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Fun with Fingerprints
Fun with Fingerprints
Directions:
Directions:
These activities will teach us how to collect fingerprints. This technique is not all that much different from how real detectives collect fingerprints at scenes of mysterious events. This might take a little practice, but once you get the hang of it, you can show off your sleuthing skills.
Note: These activities are just for fun. Don’t try this outside your home, your friends’ home, or a safe place supervised by a groovy grown-up. And never interfere with the work of real detectives and investigators. It’s against the law!
Activity 1: Transferring to Tape
Activity 1: Transferring to Tape
1). Using your ink pad or washable markers, cover the tip of your ring finger and pinky with ink.
2). Stick a piece of Scotch tape to your ink-covered fingers and press firmly.
3). Remove the piece of tape and stick it to a blank piece of paper. With your magnifying glass, you’ll be able to see your fingerprints and identify whirls, arches, and loops.
Ready for the next step?
Activity 2: Dusting for Prints
Activity 2: Dusting for Prints
1). Rub your hands together to bring out the oils from your skin.
2). Place as many fingertips as you’d like onto a mirror, and press flat against the glass.
3). Pour a small amount of cocoa powder on top of the prints and dust with the paint or makeup brush. Blow away any excess powder.
4). Stick a piece of Scotch tape on each print and lift. The fingerprint will stick to the tape. Ta Dah!
learning coach tips:
learning coach tips:
Here’s how this works…our skin produces oil that keeps it smooth and healthy. This is why when you wash your hands a lot, which removes the oil, your skin might feel dry and cracked and you might need to apply moisturizer—don’t stop washing your hands, though! It’s very important. When we touch objects, we leave oil behind from our unique fingertip patterns. The fine cocoa powder we used to dust the prints sticks to the oil left behind by your finger when you touched the mirror and made the prints visible. When detectives are looking for a person who might have witnessed or been involved in a mysterious event, finding and collecting fingerprints is one way to help solve the puzzle.
Note: If you have super clean fingers, you can make your fingerprint stickier by pressing your finger or thumb into honey first. Then wipe off any excess honey and make your fingerprints.
Other ideas:
Other ideas:
More Family Fingerprint Fun!
More Family Fingerprint Fun!
Want to take your Super Sleuth skills to the next level? Gather your family members and show them all how to do Activity 1 using all their fingertips. Then collect fingerprints around your house using the steps in Activity 2 with your cocoa powder, brush and tape. Great places to look for fingerprints are drink glasses, countertops, doorknobs, and faucets. Write down each place you find the prints. Once you’ve collected as many as you can find, use your magnifying glass to compare the prints with the ones in Activity 1 to see who left their fingerprints in each place. You might even be able to figure out which fingers tend to leave the most prints.
Use your imagination to create mysteries that you and your family can have fun
Career Connections: Forensic Science
Does your child love detective stories, watch crime scene investigation (CSI) shows, or dream of being a forensic scientist someday? CSI activities for kids may be just what you need! Mysteries and hands-on sleuthing experiences can build important critical thinking skills. Best of all, forensic science for kids covers different areas of science: physics, biology, chemistry, and earth science! Using crime scene activities, books, and investigations can help your child learn skills in data collection, observation, analysis, and problem-solving. Most of all, your child will love to learn this way!
Here are some resources you can find on the Internet to guide your budding detective to think and learn in super fun ways:
Forensic Science for Kids: Labs and Projects for Kids
Forensic Science for Kids: Terms
Local Career Connections: Ampal
Literature Connection
Other Mystery Series
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