Watch a scientist-led video for this activity
Here’s a video to accompany the Science from Scientists CSI Fingerprint Take-Home STEM Kit!
Fingerprinting
Ready to solve a crime?
Today, you’re a forensic scientist — investigating, collecting, and analyzing fingerprints left behind in order to solve a mystery!
Everyone’s fingertips have ridges and grooves that are unique – no two people’s match exactly!
When you touch something with your bare hands, you leave an impression of these ridges and grooves behind. This is called a fingerprint.
Forensic scientists are trained to find and collect fingerprints. When fingerprints are found at the scene of a crime, the forensic scientist uses special techniques to collect them so they can bring them back to the lab for analysis.
Using a specialized database, they then search for a match to find out who was at the scene of the crime!
Ready to get started?
Remove all of the contents from your kit and lay them out on your workspace. Your kit should include all of the items shown below.
Follow the instructions on the insert included with your kit to get started, or if you would prefer to follow along with one of our scientist educators, watch a scientist-led video instead.
About Science from Scientists
Science from Scientists (SciSci) is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization specializing in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) experiential learning for 3rd- through 8th-graders, with the goal of measurably improving the attitudes and aptitudes of students in STEM.
We send real, charismatic scientist educators into classrooms during school every other week for half- (8 visits) or full-year programs (16 visits) to guide students through hands-on STEM lessons chosen by teachers to enhance their curricula. Because our program occurs during the school day, we reach every student, not just those already interested in STEM or who are able to access out-of-school programming.
Teachers receive professional development through the modeling of instructional practices for hands-on/minds-on learning by our scientist educators.
We work with and within the existing education system and provide as many students as possible with access to STEM role models at the ages—elementary and middle school—when students typically are deeply engaged in defining who they are and beginning to imagine their future selves.
By inspiring students, building their confidence, igniting their interests, and developing their knowledge and skills, we can change life trajectories, improve lives, and fill the workforce pipeline with talented, competent individuals.
