FORENSIC SCIENCE
FOWLERVILLE JUNIOR HIGH 2011-2012
Course Outline: Crime Scene Investigation Finale that starts with Pre-Teaching
which includes:
1) Sharp Eye
2) Find the Change
3) Mystery Stories
4) Composite Drawing
5) Classifying Prints, (shoe, tire, hand)
NOTES: Science Spot Challenges every Monday
(http://sciencespot.net/Pages/classforsci.html)
This site provides Power Points of various aspects of a Crime Scene and
corresponding worksheets. It represents a quarter of a semester course so I would
like to incorporate the assets contained in this site that fit into this outline.
UNIT 1:
CRITICAL THINKING LESSONS
Lesson 1-1 “Who Wrote This?” (A Lesson in Document Forgery)
Handwriting Analysis
No Two the Same
Compare to Standard
Twelve Basic Characteristics for Comparing Handwriting
Examples of Twelve Basic Characteristics from pp 5-7 of Walker-Wood
Lab 1-1
“Write On” (A Lab in Document Forgery)
Objective: Analyze Handwriting on a Questioned Document to
Determine the Author of the Document.
Materials Needed: Stereomicroscope or Hand Lens, ten black pens (same brand)
paper clips,
scissors,
notebook paper,
rulers,
unlined paper,
protractors
Analysis of Document worksheet p 12 of Walker-Wood
Postlab Questions worksheet p 10 of Walker-Wood
(timeline: Lesson and Lab 1-1 plan for two days)
Lesson 1-2
Bleeding Mixtures (A Lesson on Chromatography of Mixtures)
Black Ink is Colorful
Color in Chromatograms
All the Same
Lab 1-2A
“Did Pete Cheat?” (A Lab on Chromatography of Inks)
Objective: Use Chromatography to Determine Whether a Document in Question
with One or Two Ink Pens.
Materials Needed: large beakers,
stiff wire,
hole puncher
paper clips,
water,
notebook paper,
rulers,
unlined paper,
protractors,
filter paper with ink samples from the questioned document
Postlab Questions worksheet pp 24-25 Walker-Wood
Lab 1-2B
“Whose Lipstick?” (A Lab on the Chromatography of Lipstick)
Objective: Use the Technique of Paper Chromatography to Compare Lipstick from a
Suspect with Known Lipstick Samples
Materials Needed: large beakers or plastic cups, strips of filter paper or
chromatography paper,
scissors
tape,
goggles,
four different lipsticks
Postlab Questions worksheet pp 28-29 Walker-Wood
Lesson 1-3
“Tracking On!” (A Lesson on Tire Track Evaluation)
Measuring Track Width
Check Out Tread Width and Pattern
Lab 1-3
“Tread Lightly” (A Lab on Tire Track Evaluation)
Objective: Determine the track width of a vehicle by examining tire tracks.
Identify tires by their tread marks.
Material Needed: 10 model cars
A tire print from car at the crime scene
Ruler
Paper
Ink Pad
Lab Worksheet from p 36 of Walker-Wood
Lesson 1-4
“On the Scene”
Sketch It
A Lesson on Crime Scene Evaluation
Note It
Perfect Sketch
Lab 1-4
Objective:
“Don’t Touch the Evidence” A Lab on Crime Scene Evaluation
Draw rough and final sketches of a crime scene and explain the scene to
your classmates.
Materials Needed: Pencil
Black Pen or Marker
Clipboard
Centimeter Tape Measure
Compass
Ruler
Prepared Crime Scene
Lab Worksheets from pp 45-46 of Walker-Wood
Lesson 1-5
“If the Shoe Fits” A Lesson on Making and Evaluating Shoe Print
Impressions
Impressions are Not Prints
Print Saver
Lab 1-5
“Casting for Evidence” A Lab on Making and Evaluating Shoe Print
Impressions
Objectives: Make a cast of a shoe impression
Use the cast to determine whether the suspect’s shoe matches the
prints taken from the crime scene.
Materials Needed: 4 Suspect Footprints
Ruler
Stereomicroscope
An Impression of the Thief’s Footprint in Clay or Soft Soil
Plaster of Paris (or alternative)
Water
Casting Frame (optional)
Lab Worksheets from pp 50-51 of Walker-Wood
Lesson 1-6
“I’m Clueless” A Lesson on Deductive Reasoning
Lab 1-6
“The Deadly Picnic” A Lab on Deductive Reasoning
Objective: Use deductive reasoning to decide who committed the crime.
Materials Needed: Postlab questions and Data table pp 61-64 of Walker-Wood
Lesson 1-7
“I’ve Got My Eye on You” A Lesson on Observing, Remembering and
Recording Events
One of a Kind
Lab 1-8
“That’s My Story and I’m Sticking To It!”
A Lab on Observing,
Remembering, and Recording an Event.
Objective: Use your five senses to observe a simulated crime and then record in
detail what you witnessed.
Materials Needed: Postlab questions and Data table pp 70-72 of Walker-Wood
UNIT 2:
Lesson 2-1
PHYSICAL SCIENCE LESSONS
“Making Your Mark” A Lesson on Tool Marks
Best Impressions
Pre-Lab: How to properly use and treat a dissecting microscopes.
Lab 2-1
“Tool Marks the Spot” A Lab on Tool Marks
Objective: Use a dissecting microscope to examine several tool marks and
determine which tool was used to commit a crime.
Materials: Clay Ten different screwdrivers labeled A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I,J
Dissecting Microscope
Notebook paper
Ruler
Pencil
Clay impression form the crime scene
Worksheet with Graphic Organizer, Postlab Questions and Data Table
Lab 2-2
“Glass is Breaking Up” A Lab on Examination of Glass Fractures
Objective: Examine several pieces of fractured glass to determine the direction of
force and the sequence in which the fractures occurred.
Materials: Window glass containing three bullet holes Hand Lens Labels
Rulers
Worksheet of Data Table and Postlab questions