Chicken Farm Forensic Entomology Investigation - Tomm 2014

T. Tomm 2014 https//sciencespot.net/

Forensic Entomology

Investigation

Teacher Notes:

The student digital slides for this unit are available at

IMPORTANT:  Make a copy of the student notebook before you

assign it on your LMS.  It is view-only and I am not able to

approve access for your students. 

The FULL digital notebook (with all the slides for the digital

lessons and activities) is available at

.  It is set up

for standard paper (8.5x11) in landscape mode for easier

printing when needed.  Paper versions are available for this

unit on my Forensic Science page at

A DRAFT of the general outline of the digital lessons (with

corresponding slide #s for the student notebook) is available at

 .  It is based on 44-minute class periods

with 7

th

 & 8

th

 grade students.

Preview presentations before using with your classes as many

slides have animations and links you will need to use.

I do Science Starters at the beginning of each class period.  A

collection of starters for Forensics is available on my lessons

plans page at 

 .

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http://www.cmnh.org/site/Img/ResearchandCollections/InvertZoo/124_blowflylifecycleRW.jpg

Things to Remember…

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 For this activity, we will “bury” chicken legs in a variety of ways and make

observations for the next week to see what evidence we can collect.

Teacher Notes:

Follow safe procedures for collecting

any evidence (larva or pupa) by using

protective equipment, such as gloves

and goggles.

I usually collect the samples (rather

than have students do so) and place

them in vials with rubbing alcohol.

The students are able to measure

them through the glass to collect

data.

I usually place the “chicken farm” in

an area away that does not get any

traffic as it can be a bit smelly by day

7.  A lot of the observations can be

done by looking through the

windows where the bags are hanging

on the outside.

What will we do to our chickens?

1

st

 – Method of Burial - 

How will we “bury” the chicken legs?

2

nd

 - Data - 

What data do we need to collect?

3

rd

 - Make your predictions - 

Which "leg" will be affected the most by

maggot activity?  The least?  Give reasons for your predictions.

“Burial” Methods

1 – Left uncovered/wrapped

2 – Wrapped in cellophane

3 – Wrapped in fabric

4 – Buried (covered with soil)

5 – Placed in water

6 -  Covered by vegetation (grass

clippings, leaves, etc.)

7 - Closed coffin (sealed inside a

baggie)

Teacher Notes: After we decide which

methods to use, we prepare fresh

chicken legs (leaving one untouched

for the control) and then place them

in Ziploc bags. I use packing tape to

tape each bag on the outside of a

classroom window.  Most of the bags

are not sealed, but left open for

insects to access them.  The only bag

sealed is the “closed” coffin method.

Data Collected – Each class period:

Day & Time

Weather – Current temp,

precipitation, cloud cover, wind, etc.

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Teachers should note the highs

and lows each day to compare the

temperatures taken by each class.

Observations – Life stages, larva

sizes, pupa, adult (species ID if

possible), decomposition signs

Chicken Farm Data

Discussion Questions

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