Classroom Identity
Students use interactive whiteboards to learn about fingerprints.
Fingerprints are a mysterious collection of whorls and arches. Although each one is different, there are similarities. Students can learn about prints and how to classify them using an interactive whiteboard.
Lesson Description:
Students begin by learning to identify the general types of fingerprint patterns. Using the whiteboard, they examine the complexities of prints, identifying patterns by name. Next, students study a large picture of a scanned print and use a wireless slate to circle and identify the patterns they have learned. They then take their own prints and label them.
Subject Area:
This lesson is part of a forensic-science curriculum that high school students can take as a third-year science class. The lesson can be modified for middle school students as well.
Curriculum Standards:
This lesson meets the following standards from Nevada and the International Society for Technology in Education.
Nevada:
- Students know the human body has a specialized anatomy and physiology composed of a hierarchical arrangement of differentiated cells.
- Students know scientific knowledge builds on previous information.
ISTE:
- Students understand and use technology systems.
Resources:
There are several websites that are useful.
- The History of Fingerprints: onin.com/fp/fphistory.html.
- Latent Print Examination: onin.com/fp/
- History on Fingerprints: www.essortment.com/all/fingerprinthist_rmmv.htm
- Taking Legible Fingerprints: www.fbi.gov/hq/cjisd/takingfps.html
Grading Rubric:
Students are scored on a review sheet that quizzes them on print type and identification. The wireless-slate activity is a classwide program to allow participation to identify the many characteristics of each print.
Teaching Tips:
- Make sure the print you use is clear and has many distinct details before you scan it.
- To avoid mistakes and wasted time, it helps if your class already knows how to use the wireless slate.
- Be positive and encouraging. It is an easy lesson, but students can apply what they learn here in many other situations.