Crime Perceptions Quiz

Level(s): Grades 9 to 11

Overview

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This lesson helps students understand the difference between real-life crime and criminal activities portrayed in crime shows by having them compare their perceptions about crime to actual crime statistics.

Learning Outcomes

Students will:

understand how crime shows construct reality
appreciate the differences between the constructed reality of crime dramas and crime in real life

Preparation and Materials

Photocopy Crime Quiz
Download Quiz Solutions
Reproduce Canadian Crime Statistics as a transparency

Procedure

Ask your students:

What is crime?
How many types of crime can you think of?
What do you think is the most prevalent type of crime in Canada: For adult offenders? For youth offenders?

Administer the Crime Quiz.

Assign four students the task of summarizing the results.
While awaiting the results, share the official answers to the quiz with the class and discuss their reactions.
Have the four students present the results of their tabulation.
Discuss the quiz results with the class.

Instigate a discussion of crime in the community.

Is there any?
What kind of crime is it? (Shoplifting, vandalism, robbery, armed robbery, assault?)
Why do people commit crimes?

Place the Canadian Crime Statistics transparency onto the overhead and discuss these statistics with your class.

Activity

Journal Entry

Have students complete a journal entry reflecting on their feelings and beliefs about crime in the community. Were they surprised by any of the statistics? Which ones?
What factors influence their attitudes and perceptions?

Ask students to consider the types of crime experienced in their daily lives and neighborhoods.

When it comes to portrayals of crime in society on TV, which television shows (if any) portray crime in a manner that is closest to their life experiences?
Which crime drama(s) least reflects the types of crimes that might be encountered in the students? neighborhoods?

Evaluation

Completed journal entries