NAME OF UNIT:
ESTIMATED # OF DAYS:
Unit Name
Unit
Overview
1 -2 Week
Unit 1 History and Development of
Forensic Science


Forensic Science is the application of science to those criminal and civil laws that are enforced by police agencies in a criminal justice system.

The focus of Forensic Science is the Crime Lab using the principles and techniques of Biology,
Chemistry, Physics, Geology,
Anthropology and other sciences in order to place physical evidence into a professional discipline.

Explore safety precautions and equipment used in crime lab.
3-4 Weeks 5-6 Weeks
Unit 2a Crime Scene &

Learn and Apply the various techniques used during a crime scene investigation, including what types of evidence to collect and how that evidence can be used to deduce information about the crime and/or perpetrator.

Learn such investigative strategies as measuring stride length from footprints left at the scene to calculate and other evidence analysis and photography and sketching.

The goal of a crime-scene investigation is to recognize, document, and collect evidence at the scene of a crime.

Identify different types of physical evidence.

Explore how trace and transfer evidence is collected.

Piecing the evidence together is a skill that functions to form a picture of what happened at a crime scene which in turn will help solve the crime.
1

Generalizations /
Enduring
Understandings
Concepts
1) Forensic science has developed over time due to advances in science, technology and society
2) There are many different types of professionals that participate in the forensics process
3) The “Hollywood view” of forensic science is not entirely reality-based
4) Forensic science is based on the advancement and integration of the core science disciplines
6) Forensic science involves a variety of careers .
1) Definition of forensics
2) Development of forensic science over history
3) Specifics of various careers in forensic science and how they work together as a team
4) Various services that a crime lab provides
5) Tools a forensic scientist uses to investigate crimes
6) The differences between perceived roles of a forensic scientist as opposed to the actual role of a forensic scientist
7) The relationship between science and law
8) Differentiate between legal terms
9) Roles and Responsibilities of some of the main players in the court system and who they work for.
1) Crime scenes must be processed
in a methodical and procedural
manner.
2) Evidence determines the method by
which a crime has been committed
a. Students will explain the
procedures used to process a
crime scene.
b. Students will explain the proper
way to classify and process
evidence
3) Locard’s Exchange Principle is the basis of modern forensic investigation
1) Describe Responsibilities of 1st responder
2) Steps for Processing the crime scene
3) Procedures for Conducting a systematic search for physical evidence
4) Mock crime scene: what to collect, how, labeling, bagging and documenting (photo and sketch)
5) Chain of evidence
6) Maintaining safety, legal considerations
7) Injury analysis/body orientation
1) Evidence is present at any crime scene and can be used to determine whether a crime has been committed
2) Evidence can classified into many different categories and classifications
1) Define Physical Evidence
2) Collecting and packaging physical evidence
3) Review common types of evidence
4) Handling, transporting and submitting evidence
5) Understand the significance of physical evidence and compare and contrast identification and comparison of physical evidence
6) Identification vs comparison, individual vs class
7) Assessing the significance and value of Physical Evidence
8) List and explain the function of Forensic
Databases
2

Questions
Guiding/
Essential
Learning
Targets
Formative Assessments
(FOR learning)
1) What is forensics?
2) How was the first crime lab developed?
3) How has forensic science changed since its inception
(advances in science, technology and society) ?
4) What are the different facilities and services that a crime lab provides?
5) How has science become integrated into the practice of law?
6) How do fictitious portrayals of
Forensic Science compare to real-
world Forensic Science?
7) What are the appropriate roles for
scientific technology and human
judgment in bringing criminal
charges against a defendant ?
1) What services does a crime lab provide to law enforcement
personnel?
2) Which professionals make up a crime scene unit?
3) What contributions do the forensic scientists make to an investigation?
4) What are the differences between perceived and actual roles of forensic scientists?
5) Why must a crime scene be secured and processed in a methodical and procedural manner?
6 ) What are the general procedures
for processing a crime scene?
7 ) How do you document a crime
scene?
8) How are important are good lab
skills for a crime scene
investigator?
Performance Levels
1) How can evidence be classified as direct or circumstantial evidence?
2) How can evidence be classified as physical or biological evidence?
3) How can evidence be classified as reconstructive or associative evidence?
4) How can evidence be classified as individual or class evidence?
5) How is the location and handling of evidence essential to crime scene investigation?
6) How is evidence used to determine whether a crime has been committed?
7) How are various types of evidence tested and analyzed?
8) What is the value of different types of evidence?
9) How is physical evidence collected and used from a crime scene?
10) What considerations should be made when collecting physical evidence?
11) What makes good physical evidence?

