Forensic Science in the Middle School Math Classroom

This unit plan on forensic science was written for a middle school math classroom. However, it could easily be adapted for a science class or, idealistically, an integrated math/science program. Students will be introduced to forensic science, which is a branch of science that focuses on criminal investigation to provide physical evidence to solve criminal cases. Students will learn a brief history of the subject, discuss the many occupations related to this study, practice the Bertillon system of identification of criminals, experience the exactness of fingerprinting, and develop an understanding of the emerging importance of DNA testing. Finally, the students will use algebraic equations to determine the height of a person using only the length of certain bones. The unit could easily fit into a communications or literature class with the use of an abridged version of Mary Shelley’s Frankensteinor Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes as a prequel to the unit and the evaluation sheet at the end of the unit