BELL WORK
Pick up the Papers on the Back Counter
 Find your seat
 Work on Crime Puzzle #4

CRIME PUZZLE #4

Why does Mr. Hudson’s chauffeur think he’s
bound for prison?
OBSERVATION, REMEMBERING, & RECORDING
What skills are most important in solving crimes?
I CAN…
Define observation and perception
 Describe what changes occur in the brain during
observation
 Describe some of the problems in making good
observations
 Relate observation skills to their use in forensic
science
 Use observation skills to make good observations
during events

HOW GOOD ARE YOUR OBSERVATION SKILLS?
#1
OBSERVE THE PICTURE FOR 15 SECONDS. LOOK AT EVERYTHING THAT YOU THINK
MIGHT BE IMPORTANT.
WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER
How many people were in the bank?
 What time was it?
 What is the date?
 What’s on the sign?
 What is the man at the front of the line handing
the teller?
 What’s on the man’s hat?
 What is the woman with the little girl wearing?

#1
TAKING A SECOND LOOK AT THE PICTURE
DISCUSSION

What is observation?
WHAT IS OBSERVATION?

Observations




Things that you can see
but also feel, taste, smell,
or hear
Items you need to note
carefully
Our perceptions (how we
interpret information
received from the senses)
limit what we observe
It is an active process that
takes training to develop
WHAT IS NOT OBSERVATION?


Casually watching what
happens
“You see but you do not
observe.”--Sherlock
Holmes
#2
OBSERVE THE PHOTOGRAPH FOR 20 SECONDS. NOTE THE DETAILS.
12
HOW WELL DID YOU OBSERVE?
How many women are in the photograph?
 How many of the women are wearing hats?
 How many women are wearing ties?
 How many women have on boots?
 How many vehicles are shown in the picture?

#2
HOW WELL DID YOU DO?
14
DISCUSSION

In the two examples , what types of details did you find
easy to remember?

What types of details did you find hard to remember?

Which was easier, doing things on your own or working
as a group? Why?

How many details about the pictures do you think you
could remember by the end of the day? Tomorrow?
Next week?
FUNCTIONAL AREAS OF THE BRAINS
HOW OUR BRAIN PROCESSES
INFORMATION
HOW TO BE A GOOD OBSERVER
Observe systematically
 Do not pay attention to only what you think is
important
 Make a conscious effort to pay attention to all the
details in your surroundings.
 Look for patterns and make connections.
 Do not assume that later on you will be able to
remember everything.

18
#3
SCENE OF A CRIME -- OBSERVE FOR 30 SECONDS – SKETCH THE SCENE
From: www.shodor.org/succeed/curriculum/FOR/observation.html
HOW WELL DID YOU OBSERVE?
Is this a business or residential area?
 How many vehicles are parked on the sides of the
road?
 What color is the pickup truck driving in the road?
 Any minivans around? How many?
 What does the blue sign say?
 What's the speed limit?
 Are there any pedestrians on the road?

WHAT TO DO TONIGHT

Read pages 3-9 and do the questions listed in
your handout.
BELL WORK
Pick up new note sheet on the back counter.
 Read pages 3-9 and do the questions listed in your
handout.

I CAN…
Define observation and perception
 Describe what changes occur in the brain during
observation
 Describe some of the problems in making good
observations
 Relate observation skills to their use in forensic
science
 Use observation skills to make good observations
during events

#3
HOW WELL DID YOU DO?
From: www.shodor.org/succeed/curriculum/FOR/observation.html
RECORDING INFORMATION



Puts observations in
long-term memory
Helps you to remember
your observations over a
long period of time
Keeps the details fresh
in your mind
WAYS TO RECORD
Write it down—take
notes
 Photograph or
videotape
 Make an audio
recording
 Sketch or draw maps
of scene

HOW WELL DO OTHERS OBSERVE
Break into 2 person teams
 One person from each group go over to Mrs.
Moran’s room
 The other person will observe the picture, feel free
to take some notes to help you remember.

#4
OBSERVE FOR 60 SECONDS – REMEMBER YOU ARE GOING TO DESCRIBE THIS TO
YOUR TEAMMATE
www.shodor.org/succeed/curriculum/FOR/observation.html
HOW WELL DO OTHERS OBSERVE
Group from Mrs. Moran’s room: Ask questions
about what your teammate observed
 All the investigators will then have 10 minutes to
confer and reconstruct the scene on the
whiteboard from the description they got from their
partner – no help from the observers at this point

WHAT TO DO TONIGHT
Read over directions for lab #2
 Generate 3 ideas for crime scenario you can
act out for Lab #2.
 Finish the reading and questions if you haven’t
got them completed

BELL WORK
Work on lab scenarios
 Generate 3 ideas for crime scenario you can act
out for Lab #2.

