Perth Amboy High School STEM Campus

L. Alfaro

Forensic Science Syllabus

Course Website: www.alfarlis.weebly.com

Course Description Forensics is a course designed to engage students using a creative, problem solving and inquiry based approach. This course will incorporate multidisciplinary instruction using topics from biology, chemistry, physics, and earth sciences. Included will be topics linked to social studies, in particular a glance into law and criminalistics, in addition to math. Students will apply their knowledge in these topics under laboratory supervision and throughout the process of solving forensics based cases. Textbook: Forensic Science for High School Students (2nd Edition); Ball-Deslich, B. and Funkhauser, J. 2009

Long-term Understanding for the Course One of the most important tools for forensic investigation is observation and interpretation of evidence without placing prior judgment. Proper observation, analysis, collection, recording, and processing of evidence is what will set a suspect free or place them into custody. Scientific evidence when gathered, processed, and interpreted correctly, does not lie and holds true in a court of law.

Evaluation Grading is based on a point system (Points Earned versus Total Points). Grades are posted on the Engrade.Com website

Exams Quizzes Lab Assignments Class work assignments, worksheets, video reviews Projects (2 projects and a Final Project)

50% (33.3% each) 20% 5% 10% 15% (5% each)

Perth Amboy High School STEM Campus General Course Outline Unit/Topic Crime Scene Basics Eyewitness Basics Fingerprinting Hair and Fibers Drugs/Toxicology (Poisons and Alcohol) Exam 1 Trace Evidence Soil and Glass Analysis Blood, DNA Analysis Exam 2 Forensic Entomology, Human Remains Firearms, Tool marks, Impressions Document and Handwriting Analysis Final Project Final Exam

L. Alfaro

September October November December January February March April May June

Assessments may incorporate analysis of a crime scene scenario where students will observe, sketch, photograph, process and analyze evidence to draw a conclusion of who the perpetrator may be. o Final Project (with RUBRIC): Students will be assigned a serial killer from the image below and write research paper on the case, crime scenes, MO, evidence that was used to catch him/her, witnesses, the trial. Students will present their findings to the class in a 15 minute presentation.

http://www.avon.k12.ct.us/backpack/Forensics.pdf http://www.yadkin.k12.nc.us/webpages/jsewell/forensics.cfm