Lesson 2Fingerprints

Suggested Learning and Teaching Activities

Learning Outcome: Students shall be able to

 know how to identify the fingerprints;

 collect the fingerprints; and

 carry out the steps in analyzing and comparing fingerprints.

Pre-lesson Reading (Fingerprint Basics)

Lesson Flow / Teacher Notes
(Activities Guides, Remarks, Explanation, Conclusion, etc.) / Teaching Resources
Brainstorming
(5 min.) /  Ask Ss what will be the first thing the police officers search for when they arrive at the scene of a robbery. [Engagement]
 Encourage Ss to answer critically.
 Emphasize that there are proper steps in analysing and comparing fingerprints. [Explanation] /  PPT 2 (1-2)
Activity 2.1 Fingerprints basics (10 min.) /  Ss finish WS 2.1 (Assess students’ understanding on fingerprint basics).
 Review major concepts about fingerprint basics. [Explanation] /  WS 2.1
 PPT 2 (3-10)
Activity 2.2 Practice the identification skills (10 min.) /  Ss examine the given fingerprint of WS 2.2 with magnifying glass. [Exploration]
 Ss use Table 1 of WS 2.2 to help identify separate fingerprint ridgeline details.
 Ss locate and label at least 8 positions of ridgeline details on the given fingerprint. [Exploration]
 Check the answers. [Evaluation] /  WS 2.2
 PPT 2 (11-13)
 magnifying glass
Activity 2.3
Make a fingerprint
(35 min.) /  Ss make a patent print. (Hint: Ss are encouraged to have a trial on a piece of paper before making a print on the worksheet.) [Exploration]
 Ss make a latent print.
 Ss calculate the population percentage of each pattern of the fingerprints among their group members.
 Ss use Table 1 of WS 2.2 to help identify separate fingerprint ridgeline details of one of their fingerprints.
 Ss list out the names of the ridgeline details they found on the fingerprint. [Elaboration]
 Group discussions. /  WS 2.3
 PPT 2 (14-21)
 2B pencil
 white papers
 tape
 fine iron powder
 handkerchief
 glass microscope slide
Activity 2.4
Try out the steps in analyzing and comparing fingerprints
(30 min.) /  Discuss with Ss the steps in analysing and comparing fingerprints. [Explanation]
 Ss finish the case study. [Evaluation]
 Ss summarise and present their findings.
 Ss discuss the follow-up questions. /  WS 2.4
 PPT 2 (22-35)
 Magnifying glass
 Colour pens
 A3 papers

Remarks: Ss stands for “Students”.

References

  1. Saferstein R. (2009). Forensic Science: From the Crime Scene to the Crime Lab. New Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc.
  2. Rainis K.G. (2006). Fingerprints: Crime-Solving Science Experiments. NJ: Enslow publishers, Inc.
  3. Beres D.B. (2007). Dusted and Busted!: The Science of Fingerprinting. NY: Scholastic Inc.
  4. Houck M.M. (2007). Forensic Science: Modern Methods of Solving Crime. CA: Praeger Publishers.
  5. De Forest P.R., Gaensslen R.E. & Lee H.C. (1983). Forensic Science: An Introduction to Criminalistics. NY: McGraw Hill.

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