Student research, discussion and presentations on case studies

Cooperative learning and group work activities

Lab activities
• Homework/Notebook/
Writing Assignments
• Class participation
• mini Projects

Quizzes

OBSERVATION QUIZ (online)

Crimes of the Century Quiz Link

Daily Checks for understanding

Student research, discussion and presentations on case studies

Cooperative learning and group work activities

Lab activities
• Homework/Notebook/
Writing Assignments
• Class participation
• mini Projects

Quizzes

Daily Checks for understanding

Student research, discussion and presentations on case studies

Cooperative learning and group work activities

Lab activities
• Homework/Notebook/Writing Assignments
• Class participation
• mini Projects

Quizzes

Daily Checks for understanding
3

ACTIVITIES and PRACTICUMS o Timelines of the history of forensic
ACTIVITIES and PRACTICUMS o Locard’s Exchange Principle Activity – science collection of trace evidence off of clothing o Career investigations of forensic science (mini poster/report) o Crime scene diagramming & o Concept mapping of the functions and photographing tools of a crime lab o Staging intrusions & events in class o Deductive reasoning, logic and lateraland evaluating eyewitness accounts vs. thinking development second-hand accounts o Role-playing activities and simulated crime scenes all day for evidence
LABS: Locard’s Lab: Analyze shirt worn
“Dead Body T-Shirt contest
(Location of Wounds/ analysis
Bertillon Measurements
Of Wounds)
ACTIVITIES :
 The Deadly Picnic
 Bioglyph (using Codes)
 Who’s That?
(ID forensic People)
 TV Show Forensic Mistakes
 Crimes of the Century Quiz Link
READINGS & CASESTUDIES
1. CSI Effect
2. Case Study: Ted Bundy
3. Case Study: OJ Simpson
4. Case Study: Investigative Process
5. Case Study: Major Incidents
6. Sherlock Holmes,
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle,
7. Article: “Bad Blood at Dallas County
Crime Lab”
8. ARTICLE: John Hinckly
9. Court Cases:
Frye vs United States & Daubert vs
ACTIVITIES:
 Draw/Write a Crime Scene Scenario
 Crime Scene --good resource
READINGS & CASE STUDIES :
1. Jon Benet Ramsey
2. Marilyn Monroe
3. “Now I Love Her, Now I Don’t” in
Crime Scene by Ragle – (Chapter 2:
The Crime Scene Team.)
4. Richard Crafts “Wood chipper case”
5. Mark Winger
6. Article: “ Protecting the Crime Scene”
Merrell Dow Pharmaceutical
ACTIVITIES and PRACTICUMS o “Mystery bag” identification & classification of evidence of various types, with evidence that may fit in only one classification or multiple classifications o Group activity - collection, cataloguing, and storing of various evidence types o Simulated crime scene with basic evidence collection
LABS: “Spin a Mystery Yarn” (paper bag
evidence in solving a crime)
“Dead Body T-Shirt contest (Location of Wounds/ analysis of Wounds)

