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Mrs
.
Frazier’s Classroom
Welcome to Forensic Science!
First and foremost I LOVE teaching! I have a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Education from The University of Arizona. I have been teaching 15 years. I have taught the Agriscience,
Integrated Science, Biology, Honors Biology, and Forensic Science courses throughout the years.
I decided to become a teacher because I love working with young adults! And secondly I really wanted to pass on my love of science! I am really looking forward to our journey together this year! I will be asking you for feedback and I encourage you to help me help you! I believe that each and every student can succeed, and I am here to help you reach your potential! Remember I am here for YOU so please come to me if you need anything! I am really excited to be your teacher this year!
About Mrs. Frazier
Cholla High Magnet School
2001 W Starr Pass Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85713 520-225-4061 Room A5 valerie.frazier@tusd1.org http://edweb.tusd1.org/vfrazierEffective Study Strategies & Tips
Time Management & Goals
Whether a student is in high school or college, the best possible tool is having effective time management skills. I have found the best way to maximize the limited time in any given day is by trying to set specific goals, both short term and long term.
Some things to look at when doing this: (1)Long Term Schedule: What are your
long-term goals? What do you need to do to achieve them?
(2)Short Term Schedule: Write out and plan your homework time, exam dates etc.
A planner is a must!
B
I O L O G Y
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O R E N S I C S
Topics & Course Info
The prerequisites for taking this course are
Biology, and Integrated Science or other
comparable courses. This course will cover the
science standards as set forth by Arizona State
Standards. Content area will be in Forensic
Investigation, including such topics as:
History of Forensic Science,
Crime scene investigation,
Collection and analysis of evidence,
Fingerprinting, Trace Evidence Analysis,
Entomology, Pathology,
Soil analysis, Hair & fiber Analysis,
Blood splatter patterns,
DNA analysis,
Toxicology,
Anthropology,
and Human Anatomy.
10 ways to succeed in
Forensic Science Class:
1.
Attend class regularly and be ON TIME!
2.
Pay attention in class!
3.
Get and stay organized!
4.
Do homework, labs, and class work in a
timely manner, and turn it in ON TIME!
5.
Study for the tests!
6.
Participate! Don’t
just sit there!
7.
Take advantage of any extra credit! (it's
extremely limited, so seize any
opportunity!)
8.
If you have an excused absence, make up
the work you missed! ASAP!!
9.
Turn in neat, sharp looking work.
10.
Come see the teacher for help!
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Grades, Policies, Materials & More
Rules
1.
Always be in your seat when the bell rings and prepared
to start class (working on bell work, assignments ready)
2.
Do not get out of your seat without permission (lab
situations excluded)
3.
Only talk when it’s appropriate.
4.
Respect the space and property of your peers.
5.
Obey all schools rules (see Student Handbook)
Materials & Supplies Needed:
You will need the following supplies:
1 or 1 ½ inch, rigid spine 3-ring binder (for
Forensic Science use ONLY)
5- tabbed dividers
Loose-leaf paper
Composition notebook (for Forensic Science
use ONLY)
Black or blue pens
Pencils with erasers
Colored Pencils
Scientific calculator
Ruler
USB Drive (minimum 2 GB)
Everyone starts with an A! How well you do depends on you! 90-100% - A 80-89.9% - B 70-79.9% - C 60-69.9% - D 0-59.9% - F
Grading
Scale
Procedures
Grades are weighted as follows: Catalysts: 10% Daily Work/Homework: 10% Binder/Lab Book: 20% Tests/Quizzes: 30% Projects/Lab Reports: 30% SEMESTER GRADES: 40% quarter 1 + 40% quarter 2 + 20% final exam
1. Be on time! (Detentions will be issued on the 4th unexcused tardy).
2. When you arrive to class, pick up handouts/ bell work sheet as you enter the class.
3. Sit in your assigned seat, get out any assignments and start the catalyst question as soon as you arrive to class. Be in your seats when the tardy bell rings.
4. Catalysts must be MADE UP if you miss a day; it counts as 10% of your grade. Go online or come in
before/after school to make up bell work.
5. Absences: it is your responsibility to check for missing work, get notes from a classmate, on the class website or from me after/before school. (Parents must call the school and have the absence excused!) You have the same number of days to make up your work as you missed of class.
a. If you miss a lab, I reserve the right to give you an alternative assignment due to the perishable nature of many of our lab materials.
6. Late work will be accepted for 60% of the earned credit until the designated day each grading period.
7. You have 3 hall/restroom passes to use during the quarter, use them wisely! (nurse passes are issued case by case)
8. Cheating will not be tolerated. Zeroes will be issued to BOTH parties and a referral may also be issued.
9. If your grade falls below a “C”, it is expected that you will attend a tutoring period at least once a week for help until your grade improves. 10.Cell phones and other electronics are
not to be used without permission. Refer to the school policy on electronic devices.
Selected Readings from Forensic
Science Journals; newspaper
articles on current cases; and
other supplementary articles.
