KUTZTOWN UNIVERSITY

ELEMENTARY EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

LESSON PLAN FORMAT

Teacher Candidate:
Date:

Cortney Sensenig and Brooke Spence

4-7-16

Cooperating Teacher:
Group Size:

24

Subject or Topic:

Coop. Initials
Allotted Time
Fingerprints

45 min Grade Level

4th

Section

STANDARD:
3.1.4. B5 Distinguish among observed inheritance patterns caused by several
types of genetic traits (dominant, recessive, codominant, sex-linked, polygenic,
incomplete dominance, multiple alleles)
I. Performance Objectives:
Fourth grade students will be able to interpret the three types of finger print
patterns by making their own carbon prints
II. Instructional Materials
A. Student Materials
Scratch paper
#2 pencil (one per student)
Transparent roll of tape (6 rolls, one per table)
Fingerprint Inquiry Sheet (see attatched)
Guided Printed Hand Sheet (see attached)
B. Teacher Materials
Access to smart board
Access to chalkboard and chalk
Access to powerpoint presentation
Access to Youtube for the song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OPc7MRm4Y8

III. Subject Matter/Content (prerequisite skills, key vocabulary, big idea, outline of
additional content)

A. Prerequisite skills
1. Students should know what DNA and genes are
2. Students should know what inherited traits are
3. Students should know the names of the five different fingers
4. Students should know what a fingerprint is
B. Key Vocabulary
1. Arch Fingerprint- Fingerprint with arc pattern
2. Loop Fingerprint- Fingerprint with loop pattern
3. Swirl Fingerprint- Fingerprint with swirl pattern
4. Genetic Variation- The different possibilities of a gene
5. Diversity-multiple possibilities
6. Carbon printing- the direct image of a finger pattern
C. Big Idea
Genetic Diversity through Fingerprinting
D. Content
1. Genetic Variation
a. Different possibilities of a gene
b. Unlimited possibilities
i. Recap of the different inherited traits
2. Diversity
a. Multiple possibilities
i. While some people may have similar traits, no two
people are exactly alike
ii. There is diversity everywhere
1.
Humans, animals, plants, etc
3. Fingerprinting
a. Carbon printing
i. The direct image of a finger pattern
ii. 3 types of fingerprints
1.
Arc
2.
Swirl
3.
Loop
iii. While the type of finger pattern is an inherited trait, no
two fingerprints are the same
1.
Thats why they are often used for crime
scene investigations and identification
IV. Implementation
A. Introduction
1. Have the Pink Panther Theme Song playing as students are walking
into the room.
a. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OPc7MRm4Y8
2. Once the song is over and the students are quiet and attentive, ask
the students what that song reminds them of.
3. Call on at least 5 volunteers to write their words of what the song
reminds them of on the board.

a. There should be at least one answer relating to mystery

4. Tell students they were correct that it was the Pink Panther Theme
song which was an old detective show
5. Ask the students follow up question about what detectives often look
at to solve mysteries
a. Have them verbally respond by raising their hand
6. Tell the students that todays lesson will be about fingerprints.
B. Development
1. Teacher will begin the powerpoint presentation
2. Talk about Slide 1- Genetic Variation
a. Different Possibilities of a gene
b. Unlimited possibilities
c. Recall the different inherited traits discussed in the previous
lesson
d. Discuss the giraffe photo: Point out that even though they are
all the same animal, there are various forms of the giraffe.
3. Talk about Slide 2- What is diversity?
a. Multiple possibilities
b. While people may have similar traits, no two people are
exactly alike
c. Different genes = different make up
d. There is diversity everywhere
i. Humans, animals, plants, etc
e. Ask students to name some differences in the people in the
picture
4. Talk about Slide 3- Fingerprints
a. There are three different patterned fingerprints
i. Arc-point to the picture
ii. Whorl- point to the picture
iii.
Loop- point to the picture
iv. The pattern of your fingerprints is an inherited trait
5. Pause the powerpoint slide and pass out the Fingerprint Patterns
Inquiry to each student (see attached).
6. Give the students two minutes to get a closer look at the paper with
the fingerprints patterns on them.
7. Continue with the powerpoint- Slide 4- Fingerprints Continued
a. Carbon printing
i. The direct image of a fingerprint pattern
ii. While the pattern of your fingerprints may be inherited,
no two fingerprints are the exact same
iii.
This is why your fingerprints are often used as personal
identification and to investigate crime scenes
8. Tell students to recall the song you played as they were walking in.

