Page 7 - Bad Impression Bite Mark
P. 7
Teaching
Timeline
GROUNDWORK
Before conducting this laboratory exercise, the details of The Investigation should be shared with the class to
provide the context of the crime. Covering this material once should be sufficient for all laboratory modules.
DAY 1 DAY 2, AFTER CLASS
Cover material in Forensic Odontology. Sort students’ dental impressions. Remove
improper impressions and replace them with
Distribute lab procedures.
those included with the kit.
Assign pre-lab questions as homework.
DAY 2 DAY 3
Distribute bite impressions to students.
Discuss characters used in forensic odontology.
Instruct students to follow Part Two of the lab
Discuss the statistical concept of variance with procedure in which they identify and measure
students in broad terms. Discuss what types characters on the bite impressions.
of characters are good for separating groups
using the worksheet Choosing Characters. Instruct students to enter their data into the
spreadsheet provided. This will score each of
Review pre-lab questions. the impressions measured against the bite
mark in the photograph using the characters
Instruct students to follow Part One of the lab determined by students.
procedure (Take their own dental impression,
identify distinguishing characters, and measure Instruct students to share which characters
those characters on their impression).
had the most separating power, or highest
Collect student’s dental impressions using the variance. Allow students to discuss various
evidence collection sheet. theories as to why these characters are useful.
THE MYSTERY OF LYLE AND LOUISE 7
