Lesson 2

Fingerprints

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.)

Brainstorming
(5 min.)

Activity 2.1
Fingerprints basics
(10 min.)

Activity 2.2
Practice the
identification skills
(10 min.)

Activity 2.3
Make a fingerprint

Teaching
Resources

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)

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)

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

Ss make a patent print. (Hint: Ss are

encouraged to have a trial on a piece of

WS 2.3
PPT 2 (14-21)

(35 min.)

Activity 2.4
Try out the steps in
analyzing and
comparing
fingerprints
(30 min.)

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.

2B pencil
white papers
tape
fine iron powder
handkerchief
glass microscope
slide

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.
6. http://identinet.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/fingerprint.jpg