Unsolved Crimes: The Zodiac
This 10 week class is a deep dive into one of the most fascinating unsolved crimes of all time.
Thomas Jones
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:(1,195)
What's included
10 live meetings
10 in-class hoursHomework
1 hour per week. Students will have the option of reviewing materials, such as the Zodiac's writings, online videos, or website inclusions in order to formulate theories on the case each week.Assessment
My forensic science and unsolved crimes all use informal assessment. My classes are about thinking and I pay a great deal of attention to the students' work through discussion and chat.Class Experience
US Grade 7 - 10
This class will provide a deep dive into a case that continues to capture the public's attention fifty years after the notorious Zodiac ended his reign of terror in the San Francisco Bay area. As with all of my unsolved crimes classes, this class will include lecture and extensive discussion, with ample opportunities for students to do their own research on various topics of their choice. The course will include three main areas of analysis: 1. The Zodiac crimes and the potential crimes that may be attributed to the Zodiac. 2. The Zodiac's writings, including a full decryption of the Zodiac's coded messages, which go far beyond the two long ciphers. Students will learn how the Zodiac encrypted his messages and will be able to see how he crafted every single one of his writings as a coded message. 3. The suspects. We will focus heavily on Arthur Leigh Allen, but we will also discuss other suspects, some of whom may have been working with the Zodiac. Those suspects include: Richard Gaikowski Rick Marshall Larry Kane Ted Kaczynski Donald Lee Bujok Gareth Penn Throughout our discussion within each section of the course, we will review police and FBI files, as well as recordings that are relevant to the case. Students will be given lists of optional research opportunities, including websites, books, and online videos, all of which I have reviewed for content and appropriateness. The section on the Zodiac's codes/ciphers is truly unique because I am the person who has completed the full decryption of the Zodiac's writings, so my students will have the most complete information available on this immense body of cryptologic materials.
Learning Goals
Students will utilize critical reasoning skills in analysis of evidence in a real case. They will also learn how the investigation of cases such as the Zodiac have evolved over the past fifty years.
Syllabus
10 Lessons
over 10 WeeksLesson 1:
The first three crimes of the Zodiac
We will explore the backgrounds of the victims, seek clues about their connection to the concept of the "zodiac," and attempt a bit of profiling based on the commonalities of these events. 60 mins online live lesson
Lesson 2:
The Murders of Paul Stine and Donna Lass
We will examine the October 11, 1969 murder of Paul Stine, with extensive analysis of police actions, witness accounts, and reasons to believe that Stine may not have been a random target. We will also examine the murder of Donna Lass, which will include police findings from 2024. We will also review the first letters from the Zodiac, with an eye to questions of the motive behind the writings. 60 mins online live lesson
Lesson 3:
The non-canon victim list
We will discuss the possibility that the "Zodiac" crimes were only one chapter in the person's overall criminal history. 60 mins online live lesson
Lesson 4:
The Zodiac's writings (Part 1)
We will be devoted to the writings, including writings which have been questioned as authentic Zodiac products. We will examine the handwriting, content, misspelled words, and the coding methods used by the Zodiac. 60 mins online live lesson
Other Details
Parental Guidance
This is a class about a serial killer, but I make sure to never use any graphic images or to dwell on the graphic nature of killings. This case does not contain any ritualistic or excessively violent crimes, and parents have found it to be a rather tame crime spree in comparison to other famous cases.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined January, 2017
4.9
1195reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
I have twenty years of teaching experience in forensic science and unsolved crimes analysis. I teach at the college, middle school, and high school levels. I have a law degree from a top U.S. law school and graduate studies in forensic science. I am one of the leading academic experts on the Zodiac case, with regular public lectures on the subject, and a book about the case in preparation.Reviews
Live Group Course
$140
for 10 classes1x per week, 10 weeks
60 min
Completed by 38 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 12-17
4-14 learners per class
