An Easy and Effective Way to Identify Minutiae Patterns
I love teaching fingerprinting in my Forensics course, but students sometimes struggle when it comes to identifying minutiae patterns. Fingerprints can be difficult to analyze on paper, so I have started using this fingerprint balloon activity to help my students identify minutiae patterns. Essentially, students enlarge their fingerprint on a balloon and VIOLA!- the minutiae patterns are easily seen and identified. Below are the instructions for An Easy and Effective Way to Identify Minutiae Patterns.
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Materials Needed:
- White Balloon (12 inch)
- Sharpie Marker (black)
- Minutiae Pattern Sheet
Instructions:
- Take the balloon and flatten an area big enough to fit a fingerprint. Make sure there are no creases in the balloon.
- With a permanent black marker, color the ridges of one of the tips of your fingers.
- Now press your inked finger onto the balloon.
- Gently roll your finger to capture your entire fingerprint.
- Blow up the balloon and tie it off.
- Now, you are ready to inspect your inflated print. Use the minutiae pattern chart (linked above) to identify the patterns of your unique print.
Check Out These Additional Fingerprint Resources:
- Fingerprint Lab Investigation: The Case of the Teacher’s Lounge Thief
- Fingerprint Activity
- Fingerprinting Science Doodles
- Fingerprints Case Study Worksheet
- Fingerprints Scavenger Hunt
- Fingerprint Lesson Plan Bundle
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