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Cub Scout Adventures > 
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Are You There?
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Bear – 3rd Grade
Forensics
Elective
Requirement 2

Are You There?

Bear – 3rd Grade
Forensics
Elective
Requirement 2

Are You There?

Snapshot of Activity

Cub Scouts discover that even if they can’t see their fingerprint with their naked eye, they are still there.

Indoor
2
5
5
If you want to know more about The Adventure Activity Key click here.
  • 8 ½” x 11” piece of white paper, one for each Cub Scout
  • Magnetic powder
  • Magnetic applicator
  • Magnifying glass, one for each Cub Scout

Before the meeting:

  1. Become familiar with using magnetic powder to find fingerprints by watching this video on YouTube, “Developing Latent Fingerprints with Magnetic Powder (2 minutes 46 seconds.)
  2. Gather the supplies.
  3. Set up meeting space so Cub Scouts have an area to do their fingerprinting.

During the meeting:

  1. Let Cub Scouts know that fingerprints are skin patterns on the ends of your fingers and thumbs. Their fingerprints are different from those of everyone else on earth. Even identical twins have different fingerprints! When we touch things, we always leave fingerprints even if we cannot see them! That’s because our skin produces sweat and oil.
  2. Explain that because everyone has unique fingerprints, law enforcement officers can use them to figure out who was at a crime scene. Using the Fingerprint Pattern worksheet, show Cub Scouts the fingerprint patterns and point out differences.
  3. Tell Cub Scouts that now they will get to investigate their own fingerprints.
  4. Give each Cub Scout a blank piece of paper and ask them what they see. Can they see any fingerprints on the piece of paper?
  5. Explain that when we touch things, we always leave fingerprints even if we cannot see them! That’s because our skin produces sweat and oil.
  6. Demonstrate how to use magnetic powder. Remind the Cub Scouts that it doesn’t need to touch the paper.
  7. Hand each Cub Scout a magnifying glass to examine their fingerprints. Ask what they see? How is their fingerprint different than another Cub Scout’s fingerprints?

Additional Resources

Bear Forensics 2 Fingerprint Patterns

Other Activities Options

You can choose other activities of your choice.

Bear – 3rd Grade

Fingerprint Fun

Indoor
2
3
2

Cub Scouts learn the different patterns in fingerprints and analyze their own fingerprints.

See Details

Bray Barnes

Director, Global Security Innovative
Strategies

Bray Barnes is a recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award, Silver
Beaver, Silver Antelope, Silver Buffalo, and Learning for Life Distinguished
Service Award. He received the Messengers of Peace Hero award from
the royal family of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and he’s a life member of
the 101st Airborne Association and Vietnam Veterans Association. Barnes
serves as a senior fellow for the Global Federation of Competitiveness
Councils, a nonpartisan network of corporate CEOs, university presidents, and
national laboratory directors. He has also served as a senior executive for the
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, leading the first-responder program
and has two U.S. presidential appointments

David Alexander

Managing Member Calje

David Alexander is a Baden-Powell Fellow, Summit Bechtel Reserve philanthropist, and recipient of the Silver Buffalo and Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. He is the founder of Caljet, one of the largest independent motor fuels terminals in the U.S. He has served the Arizona Petroleum Marketers Association, Teen Lifeline, and American Heart Association. A triathlete who has completed hundreds of races, Alexander has also mentored the women’s triathlon team at Arizona State University.

Glenn Adams

President, CEO & Managing Director
Stonetex Oil Corp.

Glenn Adams is a recipient of the Silver Beaver, Silver Antelope, Silver Buffalo, and Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. He is the former president of the National Eagle Scout Association and established the Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award. He has more than 40 years of experience in the oil, gas, and energy fields, including serving as a president, owner, and CEO. Adams has also received multiple service awards from the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers.