Forensic Science Hair as Evidence Activity Bundle

Make teaching Forensics easy with this combined unit and daily lesson plan and two worksheet set that covers 4-5 blocks or 8-10 periods of a secondary forensic science course. SIOP, gifted, and differentiation strategies are embedded and easily identified thorough out. Lessons are differentiated according to learning style, grouping, and language ability. Both content and literacy standards as well as key vocabulary words, essential questions, activating strategies, instructional strategies, and summarizing strategies are included and highlighted. Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:

Content Objectives (TSWBAT):

• Understand how hair is useful as evidence.
• Identify key vocabulary associated with discovery and analysis of hair as evidence.
• Note key historical dates regarding the use of hair as evidence.
• Describe how hair is used as class and individual evidence.
• Describe the medullary index of a hair.
• Identify the various parts of a hair.
• Describe variations in the structure of the medulla, cortex and cuticle.
• Distinguish between human and nonhuman animal hair.
• Determine if two examples of hair are likely to be form the same person.
• Calculate the medullary index of a hair.
• Distinguish hairs from individuals belonging to the broad racial categories.

Language Objectives:

• Discuss the role of hair as evidence in forensic investigation.
• Read documented case studies describing the probative value of hair as evidence.
• Write, discuss, and use key vocabulary appropriately.

Key vocabulary words learned in this unit include: compound microscope, cortex, cuticle, hair follicle, keratin, medulla, melanin granules, morphology, polymer, anagen phase, catagen phase, telogen phase, questioned, exemplar, metabolite, false positive. This resource will save you hours of planning time. Simply add your class title and upload or print for your own lesson plans.