Text
Should you choose not to follow the rules and procedures listed above you will be given:
1. Verbal warning
2. Detention and a call home
3. Administrative referrals will follow.
Hopefully we will never get beyond a warning. Please remember all rules and procedures are put in place to help make our classroom a nicer place for all of us to spend our time.
Consequences
Grading Policy
Need Help?
Tutoring is available Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays
before (7 a.m.) and after school (until 4:30 p.m.).
Cholla High Magnet School
2001 W Starr Pass Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85713
Science Department Mrs. Valerie Frazier Phone (520) 225-4061
“Every Student, Every Day, Charging Fearlessly
Toward Academic and Personal Excellence.”
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July 31, 2014
Dear Parents/Guardians of Forensics Students:
I would like to welcome your student to the Forensic Science class at Cholla High School
Magnet School! I have a number of exciting, hands-on activities planned for the coming semesters.
The overall goal of the course is to develop the students’ problem-solving skills, using the tools and
techniques of the modern forensic scientist on various mock crime scenes in the classroom.
Modern forensics involves photography of crime scenes and suspects. Fingerprints have long
been a part of forensics, and have become easier to collect from crime scenes due to new
technologies. The latest technologies to hit the crime lab involve the collection, amplification, and
analysis of DNA. As such, part of this course will involve the photographing, fingerprinting each of
the students in class. Please understand that this information will remain private throughout; in no
way will the information collected about the students become part of the public record. The activities
are mandatory, but the information will not be shared with the school; it will not leave the classroom.
Although certain aspects of forensics involve working with blood, the majority of the
activities will use blood substitutes. In one activity, however, a chemical called luminol will be used
to process latent blood stains. For this activity the students will be viewing a demonstration of the
use of luminol on animal blood (collected from a local butcher shop), while using standard protection
methods. In addition, the forensic pathology section will require the participation in a mock autopsy
of a fetal pig. Once again, these activities are mandatory.
Lastly, I would like to include one or more field trips as part of the forensics curriculum.
Unlike the activities above, the field trips are not mandatory. Field trips will involve the visiting of
one or more of the following: the TPD crime lab, juvenile court, and the Cadaver Lab at Grand
Canyon University in Phoenix. Alternate activities will be provided for students who cannot attend.
I look forward to working with your student this coming year!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Valerie Frazier
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Forensic Science Safety Contract
Safety and health are basic values in the sciences. Students are required to adhere to: 1. Use common sense.
2. Know and practice good body mechanics.
3. No work is to be done in the lab without the instructor present
4. Know your lab procedure before performing the lab, including safe handling of materials and equipment. Ask for instructions whenever you are confused.
5. Read the lab thoroughly before you start working on it.
6. Know the location of the fire extinguisher, the eye wash station/ safety shower and the broken glass container. 7. Wear a lab coat/lab apron, safety goggles and close-toed shoes when performing experiments. Tie back loose hair when performing experiments.
8. Always wear gloves when handling microorganisms or potentially hazardous materials. Once you have (or potentially have) had direct contact with these agents, your gloves are considered contaminated. You cannot touch any object that is usually touched without gloves, especially outside your workstation (i.e. faucets,
doorknobs, light switches). Clean (potentially) contaminated equipment as soon as the process requiring gloves is finished.
9. Observe all labels on chemical bottles.
10. No food, drink or gum is allowed in this classroom during laboratory experiments. 11. Wash hands before and after working in the laboratory.
12. Clean the bench top before and after a lab.
13. No personal belongings or items not needed for the experiment are allowed in the lab area. Bring designated notebook and pen/pencils to be kept in the lab for the year.
14. Avoid unnecessary activities as excessive movement can lead to contamination of the lab. NO ROUGH PLAY in the lab such as running, hitting, throwing, unnecessary noise, etc.
15. Never eat, inhale or unnecessarily handle lab agents. 16. Discard all materials as instructed by the teacher.
17. RETURN all equipment to proper locations after use. CLEAN UP your workstation as soon as the experiment is finished and WASH all lab ware as instructed by the teacher. DISPOSE of materials in the properly designated container. DISMISSAL from class occurs after the lab is clean and safe.
18. Make sure hot plates; gas and water lines are turned off when not in use. Double-check and check your neighbors.
19. Students are not allowed in the prep areas (except when accompanied by the teacher to obtain lab components).
20. EVERY lab accident must be reported immediately to the teacher, no matter how small or large. DO NOT endanger yourself or others by waiting or by covering up an accident.
21. If in doubt, ask!!!!
The safety contract exists to ensure the safety of everybody participating in the forensic science classroom. In case of violation of safety rules or rules concerning the use of any materials in the Forensic Science program, a safety citation card will be issued. Should a student gather three violation cards, he/she will be
disqualified from the Forensic Science classroom unless improved safety behavior is demonstrated and a meeting is held with the student, parent/guardian, curriculum coordinator, and teacher.
