Analyze fingerprints left on a water glass. Using a glass that someone has held for drinking, dust cocoa powder over the glass with a soft brush, bringing out fingerprints. Lift the fingerprint using Scotch tape, pressing the sticky side of the tape onto the glass. Repeat with different fingerprints and glasses. Save the fingerprints for further analysis by placing the tape, sticky side down, on a piece of pastel colored construction paper.
Compare fingerprints of immediate family members by taking the fingerprints of four or five siblings and parents in a family. Using an ink pad, take fingerprints from each family member and note the fingers that are being printed. The three basic patterns of fingerprints are the loop, arch and whorl. Look for a pattern or similarity among the prints and the family members. Record the results for presentation.
Creating a challenge for classmates is a fun and practical way to learn fingerprint analysis. Draw a line down a blank piece of white construction paper. Enlist 10 volunteers and have them place their fingerprints on both sides of the dividing line, but not next to one another. Number one side of the page 1 through 10 and use the corresponding letters A through J on the other side. Students should find the matching fingerprints.
Gorillas, chimpanzees and koala bears also have fingerprints, with koala bears' prints being the most similar to human fingerprints. You can find pictures of koala bear and chimpanzee fingerprints online. Photocopy these and position them on a sheet of paper along with two human fingerprints. Make copies and pass them out for examination by classmates, seeing who can correctly guess which fingerprints are which. Tally the results and present them in class.