Blood Spatter

Essential Question:
How do investigators identify different types of blood spatter?

Learning Objective:
I can design experiments to prove the behavior of liquids under varying velocities.

Standards addressed:
HS-PS2-1. Analyze data to support the claim that Newton’s second law of motion describes the mathematical relationship among the net force on a macroscopic object, its mass, and its acceleration.
HS-PS2-3 Apply science and engineering ideas to design, evaluate, and refine a device that minimizes the force on a macroscopic object during a collision.*

In Class Sequence

Lesson 1 (Engage)

Watch Introductory Video (Graphic: contains crime scene footage)
While watching, generate a list of questions to explore
Refine list of questions to focus on those which will help with the learning objective
Divide questions among group members, and begin investigation

Lesson 2 (Explore)

Collaborative Slide deck: Each student will research and answer their chosen question. Please follow the directions on slide 2.
When you have completed your slide, contribute one comment and one question to each of two student's other slides using the comment function.

Lesson 3 (Explain)

Bloodstain Pattern Analysis Lab

Lesson 4 (Extend)

Create a "Blood Spatter Analysis Guide" - one page, containing how to determine velocity (low, medium, or high) and angle of incidence, and identify different types of blood patterns

Lesson 5 (Evaluate)

Design an Experiment

Photo Credit

Additional Resources

Reading Material:

How Stuff Works Bloodstain Analysis

Videos:

Blood Spatter 101

Practice:

Interactives:

Hands-on:

Several hands-on activities- please use caution and parent supervision when handling sharp objects

Just for Fun: