Course: Forensic Science
***Sciencet UNIT MAP ***
Class:
Topic/Unit:
Unit 4: Fingerprints
Theme:
Identity from Skin
Level: 10/11/12
Enduring Understandings:
Semester: Fall
Essential Questions:
-What is a fingerprint?
-A fingerprint is an individual characteristic that is not duplicated from
person to person
-A fingerprint remains unchanged during a person’s lifetime
Fingerprints have general ridge patterns that permit them to be
systematically classified
-All objects have distinguishing physical characteristics that can be
identified in an impression
-How is fingerprint evidence created at a crime scene?
-What are the methods used to collect fingerprints from a crime scene?
-What are the various defining ridge patterns of fingerprints?
-How are fingerprints at a crime scene analyzed to determine the source
individual?
-Objects can be identified by their impression through comparing key
physical characteristics
CCS Standards-Based Skills & Processes Throughout Unit: Students will show mastery of which group of standards?
Famous Case Studies
CCLS Reading
Standards: 7*
Integrate and evaluate multiple sources of information
presented in diverse formats and media (e.g., visually,
quantitatively, as well as in words) in order to address a
question or solve a problem
-Pedro Ramon Velasquez (1892)
-Stephan Cowans (1997)
-Stella Nickell
-MLK assassination – James Earl Ray
-Night Stalker – Richard Ramirez
-Mayfield Affair
CCLS Writing
Standards: 5*
Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning,
revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach,
focusing on addressing what is most significant for a
specific purpose and audience.
Summative Assessment including Performance Task(s) – Attach task(s):
Formative Assessments including benchmarks throughout the unit:
- Unit Exam for Fingerprints Unit
- Performance Task Fingerprints Unit
- Laboratory Reports and summary questions for labs
- Extended Activity Report for The Fingerprints Unit
- Constructed Response Essay s for Fingerprints Unit (Describe and Explain …)
-Student activity tasks (individual and group)
Student activity tasks (individual and group)
-Homework
-Daily exit tickets, quick-writes, graphic organizers, and pre-write template
-Scientific Method checks: Analysis, Share, Self/Peer-Review work, Revisions, and New Ideas
-Vocabulary building/connecting strategies checks
-Summary template/draft/checks
-Daily exit tickets, quick-writes, graphic organizers, and pre-write template
-“A Practical Guide to Collecting and Analyzing Fingerprints” report
-Case Study Analysis Report
-Plagiarism checks
-Paraphrasing template/drafts/checks
-Describe and Explain writing templates/drafts/checks
-Past and current domain specific vocabulary checks for historical texts
-Ranking of evidence template and checks
-Text structures in writing checks
-Citation checks
-Hierarchical organization of writing checks
- TAP Writing (task, audience, purpose) checks
-Graphing Skills check
-Case Study Analysis Check
-Identifying, collecting, and documenting fingerprint evidence
-Observation and Inferences checks
-Measurement Skills check
-Organizing Information skill check
-Photographing check
-Submission of fingerprint evidence checks
-12 pt. match check for Fingerprinting
Performance Task & Measures of Performance:
Cross-Displinary Connections:
(see attached task, rubric, scoring guides, etc.)
ELA: Multiple sources of information to collect and
evaluate evidence, draft, revision, and rewriting
Mathematics:Probability of matches for different counts
Social Studies: History of fingerprinting and use as
evidence in courts
Instructional Pathways:
What strategies/best practices will be used to teach these higher
order skills, concepts, and processes?
What progression of lessons will comprise this unit?
AIM
1. What are fingerprints?
Textbook Pages
And/or
Informational Texts
LESSON CONTENT/SKILLS
-Skin structure
-Dermal or friction ridges
Strategies/Best Practices
2. What is the history of fingerprinting?
3. What are the three guiding principles
of fingerprints?
4. What are the ridge characteristics of
fingerprints?
5. How can we identify fingerprint
ridges?
6. How are fingerprints characteristics
named?
7. How can a suspected be eliminated
using fingerprints?
8. What are the three types of
fingerprints found at a crime scene?
9. How reliable are fingerprints in
identification?
10. How are latent fingerprints collected
with fine carbon powder?
11. How can we collect fingerprints from
a soda can?
12. How can we determine the identify
of a person from a finger print?
13. What other methods are used to
collect fingerprints?
14. How is technology improving
fingerprinting?
-Fingerprint imprint
-Historical Development
-Bertillonage
-Sir Frances Galton and E.R. Henry
-Ten Card
-Fingerprints are unique
-Fingerprints do not change over time
-Fingerprints display patterns that allow them to be classified
-Bifurcation, Ridge ending, Short ridge, Dot, Enclosure, Spur,
Crossing, Crossover
Fingerprint Ridge Activity
-Loops
-whorls
-Arches
-Core and Delta
-Basic patterns
-Ridge patterns - Minutiae
-Fingerprint Identification
-Patent
-Plastic
-Latent
-Point by point comparison of minutiae
- 12 pt. match
-False positives
-Dusting
-Tape to lift
-Logging information for card
-Fingerprinting Activity
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-Fingerprint Identification Activity
-Ninhydrin
-Cyanoacrylate Vapor
-Silver Nitrate
-Iodine Fuming
-Scanning
-Automated Systems: IAFIS
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15. How do people attempt to alter their
fingerprints?
Notes/Reflections:
-Trace substances
-Adding retinal patterns in eyes, facial patterns, veins in the palm
of hands
-Chemicals
-Surgery
-Mutilation
-Cancer treatment
-Reducing the number of points (inaccurate classification)