valley central school district - vcsd.k12.ny.us · valley central school district ... forensics...

VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

944 STATE ROUTE 17K

MONTGOMERY, NY 12549

Telephone Number: (845) 457-2400 ext. 8121

Fax Number: (845) 457-4254

HIGH SCHOOL SCIENCE CURRICULUM

FORENSIC SCIENCE

JULY 2015

Approved by the Board of Education JULY 27, 2015

VCHS Forensic Science Curriculum June 2015


FORENSIC SCIENCE CURRICULUM GRADE 11-12

Forensics uses the system of inquiry-based learning to instruct students to better understand the intricacies of the observable world around them using

criminal case studies as a basis for researching information from a myriad of sources.

Unit I: Introduction to Forensic Science

KEY IDEAS PERFORMANCE INDICATORS PACING STANDARDS/RESOURCES

Forensic science has developed

over time due to advances in

science, technology and

society.

There are many different types

of professionals that participate

in the forensics process.

The current perspectives on

forensic science are full of

misconceptions.

Forensic science is based on the

advancement and integration of

the core science disciplines

Describe the major types of

forensic scientists, their duties,

qualifications, and roles they

play in forensic investigation.

Understand the role of the

expert witness.

Define the process of

observation, and its role in

relation to the brain and

eyewitness evidence.

Describe the basic legal system

in the United States on the

federal, state, and municipal

levels.

Explain the interrelationships

among various disciplines in

science in forensic

investigation.

Evaluate the validity of

eyewitness testimony and

evidence.

5 Days

RST.11-12.7,8,9

Case Study: Ted Bundy, Serial

Killer

Text: Forensic Science: An

Introduction. Saferstein and

Fanning

Text: A Hands-On Introduction to

Forensics Taylor and Francis




Unit II: The Crime Scene


Evidence is present at any

crime scene that can be used

to determine whether a crime

has been committed.

Evidence can be classified

into many different categories

and taxonomies.

Determine how evidence can

be classified: direct,

circumstantial, physical,

biological, reconstructive or

associative.

Students will know and be able

to distinguish between the

various types of evidence

present at a crime scene.

Understand the contributions of

forensic pathologists,

entomologists and

anthropologists at a crime

scene.

Define and understand the

concept of chain of custody.

5 Days

RST.11-12.3,7,8,9

WST.11-12.9,10

Case Study: JonBenet Ramsey:

Who Did it?



Fanning



LAB: Crime Scene Sketch

PPT Presentation




Unit III: Physical Evidence


Common types of physical

evidence

The examination of physical

evidence

Significance of physical evidence

How to use forensic databases

Review the common types of

physical evidence encountered at

crime scenes.

Explain the difference between

identifying and comparing

physical evidence.

Define individual and class

characteristics of evidence.

List and explain the function of

national databases.

5 Days

RST.11-12.3,7,8,9

WST.11-12.9,10

Case Study: Scott Peterson: A Case of

Circumstantial Evidence

Text: Forensic Science: An Introduction.

Saferstein and Fanning



LAB: Physical or circumstantial?

Classifying evidence.

PPT Presentation




Unit IV: Properties of Matter and the Analysis of Glass


The physics of light and matter

impact the analysis of evidence.

The analysis of glass is often a

vital component in an

investigation.

The two most important

properties of glass are density

and refractive index.

Define and distinguish the

physical and chemical

properties of matter.

Understand how to use the

basic units of the metric

system.

Define and distinguish

elements and compounds.

Contrast the differences

between a solid, liquid and gas.

4 Days

RST.11-12.3,7,8,9

WST.11-12.9,10

Case Study: Murder and the Horse

Chestnut Tree



Fanning



LAB: Forensic Glass Analysis

PPT Presentation




Unit V: Drugs


Drug dependence

Types of Drugs

Drug-Control Laws

Forensic Drug Analysis

Collection and Preservation of

Drug Evidence

Compare and contrast

psychological and physical

dependence.

Describe the laboratory tests

normally used to perform a

routine drug identification

analysis.

Describe and explain the

process of chromatography.

Explain the differences

between thin layer and gas

chromatography.

4 Days

RST.11-12.3,7,8,9

WST.11-12.9,10

Case Study: Pablo Escobar’s

Columbian cocaine empire



Fanning



LAB: Chromatography

LAB: Drug Screening Test

LAB: What is this white powder?

PPT Presentation




Unit VI: Forensic Toxicology


The Role of Forensic

Toxicology

Toxicology of Alcohol

Testing for Intoxication

The analysis of blood for

alcohol

Laws pertaining to alcohol

(sale, consumption, effects of)

The role of the toxicologist

Explain how alcohol is

absorbed into the bloodstream,

transported throughout the

body and eliminated by

oxidation and excretion.

Understand the process by

which alcohol is excreted in the

breath via the lungs.

Understand the concepts of

infrared and fuel-cell breath-

testing devices for alcohol

testing.

Describe commonly employed

field sobriety tests to assess

alcohol impairment.

List and contrast laboratory

procedures for measuring the

concentration of alcohol in the

blood.

