Forensic Science Unit: Toxicology & Digital Forensics |2-Week Unit Plan Gr 10-12

Equip your students with the skills to solve modern crimes with this comprehensive 2-week Forensic Science Unit covering Toxicology and Digital Forensics. Designed for grades 10–12, this premium, no-prep resource includes 10 detailed lesson plans, engaging hands-on activities, realistic case studies, and a complete assessment with an answer key.

Bridge the gap between biology and technology as students explore how drugs and poisons are detected in autopsies, trace digital footprints through metadata and IP tracking, and testify as expert witnesses in a mock trial.

📋 Unit Overview: This 2-week unit is structured into two focused modules:

Week 1: Forensic Toxicology — Explores the ADME model (pharmacokinetics), drug detection methods (GC-MS, immunoassays), poisons (heavy metals, CO, organophosphates), and postmortem redistribution. Week 2: Digital Forensics — Covers the digital investigation process, evidence preservation (write-blockers, hash values), metadata/EXIF data, IP tracking, deleted file recovery, and social media evidence authentication. ✨ What’s Included :

10 Detailed Lesson Plans: Step-by-step instruction with warm-ups, direct instruction, guided/independent practice, closures, and exit tickets. Toxicology Case Study (3 Scenarios): Realistic data analysis activities including "The Unresponsive Teenager" (fentanyl), "The Garage Incident" (carbon monoxide), and "The Sudden Illness" (arsenic). Digital Forensics Evidence Analysis Activity: A full corporate espionage investigation where students analyze email headers, EXIF data, and document metadata to find a blueprint leak. Metadata Scavenger Hunt Activity: A hands-on activity where students extract hidden data (GPS, timestamps, author history) from provided digital files. Expert Witness Role-Play Guide: Complete instructions and frameworks for conducting a mock trial, including voir dire, direct examination, and cross-examination. Unit Assessment & Answer Key: A comprehensive test featuring multiple-choice, short-answer, and scenario-analysis questions. 🧠 Skills Covered:

Analyzing the ADME pharmacokinetic model (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion) Distinguishing between screening (ELISA) and confirmatory (GC-MS) toxicology tests Interpreting postmortem toxicology reports and drug half-life calculations Implementing proper digital evidence collection and chain of custody Extracting and interpreting EXIF data and document metadata Tracing IP addresses and understanding ISP subpoena processes Communicating scientific findings clearly (Expert Witness testimony) 💡 How to Use: This resource is ready to teach—just print and go! Follow the daily lesson plans sequentially. Use the case studies and digital activities in small groups to encourage collaborative problem-solving. Conclude the unit with the Expert Witness Role-Play to build public speaking and critical thinking skills, followed by the summative assessment.

🎓 Grade Suitability: Grades 10, 11, 12

📐 Standards Alignment:

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices: Analyzing and Interpreting Data; Constructing Explanations NGSS Crosscutting Concepts: Patterns; Cause and Effect; Systems and System Models Common Core ELA: WHST.9-12.2 (Write informative/explanatory texts); SL.9-12.4 (Present information, findings, and supporting evidence clearly)