Fingerprint Detectives at Different Ages
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- Dusted and Busted: The Science of Fingerprinting
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Fingerprint Detectives: Pre-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 pre-schoolers explore Fingerprints?
Experiment – Preschoolers
Preschoolers can test different ways of taking a fingerprint, and determine which methods result in the clearest prints.
For example, they can try pressing their fingers to the tape first and then placing on paper versus pressing their finger to the paper directly and placing the tape on top.
Preschoolers may also be interested in trying different kinds of materials (e.g. paint) with which prints can be made.
Observe - PreSchoolers
Preschoolers may enjoy looking at their fingerprints very closely (e.g. with a magnifying lens or microscope) and broadly classifying them using the fingerprint pattern charts.
To help preschoolers look closely, ask them if any of their ten fingerprints are the same as another one of their fingerprints. How many of the different fingerprint patterns does s/he have on his or her hand?
With a group of preschoolers, ask each child to look closely at the fingerprints of other kids in the group - can you find a friend who shares a fingerprint pattern with you?