7 Days

RST.11-12.3,7,8,9

WST.11-12.9,10

Case Study: Harold Shipman: The

Case of Dr. Death



Fanning



LAB: pH Test

LAB: Walk the Line

PPT Presentation




Unit VII: Forensic Serology


The nature of blood

Forensic characterization of

bloodstains

Principles of heredity

Forensic characterization of

semen

Collection of rape evidence.

List the antigens and antibodies

found in blood.

Understand and describe how

whole blood is types.

List and describe forensic tests

used to characterize a stain as

blood.

Explain how blood and semen

stains are properly preserved

for laboratory examination.

Describe and replicate the

proper collection of physical

evidence involving blood and

semen.

8 Days

RST.11-12.3,7,8,9

WST.11-12.9,10

Case Study: The Green River

Killer



Fanning



LAB: Blood Typing

LAB: Luminol Test

PPT Presentation




Unit VIII: Fingerprints


The history of fingerprinting

Fundamental principles of

fingerprints

Classification of fingerprints

Automated fingerprint

identification

Methods of detecting

fingerprints

Know the common ridge

characteristics of fingerprints

List the three major fingerprint

patterns

Distinguish between visible,

latent and plastic fingerprints.

List the techniques for

developing fingerprints derived

from both non-porous and

porous objects.

Describe proper procedures for

preserving fingerprint integrity.

8 Days

RST.11-12.3,7,8,9

WST.11-12.9,10

Case Study: James Earl Ray:

Conspirator or Lone Gunman

Video: Fingerprinting and

Ballistics



Fanning



LAB: Fingerprinting

LAB: Who was here? Dusting for

Fingerprints

PPT Presentation




Unit IX: DNA


Understanding DNA

Replication of DNA

DNA Typing

DNA Analysis

Name the parts of a nucleotide

and how they link to form

DNA.

Understand base-pairing in the

double helix structure of DNA.

Contrast protein vs base

sequence DNA.

Explain the technology of

polymerase chain reactions and

how it is used in forensic

analysis.

Understand the use of DNA

databases for correlation and

identification of DNA

evidence.

5 Days

RST.11-12.3,7,8,9

WST.11-12.9,10

Case Study: O.J. Simpson – A

Mountain of Evidence

WEB: MyCrimeKit.com ‘DNA

Evidence’



Fanning



LAB: Learning to Solve a DNA

Murder Mystery

LAB: Gel Electrophoresis

LAB: Buccal Swab

PPT Presentation




Unit X: Crime Scene Reconstruction: Bloodstain Pattern Analysis


Crime scene reconstruction

General feature of bloodstain

formation

Bloodstain spatter patterns

Define crime-scene

reconstruction

Analyze and interpret

information gained from

bloodstain spatter

Explain how spatter is affected

by different types of receptor

media.

Understand how unique blood

spatter patterns are used in

forensic investigations.

Create representations of varies

types of blood spatter patterns.

5 Days

RST.11-12.3,7,8,9

WST.11-12.9,10

Case Study: The Sam Sheppard

Case: A Trail of Blood

Video: A Killer’s Trail



Fanning



LAB: Blood Drop Analysis

LAB: Blood Spatter Analysis

PPT Presentation




Unit XI: Hair and Fiber Evidence


The structure of hair follicles is

unique.

Human hair and animal hair

can be distinguished using

forensic analysis.

Fibers can be either natural or

synthetic.

Fiber evidence is often vital to

the success of forensic

investigations.

Recognize and understand the

structure of hair.

Distinguish between animal

and human hair.

Describe and correlate DNA

evidence as it relates to follicle

analysis.

Understand the differences

between natural and

manufactured fibers.

List the properties of fibers that

are valuable during a forensic

investigation.

Describe the proper collection

of hair and fiber evidence.

5 Days

RST.11-12.3,7,8,9

WST.11-12.9,10

Case Study: The Central Park

Jogger Attack

WEB: CrimeandClues.com –

Trace Evidence/hair



Fanning



LAB: Trace Evidence: Hair and

Fiber Analysis

PPT Presentation




Unit XII: Forensic Pathology


The body of a victim contains a

wealth of evidence that can be

used for forensic analysis.

The human body can be

identified by the measurements

of skeletal and dental remains.

Entomological evidence can be

used to determine factors

leading up to death as well as

approximate time of death.

Define the four manners of

death and how they are

identified.

Understand various procedures

performed during an autopsy

Ascertain that time of death can

be established by using core

body temperature.

Explain how toxicology

evidence can be used to

determine the mechanism of

death by identifying possible

drug and alcohol use.

Analyze evidence of liver

mortis, rigor mortis, and algor

mortis.

Decipher bone and skull

measurements to identify

victims.

10 Days

RST.11-12.3,7,8,9

WST.11-12.9,10

Case Study: What killed

Napoleon?

WEB: Virtual Autopsy

GUEST SPEAKER: Chief

Forensic Homicide Detective for

the New York State Police, Hudson

Valley Crime Scene Unit.



Fanning



LAB: The Crime of the Semester

PPT Presentation

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