Lesson

Investigation: Fingerprints
Title/Focus
Subject/Grade
Grade 6
Level
Unit

Science: Investigation

Date

November 15, 2016

Time
40 mins
Duration
Teacher

Miss. Baillie Rutherford

OUTCOMES FROM ALBERTA PROGRAM OF STUDIES

General
Learning
Outcomes:
Specific
Learning
Outcomes:

(Science) 68 Apply observation and inference skills to recognize and interpret patterns
and to distinguish a specific pattern from a group of similar patterns.
(Science) classifying fingerprints collected from a variety of surfaces.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Students will:
1. Be able to identify the different types of fingerprints
2. Be able to recognize and observe their own fingerprint types and then make an inference on the
types
ASSESSMENTS
Observations:
Are students able to distinguish between the different types of fingerprints?
Are students able to follow directions on how to make their own fingerprint
on a piece of tape?
Key Questions:
What are the different types of fingerprints?
Does everyone have the same fingerprints?
Products/Performanc Fingerprint worksheet: contains the types of fingerprints as well as a
es:
worksheet to make their own fingerprints to observe
LEARNING RESOURCES CONSULTED
MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT
Edmonton Public Schools Topic D: Evidence and Worksheet (23 copies)
Investigation Grade 6
Tape
Pencil (each student should have their own)
PROCEDURE
Prior to lesson
Introduction
Time
Attention Grabber
Wait for full attention
1 min
Assessment of Prior
Transition to body question: does anyone know the names of the
Knowledge
different types of patterns for a fingerprint?
Expectations for
I expect every student to pay attention in order for them to learn
Learning and
the material to be able to complete the assigned activity.
Behaviour
Advance
1. Categorize fingerprint patterns
Organizer/Agenda
2. Make own fingerprints and observe their patterns as well as
1 min
make an inference about each finger
Transition to Body
ASK: does anyone know the names of the different types of
patterns for a fingerprint?
3 mins
DO: get helpers to hand out worksheets
SAY: please make sure to put your name on the top right corner
1

Learning Activity #1

Assessments/
Differentiation:
Learning Activity #2

Assessments/
Differentiation
Learning Activity #3

Body
SAY: please follow along and make observations about each print.
There are pictures on the front page you can use to look closer.
DO: Powerpoint on the different types of fingerprint patterns

Pencil Prints
SAY: We are going to look at our own fingerprints by rubbing a
pencil on a piece of paper then placing our finger in the lead and
taking it off with a piece of tape.
DO: demonstrate how to make the fingerprint
DO: split class into groups of about 4 to share the rolls of tape (5
rolls)
SAY: have one person from each group come up and grab a roll of
tape and a scrap paper for each member of your group
SAY: Now you will do a fingerprint for every finger. Once you
place a fingerprint on the piece of tape, make sure you put the
piece of tape in the correct box on the 3rd page of your booklet.
SAY: Once you are done making your prints you are going to go
through and label what patterns they are, then count the number of
each pattern you have and fill out the bottom boxes
Will be handed in for formative assessment to check for
understanding of concepts
Graph
SAY: if you turn to the back of your booklet there is a chart for
you to calculate the amount of each type of print within your class.
DO/SAY: model how to label the graph: title, number of prints,
print styles
SAY: Now I would like you to try and talk to as many people in
the class as possible, and for every pattern they have, I want you to
color in a box above the correct label. For example, if someone
has 3 arches, you will color in 3 boxes about arches.

Time
10 mins

10 mins

10 mins

Wasnt completed
Assessments/
Differentiation
Assessment of
Learning:
Feedback From
Students:
Feedback To Students

Will be handed in for formative assessment to check for

understanding of concepts
Closure

Time

Formative assessments on worksheets

Worksheet will be handed in for formative assessment on the
understanding of concepts
SAY: Great work with identifying your own fingerprints. I hope
you enjoyed this fun activity! When you are done you can bring
your sheets up to me.

Transition To Next
Lesson
2

Sponge
Activity/Activities

Placed tape Able to

Labelled
in proper
label prints graph
spot
properly
correctly

Colored in
correct
number of
boxes

Fingerprints
are done
neatly

Bird, Bethany
Bruised Head, Ryker
Crosschild, Jack
Cuff, Conner
Day Chief, Kellita
Frank, Santana
Haile, Solomon
Halma, Jaelyn
Healy, Christa
Healy, Tawny
Kocsis, Madysen
Kortt, Ally
Kortt, Ryan
Kropf, Janessa
Oviedo-Guzman,
Mariana
Red Crow, Tara
Sanders, Kaylee
Scout, Starly
Steele, Junior
Thunder Chief,
Kyanni
Watson, Deylan
Weasel Head, Karl
Weasel Traveller,
Symone