1. Scientists of Tomorrow
Welcome!
Parents: Please fill out the sign in sheet and photo release form near the front door.
Kids: Make a name tag & find a seat! There is a coloring page on your desk.
Detective for a Day!
Scientists of Tomorrow

2. What is Forensic Science?
Science can be used in many different ways.
Forensic science is the science used by detectives and CSI agents.

3. Fingerprints

4. You leave fingerprints everywhere!
Sometimes you might be able to see them, but other times they are invisible.
Detective can find these invisible fingerprints using different powders. (Fingerprint Dusting)

5. Materials (What you need!)
We will be passing these out to you!
A cup of baby powder
Dusting brush
Blue card

6. Procedure (What you do!)
3. Tap the brush on the side of the cup so that there is only a little bit of powder on the brush. Do NOT breathe in the fumes!
4. Brush the powder on the blue card. What do you see? You can blow on the card (very lightly!) to remove extra powder.
1. Press your fingerprint on the blue card to leave an invisible fingerprint.
2. Dip your brush in the baby powder. The powder should only be on the tip of the brush!

7. Why does this work?
There is oil on your fingers, so when you touch something (like the blue card) the oil will rub off.
The powder will stick to the oil, letting you see the fingerprint!

8. Pen Test: Who wrote the message?

9. Materials (What you need!)
We will be passing these out to you!
Paper Towel Strips
Black Pens
Cup of Isopropyl Solution

10. Procedure (What you do!)
Draw a small circle on the paper towel strip about one inch from the edge using a black marker.
Label which marker you are using on the other end of the paper towel strip using pencil.
Repeat steps 1 & 2 with all of the markers.
Place the paper towel strips into the isopropyl alcohol solution.
Wait for the solution to climb up the paper towel! What do you see?

11. Let’s find out who wrote a message!
Have a friend write a note on a paper towel strip. Don’t look at which marker they are using!
Place the paper towel strip in the isopropyl alcohol solution like you did before.
Compare the results of this test with the others! Can you find out which marker they used?

12. Thank you for coming to Scientists of Tomorrow!
Please fill out a survey before you go!
Today’s Date is 7/20/17
& the session name is “Detective for a Day”

13. Bibliography
"Forensics Activities - Paper Towel Chromatography." Kids Ahead. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 July 2017.
Lohner, Svenja. "Finding Fingerprints." Scientific American. N.p., 27 Apr Web. 19 July 2017.