Relevant National Teaching Standards
Grade 5-8:
Science and Technology
(Understanding About Science and Technology),
Science in Personal and Social Perspectives
(Science and Technology in Society)
Grade 9-12:
Science as Inquiry
((Understanding About Scientific Inquiry),
Life Science
(Understanding About Science and Technology),
Science and Technology
(Understanding About Science and Technology)
Synopsis: Don't leave any goodies behind at the crime scene. Collect the bugs. Collect the maggots, and don't EVER leave a ransom note! Forensic science-it's better than ever!
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the article: CSI: CRIME SEEN, INVESTIGATED
Discussion
Questions
1. How do maggots help forensic entomologists narrow the time of death of a corpse?
2. How could maggots "tip off" crime scene investigators, telling them the deceased may have been murdered?
3. What kinds of clues can documents provide to a criminal investigation? Discuss handwriting, word choice, punctuation, hand "control," personality analysis, ultraviolet light analysis, radiocarbon dating and Photoshop manipulation. Are the aforementioned clues considered high or low quality evidence in court? Why?
Lesson
Plans/Activities
1. Solve it! In this online activity, students collect forensic clues from a crime scene to solve a murder case. Recommended for grades 7-9.
2. Do the lab work! Students complete a fun, online DNA fingerprinting-collecting DNA, using restriction enzymes, running a gel, developing the film and analyzing the resultant data to finger the culprit. Recommended for grades 7-12.
3. Be the jury! Given the forensic evidence and a courtroom script, students assess the evidence to decide the fate of an accused thief. This activity is recommended for grades 9-12.
4. Listen to an expert! In this video, a forensic entomologist talks about his work fighting crime using maggots. Not for the weak of stomach. Recommended for grades 9-12.
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