation of Hair, Fibers, Fabric and Paint XIV. B. Activity: Test Your Skills as a Forensic Hair Examiner XIV. C. Lab: Thermal Decomposition and Burn Tests on Fabric 5 of 6
Shafai Forensic Science St. XV. Illicit Drugs/Toxicology XV. A. Describe how drug molecules interact with neurons to produce a high. XV. B. Compare and contrast psychological and physical dependence. XV. C. Compare and contrast the infrared, ultraviolet and visible spectroscopy test with the gas and mass spectrometry tests normally used to perform a routine drug or poison identification analysis. XV. D. Explain how alcohol is absorbed into the bloodstream, transported through the body, and eliminated by oxidation and secretion. XV. E. Understand the process by which alcohol is excreted in the breath by the lungs. XV. F. Understand the concepts of infrared and fuel cell breath-testing devices. XV. G. List and contrast lab procedures for measuring the concentration of alcohol in the blood XV. A. Research - prepare a onepage report on a toxin or poison of your choice including description, source, toxicity, symptoms, detection, cure, lasting effects, history, examples, and social impact, if any. (This is one of five topics to choose from. Other are Napoleon s death, Beethoven s death, Lincoln and Newton s supposed mercury poisoning, and the stillborn foal epidemic in Kentucky, 2001) XV. B. Opinion paper - Write a paper analyzing the arguments about the legalization of drugs in the United States. XV. C. Quiz 6 of 6