9. Tell the students that they now will get the chance to investigate their
own fingerprints using their newly learned concept of carbon
printing.
10. Teacher will pass out the finger patterns inquiry sheet, along with the
guided hand sheet (see attached)
11. Teacher will also pass out a roll of transparent tape to each of the six
tables and ensure that every students has a #2 pencil and scrap paper
12. Tell the students that they will be making their own carbon prints of
their fingers
13. Teacher will demonstrate how students will do this
a. Step 1- Teacher will scribble with a #2 pencil on a piece of
scratch paper
b. Step 2- Teacher will choose one finger and press it on the
penciled area.
c. Step 3- When the fingertip is covered, teacher will now stick a
piece of transparent tape on the fingertip
d. Step 4- Teacher will remove the tape from their fingertip and
stick it out on the paper
14. Walk around and show the result to the tables
15. Ask student to volunteer to express what type of fingerprint pattern
you have.
16. Tell the students that they may now begin their inquiry sheet and
their own carbon printing.
17. Allows students time to work on their inquiry sheet and carbon
prints. Walk around as they are doing it at their tables to ensure that
all questions and concerns are being met.
18. As students are working, write on the chalkboard the three categories
of fingerprint pattern types
19. Once it looks like all your students are done ask for a volunteer to
raise their hand and answer which of the following they believe is
the most common type of pattern in the entire class.
20. Next, call on each table one by one to come up to the board and tally
which finger pattern they have.
21. Once everybody got the chance to tally their print pattern, examine
the results. Ask students if they were correct in their hypothesis
22. Bring up the last powerpoint slide
a. How does the class compare with the national average?
b. Most common type is loop with 65-70%
c. Second most common type is whorl- 25%
d. Arches make up only about 5%
23. Compare the class with the entire human population
C. Closure
1. Pass out a half sheet of paper to each student and put the pink
panther theme song on again.

2. Ask them to examine one of their table mates fingerprint patterns

3. Have them write down the name of their partner and which finger
print pattern they have
4. Students will use that as their ticket to get out the door.
D. Accommodations/Differentiation
1. Johnny has a learning disability that affects his note taking skills;
teacher will give him a fill in the blank note sheet to take notes
during the powerpoint.
2. Excelling Students- For students who get done with their carbon
prints extra early, give them a worksheet with pictures of random
prints on them. Have them identify the finger pattern type for each
picture.
3. Struggling Students- For students that are having trouble
distinguishing which type of finger print pattern they have, pair them
up with a student that is already done with their carbon prints to help
assist them.
E. Assessment/Evaluation Plan
1. Formative
a. Students will fill out their inquiry sheet questions as they do
their carbon printing.
2. Summative
a. End of unit test

V. Reflective Response
A. Report of Student Performance in Terms of Stated Objectives

B. Personal Reflection
Did I present the new information in an interesting way? Did it keep students
intrigued?
Did students seem to enjoy doing their own carbon prints inquiry? Were they
able to identify which pattern of finger prints they have?
VI. Resources (in APA format)
Youtube link for the song https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=9OPc7MRm4Y8

Investigation Carbon Printing: Teaching Children about Carbon Printing.

Nashua, NH: Delta Education

Fingerprint Inquiry Sheet

Before you begin your carbon prints

1) Which finger print pattern do you believe you have?

2) Will your fingerprints have the same pattern on each finger?

Why or Why not?

3) Which fingerprint type do you believe is the most common?

As demonstrated, do your carbon prints for all five of your fingers. Be

sure to use the same hand for all five prints. Stick the tape of your
carbon print on the correct corresponding finger on the handout

After all five of your carbon prints are done, examine your fingerprints
and answer the following questions (refer to the types of patterns)

4) Were you correct in guessing your fingerprint pattern? Which

pattern did you have?

5) Were all patterns the same for each of your fingers?