Description
The perfect introduction to fingerprints activity! Your students will have a great time experiencing the Bertillon System and learn why it didn’t work – a perfect bridge to the importance of Forensic Fingerprinting.
For the Intro to Fingerprints Activity, your students will…
- Learn the history and uses for the Bertillon System
- Work in pairs to make their own Bertillon Measurement Card with eight physical measurements (head circumference, length of little finger, height, etc)
- Draw a ‘mug shot’ of their partner (my favorite part! They get so creative)
- Reflect on and discuss the flaws of the Bertillon System
- Learn the case of Will and William West
- Come to the conclusion that Fingerprints are the preferred way to identify a person!
Resource includes:
- Introduction Google Slide: 9 slides that teach the history and use of the Bertillon System, give instructions on the activity, see student examples of Bertillon Cards, and lead discussion after the activity
- Printable Bertillon Card, Discussion questions and Measurement Instructions: provide to students as they work in class
- Digital Bertillon Card, Discussion questions and Measurement Instructions: designed for students who are distance learning, or use in class to save paper!
- Google Form: To help organize students into pairs of most similar height, so students can see if their other Bertillon measurements were similar or not
- Full Teaching Guide: with tips for doing the activity in class, and ideas to overcome obstacles for students working from home
NO PREP!
Click to see a preview of the Intro to Fingerprints Activity.
Here are what some Happy Teachers have to say about this Intro to Fingerprints Activity in our Teachers Pay Teachers store:
I’ve always wanted to incorporate some activities when we talk about the Bertillion system as part of our fingerprint unit. I used this for my in-person students and they loved it! Thank you! – Michele R. April 30, 2021
Great resource for a forensics class. The students really got into creating their sketches. – Erica S. March 2, 2022
This was a fun activity before we started our fingerprint unit! – Jayme B. February 28, 2022
More Forensic Fingerprint Resources:
- Bertillon System Activity: Experience how the Bertillon System works, and understand how it does not work! The perfect way to introduce Fingerprints
- Fingerprint Identification Notes, Activity and Review!: No prep – Fingerprint Learning Slides are student independent, perfect for both in class and distance learning.
- Forensics Fingerprint Collection Notes + Activity + Review – Print & Digital: Teach your students the basics of collecting fingerprints on different types of surfaces. Beyond the black fingerprint powder! Engage your students with this interactive Google Slide set and notes.
- Learn More Forensics Fingerprint Evidence! Student Choice | Digital: Learn more about Forensics Fingerprints! Students explore three interesting fingerprint topics, and then get to pick their own! The 22 Interactive Google Slides are NO PREP and student independent!
- Fingerprint Evidence Review Game! No Prep! A super fun whole-class review game that allows teams to compete against each other with some wacky twists and turns!
- Fingerprints Unit Assessment! 25 Question Google Form: Self Grading!
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