Visit Your Local PBS Station PBS Home PBS Home Programs A-Z TV Schedules Watch Video Donate Shop PBS Search PBS
SECRETS OF THE DEAD
Home
Cases Archive
For Educators Crime scene investigations meet history
Lesson Plans

Lesson Plan Index
Digging for the Truth

Digging for the Truth - by Viki Babcock
Image of a courtroom (high school science)
In this activity, students simulate digging for forensics evidence at a crime site. Each group is provided with a different medium containing evidence. Students must choose the appropriate tools to use in order to reveal the clues. Then they must be able to determine whether what they've found is relevant to the crime and how it relates.
Estimated class time

One or two 90-minute blocks, depending on how much time is spent on video or website.

Lesson Objectives

Students will:
  • Determine which tools to use when searching for evidence

  • Make inferences relating evidence to a crime scenario

  • Identify the perpetrator of a crime and explain their reasoning

  • Complete an on-line interactive

  • Write a report about collecting and assessing forensics evidence
Materials needed

  • Copy of the Scenario and Suspects Descriptions

  • A set of teacher collected evidence (See teacher preparation of Teaching Strategy)

  • Containers of either sand, soil or mud with buried evidence (See teacher preparation)

  • Forensics tool kits including

    • Forceps
    • Hand lens
    • Dissecting probe or dental pick
    • Screen
    • Small brush (perhaps a paint brush)
    • Collection tray
    • Access to a microscope
    • Beaker of water, with dropper

  • Evidence items including

    • Hair samples (from Julie Jockette and from a dog or a cat)
    • A cap from a Mountain Dew bottle
    • A chewing gum wrapper
    • A leftover piece of clothing tag that matches torn T-shirt tag
    • Piece of paper with editing marks written in red
    • Piece of paper with editing marks written with black Sharpie
    • A nail

  • Internet access

  • Video clips are available on the SECRETS OF THE DEAD: Gangland Graveyard website, but if you wish to purchase the complete program, visit PBS Shop for Teachers http://shop.pbs.org/teachers/products/SEDE752

Teaching Strategy

Photo from Gangland Graveyard

Teachers!
Video clips for your students are available here.

Video Clips
  1. Preparation: Set up evidence files by placing hair samples from three different people in separate zip-lock plastic bags. Identify each with an index card labeled with one of the suspect's names. Put a small piece of clothing with a partial tag in a zip-lock plastic bag to represent the cloth torn from the suspect during the scuffle. Put a small piece of paper with a partial word written on it with black Sharpie in a separate plastic zip-lock bag. Create three different crime scenes by burying two or three of the evidence items in a plastic container filled with either sand, soil or mud. Create enough of the "crime scenes" for as many groups you will have in class. Gather supplies for one tool kit for each group of students.

  2. Introduce the topic by having the students explore the "Gangland Graveyard" Web site at http://www.pbs.org/wnet/secrets/index.html. Allow students to watch the video clips on the FBI forensics dig site.

  3. Divide the class into groups of 3-5 students each. Present each group with the scenario. Instruct the groups to use the tools provided to find clues to who stole the homework. Tell them that in order to preserve the integrity of the evidence, they must not use their hands to directly touch the items.

  4. Within each group, students should describe each item they find in their particular medium. They should decide if it is usable evidence or not and explain their reasoning. Have them determine if they have enough evidence to prove one of the suspects guilty.


  5. Interactive
    Convict a Mob Boss

    After completing the interactive for this episode students should answer these questions.
    Then have groups that explored different media for evidence get together and discuss their findings. Each group should now reassess their findings and decide if they can make a case against any particular suspect. Each group should report to the class. Discuss as a class which group made the best case.

  6. For a virtual experience of forensic science, have students complete the interactive "Convict a Mob Boss" which is located on the following page: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/secrets/index.html

  7. Students should complete the activity by writing a summary describing what they've learned about collecting and assessing forensics evidence.
Internet Resources

Assessments

  • Student participation in lab activity

  • Written descriptions of evidence and case formed

  • Scores from the Interactive

  • Written summaries
Extensions

  • Research a famous past crime. Create a graphic organizer showing how and what evidence was used to solve the crime.

  • Find out more about the mafia. In groups write and perform a play about mafia crime investigations by the FBI.
Correlation to National Science Standards

Standards from http://bob.nap.edu/html/nses/html/6e.html#csc912

CONTENT STANDARD A:
As a result of activities in grades 9-12, all students should develop abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry and understandings about scientific inquiry:

    Scientific explanations must adhere to criteria such as: a proposed explanation must be logically consistent; it must abide by the rules of evidence; it must be open to questions and possible modification; and it must be based on historical and current scientific knowledge.

    Results of scientific inquiry--new knowledge and methods--emerge from different types of investigations and public communication among scientists. In communicating and defending the results of scientific inquiry, arguments must be logical and demonstrate connections between natural phenomena, investigations, and the historical body of scientific knowledge. In addition, the methods and procedures that scientists used to obtain evidence must be clearly reported to enhance opportunities for further investigation.

Print this page


SECRETS OF THE DEAD is a production of Thirteen/WNET New York. © 2006 Educational Broadcasting Corporation. All rights reserved.