Are You a Loop, Arch, or Whorl?

No two fingerprints look the same. However, they do share certain characteristics. Take students' fingerprints (index finger only) and compare! Visit ZOOM to see how to get fingerprints with a pencil and tape. Next, have students compare their results with their peers (make a graph). Then, compare their results with other kids around the country on ZOOM! Which pattern is the most and least common (loop, arch, or whorl)? For older kids, you can explore the complete nine different fingerprint patterns. Check out Hubpages and Ridges and Furrows.