Forensic Puzzle Adventure: Unraveling Hidden Clues with Fingerprint Analysis
Let's Talk About Fingerprint Detectives!
We recently hosted a virtual chapter book club for kids and decided to pick Nancy Clancy by Robin Preiss Glasser. One of the coolest sections in the book was when Nancy dusted for fingerprints using her very own fingerprint kit. Intrigued, we thought we'd give it a try ourselves!
We used the Undercover Spy Gear Fingerprint kit to analyze our fingerprints, but you can use any kit or materials you have lying around. Here's what we did:
- Prep Your Workspace: Wipe down a flat surface (like a table) with a damp cloth. This will ensure no outside debris interferes with your prints.
- Making Your Prints: Each kid made a fingerprint on the prepared surface.
- Dusting and Lifting: We sprinkled the fingerprint dust over the prints using a small soft paintbrush. Brush away the excess dust to reveal the print. Lift the prints by pressing a clear, plastic sticker over them and gently peeling it off. Finally, stick the lifted prints on a fingerprint worksheet.
- Comparing Your Prints: Use the fingerprint ink to make another print with the same finger. Compare the two prints on the worksheet to see the differences.
- Observation: Discuss what you noticed in the fingerprints and why the two prints from the same finger might appear different on the paper.
It was a blast dusting for fingerprints, and we're thinking of trying a homemade version next time. Here's a simple idea:
DIY Fingerprint Kit
You'll need:- Baby powder or cornstarch (for dusting prints)- Small soft brush or makeup brush (to gently brush powder)- Clear tape (for lifting prints)- Black construction paper (for print background)- Magnifying glass (for observation)- Ink pad or washable paint (optional, for creating your own prints)- Index cards or stickers (for keeping prints as evidence)- Small containers or plastic bags (for organizing supplies)
Follow the instructions above and impress your little detectives with this fun, homemade fingerprint kit! So grab a book, flex those detective muscles, and let the sleuthing begin!
Don't forget to share your mystery-themed chapter book activities and crafts with us! And if you're interested in more mystery stories, join our Virtual Book Club for Kids Newsletter. Just sign up here! Keep an eye out for our first issue!
Happy Detecting,
Virtual Book Club for Kids
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Our lifestyle fosters learning and creativity, as we recently created a homemade fingerprint kit based on the book Nancy Clancy. Combining this with fashion-and-beauty, we repurposed an old makeup brush for dusting prints.
When it comes to home-and-garden improvements, we can't forget about organizing our detective supplies. That's why we made use of small containers or plastic bags to store our ingredients for our DIY fingerprint kit.
