IMSA Excellence 2000+ Curriculum

Learning Summary
As a culminating activity, the class develops a formal case against one or two leading suspects, and has a mock trial. Sites are encouraged to bring in one or two attorneys to play the role of judge and defense attorney for the mock trial. In the lesson Develop the Case for Trial, students see an example of a specific scientific model and learn how it unifies several seemingly unrelated lines of evidence. They are encouraged to likewise develop their case to cohesively unify the evidence. This activity rounds out and solidifies the analogy with an authentic scientific inquiry project.

Learning Objectives
The students will:

• write summaries of the analysis process and conclusion(s) for each piece of evidence;
• unify these into a cohesive whole that presents the comprehensive case; and,
• play Devil's Advocate with their findings in order to prepare for the scrutiny and challenge of a mock trial