Fingerprint Activity | Crime Scene Investigation (CSI)

Item description

In this CSI-type lab investigation for middle school students, students will identify FINGERPRINTS to solve a “crime.” Unlike other forensics activities, this lab will not give your students nightmares!

This activity is perfect for traditional classrooms, enrichment programs/camps, homeschool co-ops, and homeschool students. This is a great alternative to graphic or scary CSI activities. This lab is easy to set up and mostly uses common materials you can easily find at your local grocery store (you will need to purchase fingerprinting powder online). Tested and approved by my students – this is a FUN activity that your students will love!

Here is the scenario:

The science class surprised their teacher by decorating the classroom for her birthday. She wanted to thank the people who set up the surprise, but no one would take credit. She turned the situation into a “teachable moment.” The microscope slides that were on her desk earlier that day were moved to another table. Whoever hung the birthday banner must have moved some of the slides out of the way to make room for the banner. They would use the fingerprints left behind on the microscope slides to solve the Birthday Banner Mystery.

In this investigation, students will make observations about their own fingerprints and collect fingerprints on a fingerprinting card. Then, they will use this information to solve the Birthday Banner Mystery.

This product includes the following:

Teacher instructions with photos

Student instructions with and without photos

Fingerprint Analysis Handout

Fingerprint Card

Three Articles – Fingerprinting, Funny Fingerprints, Fingerprinting and CSI

Comprehension/Analysis questions

Comprehension/Analysis answer key

Looking for more Fun Forensics activities? Check out…

Simulated Urinalysis product, “Urine Luck”

Paper Chromatography activity, “Spring Break Outbreak”

Identifying an unknown substance lab, “Mystery Powders”

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