REVITALISE Module

Table of Contents:

Overview
Objectives
Materials and/or Software Required
Prerequisites
Module Description
National Standards Addressed
Assessment Techniques
Areas of Focus
Appropriate Grade Level(s)
Relevant Links and Related Resources

Overview:

Students ranging from 8th to 12 grade participated in a forensics CSI study. 8th grade students used visualization to show a correlation between shoe size and height. Pre-Algebra students did a comparison of tire treads. Trigonometry students analyzed blood spatters to make visualization graphs to determine how far away the suspect was from the victim. The participants in chemistry can use chromatography to compare the ink on the ransom note to those of the possible suspects. Finally, the Biology students plan on using fingerprinting and DNA visualization narrow the suspects down to a single one.

Objectives:

Overall:

Studets will understand the importance of details when gathering evidence.

Students will understand the relationship of Chemistry, Biology, Physics and Math to Forensic Science.

8th Grade Science

Students will interpret correlations between shoe size and height using various visualization techniques.

Students will determine possible heights of suspects.

PreAlgebra

Students will learn to read rulers in both inches and centimeters.

Students will reinforce knowledge of proportions and scale measurements.

Students will display basic Excel capabilities.

Students will determine which auto left tire tracks at the scene of the crime.

Trigonometry

Establish the relationship between dropping height and blook drop diameter.

Recognize patterns around the drop, such as satellite spatter or spines.

Develop an understanding of the common types of bloodstain patterns found at a crime scene.

Create and examine vertical blood drop patterns on various textured surfaces.

Acquire a qualitative understanding of the relationship between the impact angle of a blood droplet striking a surface versus the shape of the resulting stain.

Model how a group of blook stains can be analyzed in order to determine the approximate position of the victim when blook exited the body.

Use the bloodstain pattern information collected at a crime scene, and statements given to the police officers in order to determine the sequence of events in an altercation.

Chemistry

Students will be introduced to the concept that components of a substance can often be separated with paper chromatography used to separate components of black ink.

Students will use chromatography to determine the color composition of the ink in various black pens.

Students will use chromatography to identify the pen used to write a note left at a crime scene.

Biology

Students will collect and preserve fingerprints.

Students will learn, analyze and identify the 3 basic types of fingerprints.

Students will learn the Verifinger software, which matches fingerprints.

Students will use diagrams to explain why DNA fingerprinting is an effective method of identifying a specified person.

Students will use bar codes to model how DNA fingerprinting is used in identification of a DNA sample.

Materials:

Blood Spatter Analysis

Visualization Software

Simulated Drip and Projected Blood

5 x 8 Notecard

15 cm and 30 cm rulers in

Clipboard

Protractor

Meter stick or Tape Measure

Poster Board or Computer Paper

Hard Bristle Brush

Paper Towels

Calipers or 15 cm ruler

DNA Analysis

CASEIT (freeware)

Gel electrophoresis set-up

DNA samples

Fingerprint Analysis

Verifinger (freeware)

sable brushes

cocoa powder

clear/scotch tape

Document/Ink Analysis Inquiry-Based lab

Visualization Software

Beakers

Deionized water

Alcohol (Ethanol)

Chromatogram Paper (coffee filters or filter paper will both work)

Cover for the beaker

Pencil to hold chromatogram paper

Tape

Tire Tread Analysis

Visualization Software

1 copy of tire track patterns

Metric ruler

Hand lens

Digital Camera

Dental stone compound to make copies of tire treads

Shoe Size vs. Height Analysis

Visualization Software

Tape measure – minimum of 8 foot in length

Pens

Paper

Prerequisites:

It is very helpful to have a general understanding of some visualization software. Excel, gnuplot, or Fathom are three great tools to use. Excel is on mostly everyone's computer, gnuplot is a free downloadable program, however fathom is a quite expensive tool to use.

Module Description:

Rox-CSI is an interdisciplinary project involving high school and junior high school level students. Students participated through their math and science classes. A crime scene was set up in the school greenhouse. Each teacher was responsible for creating evidence and activities relevant to their classroom curriculum. The students worked collaboratively to solve the crime.

The junior high students worked in their science class to interpret footprint evidence. The students collected data to establish the relationship between shoe size and height. The data they collected allowed them to establish a list of twelve possible suspects.

Students in the high school trigonometry class investigated blood spatter evidence. The students modeled blood spatters using simulated blood on a variety of surfaces commonly found at crime scenes. They were able to develop a quantitative understanding of the relationship between the impact angle of a blood droplet striking a surface and the shape of the resulting stain. The students analyzed a group of blood stains in order to determine the approximate position of the victim when the blood exited the body and to determine a sequence of events for the crime. The students collected length and width data for the blood spatters and used this data to determine the impact angles. They then used their results and further trigonometric calculations to determine additional distance and height data used to solve the crime.

PreAlgebra - Students used a digital camera to take photos of the tire tracks left at the scene and the tires of several faculty cars. They used a ruler with a quarter taped to it for the scale factor. Students measured the treads of front tires and back tires of both the suspects tires and the tracks left at the crime scene. Students were able to set up proportions and solve for missing lengths where there were gaps in the tracks left at the scene. Students were able to identify the perpetrator by correctly matching the tracks of the suspects tires to the tracks left at the scene.

Future activities for this project will include but are not limited to: Chemistry, Biology and Mock Trial Presentations. The Chemistry will conduct chromatography experiments using ink samples found at the crime scene. The Biology classes will conduct fingerprint analysis using Verifinger software. DNA fingerprinting will also be conducted on evidence left at the scene.

National Standards Addressed:

Students use technology tools to enhance learning, increase productivity, and promote creativity.

Students use technology to locate, evaluate, and collect information from a variety of sources.

Students use technology tools to process data and report results.

Students use technology resources for solving problems and making informed decisions.

Students employ technology in the development of strategies for solving problems in the real world.

NM-DATA.9-12.3: Develop and evaluate inferences and predictions that are based on data

NM-MEA.9-12.2: Apply appropriate techniques, tools, and formulas to determine measurements

NM-PROB.PK-12.1: Build new mathematical knowledge through problem solving;

NM-PROB.COMM.PK-12.2: Communicate their mathematical thinking coherently and clearly to peers, teachers, and others;

NM-PROB.COMM.PK-12.3: Analyze and evaluate the mathematical thinking and strategies of others;

NS.9-12.5 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Abilities of technological design

Understandings about science and technology

Assessment Techniques:

Each component of this project was assessed by the teacher responible for that unit. Assessment tools included data tables and visualizations of the results created by the students. Written lab reports and oral presentations by the students and general testing over content knowledge. Future assesssments will include a mock trial in which students will present their evidence in a trial format before a judge.

Areas of Focus:

Jr. High General Science, Biology, Pre-Algebra, Trigonometry, Geometry, Chemistry, Mock Trial (pretty much you can come up with some activity to to fit any class)