I CAN…
Define observation and perception
 Describe what changes occur in the brain during
observation
 Describe some of the problems in making good
observations
 Relate observation skills to their use in forensic
science
 Use observation skills to make good observations
during events

#4
HOW WELL DOES YOUR DESCRIPTION MATCH THE SCENE?
www.shodor.org/succeed/curriculum/FOR/observation.html
DISCUSSION
Did everyone answer the questions correctly?
 If everyone viewed the same photograph, list some
possible reasons why your answers differed.
 Did your ability to see more detail and answer
more questions correctly improve with practice?
Explain your answer.
 Do you consider yourself a good observer?

DISCUSSION

Does observation only involve sight and not the
other senses?
PRACTICE MAKING OBSERVATIONS
WITHOUT SIGHT
You will get 1 minute with each box. Then you will
switch with another person.
 You need to determine what is in each box based
on observations you made using your other senses
 You are not permitted to open the boxes.
 Write your hypotheses on your paper.
 Repeat until you have investigated three boxes
 Answer the questions on your handout.

WHAT IS OBSERVATION?

What assumptions can you make about this
scene? How might those assumptions be wrong?
#5
37
HOW MUCH CAN WE TRUST OUR SENSES?
BLIND SPOT
Take a blank sheet of paper
 Place open hand in the middle of the sheet.
 To the right side of hand make a small dark cross
 To the left side of hand make a small dark dot

BLIND SPOT
Hold left hand over eye, hold paper at arm’s length
 Stare at dot on the left with the right eye only.
(Both items visible)
 Now move paper slowly towards you and see what
happens
 Repeat with right eye covered, and stare at cross
with left eye

SOMETHING TO DISCUSS
What happened as you moved the paper towards
you? Anything strange?
 Why do you think this happened?

LAB #2: THAT’S MY STORY AND I’M
STICKING TO IT

You and your classmates will enact different
crimes. Develop a skit for your crime scenario that
you will perform for the class. Your teacher will
have a group of items you may use to simulate
these crimes or you may bring items in from home
as long as they are school appropriate. If in doubt,
ask your teacher first.
SOMETHING TO DISCUSS
Where was the sun earlier today?
 Where will it be later today?
 How did it get from the morning point to the
afternoon point?
 What is the size of a full moon just above the
horizon compared to its size straight overhead?

OTHER ILLUSIONS IN NATURE
In your group, list as many other illusions in nature
as you can
 Pick a spokesperson to share your list with the rest
of the class.

WHAT DO YOU SEE?
ARE THE TABLES THE SAME SIZE AND SHAPE?
WHAT DO YOU SEE?
WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THIS PICTURE?
ILLUSIONS DON’T HAPPEN JUST WITH
SIGHT

All your senses can be
fooled in some way or
another
TWO IDENTICAL BALLS?
Send one person from each group forward
to take a close look at the two balls
In your group, write whether you think the
balls are identical and what you think will
happen
Watch the demonstration
Discuss the results as a class
DISCUSSION

With all these limitations is observation still
useful?

How can we get around those limitations?
HOW TO BE A GOOD OBSERVER
Watch for potential illusions.
 Turn off filters
 Keep in mind that memory is faulty.
 Remember that our brains tend to automatically
fill in gaps in our perceptions.
 Remember that eyewitness accounts and your own
thinking can include prejudices.

53
BELL WORK
Work on lab scenarios
 Review vocabulary and notes. Make sure to note
any questions you have and ask them in class
tomorrow.

I CAN…
Define observation and perception
 Describe what changes occur in the brain during
observation
 Describe some of the problems in making good
observations
 Relate observation skills to their use in forensic
science
 Use observation skills to make good observations
during events

WHAT TO DO TONIGHT
Review notes and vocabulary.
 Read pages 3-9 and do the questions listed in your
handout if you didn’t get it done last night.
 Work on scenario for observation lab.

TOOLS USED TO ENHANCE
OBSERVATIONS
Cameras, video recorders… record observations
so they can be viewed again.
 Microscopes provide fast, low-cost, and definitive
results whether it’s simple hand-lenses or more
the more powerful types found in labs
 Tools that use other forms of electromagnetic
radiation like ultraviolet and infrared can reveal
hidden evidence our eyes can’t see

LAB #2: THAT’S MY STORY AND I’M
STICKING TO IT

You and your classmates will enact different
crimes. Develop a skit for your crime scenario that
you will perform for the class. Your teacher will
have a group of items you may use to simulate
these crimes or you may bring items in from home
as long as they are school appropriate. If in doubt,
ask your teacher first.
BELL WORK
Turn in your questions from the reading for some
feedback.
 Work on scenario for observation lab with your
group.