Body Regions
“Murder in a Meal” ( analyzing Crime scene vomit)
LAB PRACTICUM : Evidence/Collection
& Package.
ACTIVITIES:
 Crime Scene Lineup ( mini Poster)
 Draw/measure rough sketch Room)
 Basement CRIME SCENE
( TEAM: collection/analysis data)
READINGS & CASE STUDIES :
1) “Story: How they Died” Actress Marilyn
Monroe (Pick out evidence while Reading)
Article: “Analysis of vomit” (Court TV) Who, what, when, where, why
4

Summative Assessments
(OF learning)
1) Quizzes & Major assessment on concepts and relevant terminology
2) Career Project (graded w/rubric)
3) Career Walk
4) Video analysis “Forensics Science
History #8
1) Chapter/Unit Test
2) Writing Assignments
3) Oral Presentations
4) Lab Practicum & Quiz : Crime
Scene
5) Unit Projects : Doll House
Murder Scene
6) Project: Forensics WANTED
SIGN
1) Collection of Evidence (Portfolio)
Assessments
2) Wound Gallery Walk (Id Wounds: lacerations/Abrasions/Contusions )
3) LAB PRACTICUM : Evidence/Collection &
Package.
4) CRIME Scene Lineup w evidence characteristics
TEKS
Specifications
TEXAS TEKS Forensic Science
Processes and
Skills
Topics
Introduction to Forensic Science and the Law:
1A, 1B, 2A, 2B,2C 2D, 3A, 3B, 3C,
3D,3F 4A, 4B,4C,4D,4E,4F , 5A,5B,
5C, 5D, 6A, 6B, 6D, 7A, 7B, 7C
1) Use FACES.. online!
(Facial construction program
)
Software
Interpret Codes (bio-glyph)
2) Collect Evidence and Bag (shirt of the day)
3) Practice and Improve observation skills
Intro to Forensic Science and the Law
Introduction to Forensic Science and the Law
Lab Safety
Lab USE: stereoscopic microscope, dissecting microscopes and the compound microscope
Crime scene: 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D,
3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B, 5A, 5B, 5C,
5D , 5E , 5F,5G,5H,5I,5J, 6A, 6B, 6D, 7A,
7B, 7C, 7D
1) Identify evidence as either individual or class evidence
2) Body Orientations/Measure
Wounds
3) ID Nutrients (Macromolecules) in
Crime Evidence.
4) Process a mock crime scene and be able to:

Secure a crime scene

Search a crime scene

Collect evidence/package and retain the “chain of evidence”

Make a paper bindle

Draw a crime scene sketch

Photograph a Crime Scene
Crime Scene
The Crime Scene
Document a Crime Scene
Crime scene scenario
Mock crime scene survey and
Evaluation
Evidence: 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B,2C 2D, 3A, 3B,
3C, 3D 4A, 4B, 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D ,
5E , 5F,5G,5H,5I,5J, 6A, 6B, 6D,6H, 7A,
7B, 7C, 7D
1) How to distinguish between direct and circumstantial evidence
2) How to distinguish between physical and biological evidence
3) How to distinguish between reconstructive and associative evidence
4) How to distinguish between individual and class evidence
Evidence
ID Trace Evidence
- Collect and Package evidence at a crime scene
- Evidence of Submission
- Chain of custody
5

