Fingerprint Detectives at Different Ages
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Fingerprint Detectives: Early-Elementary Schoolers
Fingerprinting can be a fun science activity for people of all ages. We provide these generalizations as guidelines about what children at different ages might do during Fingerprint explorations at the Discovery Center’s Experiment Station, in the kitchen at home, or at school. Listed below are science and technology process skills that children may be practicing during their explorations. Please remember: each child develops at a different rate, so some children in each age group may be able to do some of the things described in the age group before or after their own.
How might early elementary schoolers explore Fingerprints?
Classify - Early Elementary Schoolers
Elementary-aged children can examine their own fingerprints, using their eyes or aided by a magnifying lens, and use a fingerprint charts to identify the types of fingerprints they have.
Kids this age can also try using a more detailed "ridge-line chart" (see sample at right)- these charts illustrate the small details of how lines in the print pattern come together.
Observe - Early Elementary Schoolers
Early Elementary Schoolers can make observations about differences in the small details between fingerprints.
Looking for "ridge-line patterns" (see above) will be especially fun if a high-magnification hand lens or microscope is available.
Magnifying lenses and microscopes allow early-elementary aged children to look very closely, and to discover additional details about the patterns in each of their fingerprints.