September Forensic Science Lesson Plans
Date / Objectives / Activities / Standards
9/3
Tues /
  • Discover what Forensic Science is
  • Understand class expectations, policies, and procedures
/
  • Expectations, Outline, Questionnaire
/
  • MSCS 1: BM 1

9/5
Thurs /
  • Exercise teamwork and problem solving skills
  • Identify the various applications of scientific investigations
/
  • Problem solving and experimental design
  • Rube Goldberg Lab- design
/
  • MSCS 1: BM 2, BM 3, BM 4

9/9
Mon /
  • Exercise teamwork and problem solving skills
  • Identify the various applications of scientific investigations
  • Apply logic and deductive reasoning skills
/
  • Rube Goldberg Lab- Competition
  • Logic and Problem Solving-
-“The Deadly Picnic”
  • Begin Crime Scene Logic Problem- Partners- use deductive reasoning to solve crime- ID means, motive, opportunity
/
  • MSCS 1: BM 1, 2, 3

9/11
Wed /
  • Apply logic and deductive reasoning skills
/
  • Finish Crime Scene Logic Problem
  • Forensic Science- Notes
-Essential vocabulary
-Modern Crime Lab
  • Begin FBI Crime Lab Video
/
  • MSCS 1: BM 1, 2

9/13
Fri /
  • Identify important historical events in science and technology
  • Differentiate between types of evidence
/
  • Shortened class period (assembly)
  • Finish FBI Crime Lab Video
  • Forensic Science Overview- identify vs. individualize, Newcomb’s Rule, Types of Evidence
- /
  • MSCS 6: BM 1

9/17
Tues /
  • Identify important historical events in science and technology
  • Gather data using appropriate measurements and methods
/
  • Intro to Forensic Science history
-Galton, Bertillon, Locard
-Brain Break- Eyewitness Game
  • Criminal ID System-
-Mug Shots, Bertillonage, Fingerprinting, today?
  • Begin Bertillonage Lab
/
  • MSCS 1: BM 1, 2
  • MSCS 6: BM 1

9/19
Thurs /
  • Identify important historical events in science and technology
  • Gather data using appropriate measurements and methods
/
  • Finish Bertillonage Lab and post lab questions
HW: Finish post lab questions / MSCS 1: BM 1, 2, 3
9/23
Mon /
  • Explore crime scene preliminaries and documentation procedures
  • Calculate measurements and directions using the metric system and a compass
  • Identify ways to search for evidence
/
  • Crime Scene Procedures- Preliminaries, Documentation, Collection and Preservation of Evidence, Crime Scene Reconstruction, Legal Considerations
  • Read Case Study- Jeffrey MacDonald Case
-How does this case study demonstrate the importance of crime scene procedures
  • Discuss lab for next class- Mock Crime Scene- divide into “Crime Scene Teams”
HW: Finish reading Jeffrey MacDonald Case and answer questions / MSCS 1: BM 1
MSCS 6: BM 1
9/25
Wed /
  • Calculate locations of physical evidence using a compass and a metric tape measurer
  • Prepare a sketch of the crime scene, labeling each piece of evidence
/
  • Mock Crime Scene-
-Review crime scene procedures, read through lab
-“On the Scene”- collection, measurements, photos, rough sketch / MSCS 1: BM 1, 2
9/27
Fri /
  • After collecting measurements of a crime scene, students will scale these measurements and transfer them to a final sketch
/
  • Create Final Sketch- Discuss how to use a scale, include accurate measurements to scale
-Graded on neatness, evidence key, compass, scale
-Type notes and theory
  • Hand out test review- Test next class
HW: Finish final sketch and study for Test / MSCS 1: BM 1, 2, 3, 4

MSCS= Montana Science Content StandardBM= Benchmark