Facts
Steps to Solve Problem
What is Forensic Science?
History of Forensic Science
Methodology
- Role of forensic Scientists
- Fields of Forensic Science
Types of Crimes
Federal Rules of Evidence
- Units of a Crime Lab
- Eye Witness Testimony
- CSI Effect
- Locard’s Principle
Faces – ID
1. Forensic Science Wasn’t
Invented by Scientists
Although its methods are highly scientific, forensic science owes its beginnings to cops who relied heavily on observation and common sense.
2. Forensic Scientists Can Learn
From You
While textbooks and theories teach budding forensic scientists the tricks of the trade, there’s no substitute for actual experience.
3. Forensic Science is Old
One of the first accounts of forensic science being used to solve a crime occurred in 44 B.C., when Julius
Caesar was stabbed to death by
Roman senators. The physician made his fateful announcement in the
Roman forum, giving forensic (forensic
– from the Latin forensics, “belonging to the forum”) science its name
4.
Forensic Science Comes Second
Despite its reputation, forensic science, is only the second best method of identifying criminals. What’s number one? Eyewitness account
Types of Physical Evidence
Eyewitness exercise
Faces – ID
Probability and Class
Evidence
Individual versus Class
Evidence
Significance of Physical Evidence
5. Analysis Isn’t As Easy As You Think
On TV crime dramas, once a piece of evidence has been retrieved, the results of testing will soon follow. In reality, however, actual testing is a slow and deliberate process that can take weeks, even months
6. There Is No Perfect Piece of
Evidence
Contrary to what TV crime shows may lead you to believe, most of the evidence found at crime scenes is usually contaminated, sometimes even rendered unusable.
.
7.
Hay Fever Can Be Incriminating
Forensic Palynology is the study of pollen and spores, which tend to stick to a criminal’s body and/or clothing and can be used as an indicator of his whereabouts,
6

Language of
Instruction
State
Assessment
Connections
Textbook
Correlation

INTRODUCTION FS
CSI Effect , Locard’s Principle,
Misdemeanor, aggravated assault,
Megan’s Law, Daubert Ruling, Fry
Standard, Miranda rights, felony,arson,3 Strikes, observations, larceny/ theft, burglary, acquittal
Murder (1st vs. 2nd degree) forcible rape(vs. statutory) probable cause (vs. reasonable suspicion);homicide, manslaughter; robbery, plea bargain, expert witness (vs. lay witness),
District Attorney, prosecutor, defense attorney, and public defender.
Crime Scene Investigator (CSI)
Trace Evidence Examiner
Forensic: Psychiatrist; Pathologist
Serologist Ballistics/ Firearms
Examiner; Anthropologist;Toxicologist;
Toolmark Examiner; Odontologist /
Dentist; Botanist; Questioned
Document Examiner; Entomologist
Latent Print examiner
Richard Saferstein Chpt. 1 “Forensic
Science an I ntroduction”
Richard Saferstein : Criminalistics
(An Introduction to Forensic Sc.) 9 th edition Textbook Companion Website

CRIME SCENE chain of custody
MO (modus operandi)
First responding officer
Rough sketch
Finished sketch/Scale/Legend

Forensic Terminology
Forensic Terminology
Richard Saferstein Chpt. 2 Crime
Scene
Richard Saferstein : Criminalistics (An
Introduction to Forensic Sc.) 9 th
edition
Textbook Companion Website
• EVIDENCE o indirect /direct o class/individual o physical o testimonial o circumstantial
Class Characteristics, comparison, identification, Individual characteristics, reconstruction
Conditional, associative, transfer, transient, pattern
Cause of Death( Diagnosis)
Mechanism(how died (heart attack)
Manner of death: Accidental, suicide, homicide, natural or undetermined
Postmortem changes: Algor Mortis, Rigor
Mortis, Livor Mortis, and putrification

Forensic Terminology
Forensic Terminology
Richard Saferstein Chpt 3 Evidence
Richard Saferstein : Criminalistics (An
Introduction to Forensic Sc.) 9 th
edition
Textbook Companion Website
Brennon Sapp Unit 1: INTRODUCTION Brennon Sapp Unit 1: INTRODUCTION (
CRIME SCENE pg 4-6)
Brennon Sapp Unit 2 PHYSICAL
EVIDENCE pg 1-6
7

