Snowball: The Cat That Convicted a Killer
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Most of us find true crime stories oddly fascinating. They are so compelling that countless books, movies, television documentaries, and magazine articles have been made about them. In this Minute, Wildlife Truthteller Aline Alexander Newman shares a true crime story starring a pet cat. It’s a great way to introduce your students to the study of DNA. |
eography
Map Skills
Ask your students to find Prince Edward Island on a map. What stands out about it? (small size) Considering its location, what do they think it’s famous for? (seafood)
English/Language Arts
Vocabulary
Have your students look up the meanings of these words:
Map scale
Forensic evidence
DNA
Testimony
Convict
Defendant
Writing
Ask your students to write complete sentences using each of the above vocabulary words. Have them exchange papers. Each student then picks one sentence from their neighbor’s paper and writes a three or four sentence paragraph (fiction or nonfiction) incorporating that sentence.
STEM
Biology
An individual’s DNA is as unique as their fingerprint, meaning that no one else except an identical twin, would be an exact match. Show your students this example of a DNA comparison chart taken from an actual murder case, and have them figure out whether it is evidence of the defendant’s innocence or guilt.
Map Skills
Ask your students to find Prince Edward Island on a map. What stands out about it? (small size) Considering its location, what do they think it’s famous for? (seafood)
English/Language Arts
Vocabulary
Have your students look up the meanings of these words:
Map scale
Forensic evidence
DNA
Testimony
Convict
Defendant
Writing
Ask your students to write complete sentences using each of the above vocabulary words. Have them exchange papers. Each student then picks one sentence from their neighbor’s paper and writes a three or four sentence paragraph (fiction or nonfiction) incorporating that sentence.
STEM
Biology
An individual’s DNA is as unique as their fingerprint, meaning that no one else except an identical twin, would be an exact match. Show your students this example of a DNA comparison chart taken from an actual murder case, and have them figure out whether it is evidence of the defendant’s innocence or guilt.
Math
Show your students the map scale on a printed map of North America and explain how to use it. Then, have them use a ruler to determine the estimated distance on the ground from Frederick, Maryland (the home of Dr. O’Brien’s laboratory) to Summerside, Prince Edward Island (where Douglas Beamish’s trial took place). Next, ask them to plug the names of the two cities into Google and find the distance between them that way. What is the difference between the two results? Which do they think is more accurate, using the map scale or using Google?
Show your students the map scale on a printed map of North America and explain how to use it. Then, have them use a ruler to determine the estimated distance on the ground from Frederick, Maryland (the home of Dr. O’Brien’s laboratory) to Summerside, Prince Edward Island (where Douglas Beamish’s trial took place). Next, ask them to plug the names of the two cities into Google and find the distance between them that way. What is the difference between the two results? Which do they think is more accurate, using the map scale or using Google?