I CAN…
Define observation and perception
 Describe what changes occur in the brain during
observation
 Describe some of the problems in making good
observations
 Relate observation skills to their use in forensic
science
 Use observation skills to make good observations
during events

HOW DOES OBSERVATION RELATE TO FORENSIC
SCIENCE?
#6
OBSERVE FOR 15 SECONDS
YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO ANSWER
AS MANY QUESTIONS AS YOU CAN
At what location was the photograph taken?
 How many cars are pictured?
 What color are the cars?
 What types of offices are located in the building?
 How many small trees are in the picture?
 The photograph was taken in New York State
during which season?
 How many people are in the photograph?

#7
OBSERVE FOR 15 SECONDS
YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO ANSWER
AS MANY QUESTIONS AS YOU CAN
What is pictured in Photograph 2?
 Describe the shape of the object pictured.
 What are the colors of the object?
 What color edged the top of the object?
 Upon what is the object displayed?
 Describe or sketch the design on the object.
 What is the approximate size of the object?

#8
OBSERVE FOR 15 SECONDS
YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO ANSWER
AS MANY QUESTIONS AS YOU CAN











How many people are in Photograph 3?
What is the sex of the person in the picture?
What is the approximate age of the person in the photograph?
What color is the person’s hair?
Does the person have long hair or short hair?
Does the person have any distinguishing features? Glasses?
Can you describe the person’s clothing?
Is the person wearing any jewelry? If so, describe it.
Can you describe where the picture was taken?
Based on evidence in the photograph, can you form a hypothesis
about the person’s occupation?
Is it possible to identify the interests of the person based on
evidence in the room?
DISCUSSION

Is your ability to see more detail and answer more
questions correctly improving with practice?
Explain your answer.
OBSERVATIONS IN FORENSICS
Study situations.
 Find clues in ordinary details.
 Work backwards from the evidence to what led up
to the crime.
 Be patient.
 Practice.

69
IMPORTANCE OF OBSERVATION




Basis for all crime scene
investigation
Finding the facts without bias
(driven by your own emotions
or ideas)
Allows you to find clues or tail
a suspect
Creates in mind images of
what a person sees which
can be stored in order for the
person to remember later
WHY DO YOU NEED TO REMEMBER
YOUR OBSERVATIONS?

To testify in court
where you must know
the details months
after you made your
observations

Inadequate
information and details
will allow a criminal to
get off
WHAT DO YOU NEED TO REMEMBER?

You want to describe:






Who was involved?
What happened?
When did it take place?
Where did it take place?
How did it happen?
Anything unusual or out of
the ordinary
HOW TO BE A GOOD OBSERVER






On a crime scene you will not know what will turn out
to be important.
Start at one part of a crime scene and run your eyes
slowly over every space.
Slowly look at every part of a piece of evidence.
Leave the final interpretation of data until later
The more information obtained, the better will be the
interpretations.
It is important to document as much information as
possible.
73
LAB #2: THAT’S MY STORY AND I’M
STICKING TO IT

You and your classmates will enact different
crimes. Develop a skit for your crime scenario that
you will perform for the class. Your teacher will
have a group of items you may use to simulate
these crimes or you may bring items in from home
as long as they are school appropriate. If in doubt,
ask your teacher first.
WHAT TO DO TONIGHT
Review your notes and vocabulary.
 Finalize your scenarios
 Don’t forget to bring in your props.

BELL WORK

Finalize scenario for observation lab with your
group.
I CAN…
Define observation and perception
 Describe what changes occur in the brain during
observation
 Describe some of the problems in making good
observations
 Relate observation skills to their use in forensic
science
 Use observation skills to make good observations
during events

LAB #2: THAT’S MY STORY AND I’M
STICKING TO IT







Position yourself in an area where you can see the location where
the crime will take place.
Place your pencil and Crime Report Sheet on the floor beside your
desk or chair.
Mentally record the information as you witness each crime. Make
use of you all your senses during this process.
On the Crime Report Sheet and under Crime #1, record as much
detail as you can about the event you witnessed.
Repeat steps 1 through 4 for the other crimes you will observe.
Take this Crime Report Sheet home with you and study your notes.
Think about what occurred. Did you accidentally omit any
information? If so, add it at this time.
Use your notes about the crimes you observed to answer the
questions on the worksheet .
WHAT TO DO TONIGHT
Finish the lab.
 Do the review questions on the handout.

SUMMARY






define clues, long-term memory, observation, shortterm memory, and tail
explain the importance of observation
explain the importance of remembering events.
describe key items that they need to remember about
an event.
explain the importance of recording events
describe ways of recording events