Resources
Chapter 1 (Introduction to Forensic
Science & the Law)
Chapter 2 The Crime Scene Chapter 3: Physical Evidence
Chapter 1 Introduction Forensic
Science Notes, Chapter 1
Chapter 2 The Crime Scene: Notes,
Chapter 2
VIDEOS:
Crime Scene Science by National
Geographic (50 min)
(1hr.30min)
“Forensic Science” by History (50 min)
VIDEO CLIPS: A&e crime-360
VIDEO & VIDEO CLIPS:
Video- Dr. G Inside the Caylee
Anthony Case (47 mins)
Video- Casey Anthony Case (defense opening argument)
Video- Dr. G questioned by
Prosecution & Defense
(expert witness example)
Video- Casey Anthony's former
VIDEOS:
Scene of the Crime by A& E( VIDEO
CLIPS: A&e crime-360
New Detectives #4: “Witness to Terror”
“ Of Dolls And Murder (2012)
RELATED FILES:
FBI Handbook of Forensic
Services (PDF 2.64 MB)
Crime Scene Investigation: A
Guide for Law
Enforcement (PDF 31 KB) pg 1-
58
VIDEO & VIDEO CLIPS
Video- Ronald Cotton/ Jennifer
Thompson & Eyewitness
Testimony: Part 1, Part 2, the Bunny
Effect
Jon Benet Ramsey Video (part 1)
Video - Mad TV Eyewitness Sketch
Video - Awareness Test #1, Awareness
Test #2
Video = Color Changing Card Trick
VIDEOS:
VIDEO: "The Value of Evidence" (30
MIN) (Discovery )(United Streaming)
Forensic Files Disc 3 “Order Up”
Murder Mystery Video: #1 Natalie
Holloway
CSI: ( season 12 Episode 3) “Bittersweet”
FBI Files (season 1 episode 4) “Death in
Alaska”
VIDEO & VIDEO CLIPS:
8

roommates testify
(lay witness example)
Video- Frye Hearing info in Casey
Anthony Case
Video- Evidence Missed in C. Anthony trials
Video- Juror speaks out (5mins) &
( text of juror perspective )
Video- the real CSI (PBS) Video Intro to CSI Effect (PBS)
Video Clip- Stand your Ground
Podcast NPR- Is CSI Effect
Influencing Courtrooms?
SUGGESTED READINGS
Careers in Forensic Science
Hot Careers in Law Enforcement
Careers in the FBI
Top 25 Best True Crime Books
RELATED LINKS
A&E TV's "Cold Case Files" schedule
What is "Anthropometry"
Chemical Safety in the Science Lab
The Adventure of the Dancing Men
This short story by Sir Author Conan
Doyle places the incredible Sherlock
Holmes in the role of a code breaker.
Who Is Francis Galton?
Who is Alphonse Bertillon?
What is Locard's Exchange Principle?
Video - Crime Scene Clean-Up Jobs
Gory Crime Scene Clean-Up
VideoOf Dolls & Murder (Documentary
Trailer)
RELATED LINKS RELATED LINKS
Evidence Collection Guidelines ( more info )
How to make paper bindles
How to Cheat a Polygraph ( has video too)
Crime Scene Protocol
Crime Scene Checklist
Crime Scene Interpretation
How CSI Works (from howstuffworks.com)
Crime Scene Dollhouses
Crime Scene "Sketch" technology , 3D eyewitness
Untrue Confessions - why do people confess for crimes they didn't commit.
"The Magic of the Mind" - famous research on eyewitness testimony
9

ON LINE RESOURCES” www.aafs.org
–
American Academy of
Forensic Sciences www.fbi.gov/hq/lab/labhome.htm FBI
Laboratory, provides current information on forensic science www.csitheexperience.org
–
CSI interactive website, traveling museum exhibit - fun games and activities www.necrosearch.org
–
Locating clandestine graves and forensic evidence www.trutv.com/shows/forensic_files/in dex.html TruTV/Forensic Files, forensic challenges and games www.jeffersonbass.com
–
Dr. Bill Bass,
Founder of the Body Farm www.dnai.org
–
Detailed learning modules (topics: DNA, DNA Profiling,
Romanov Case)
CSI: The experience Web Adventure http://forensics.rice.edu/
10