The possibilities for student lessons and activities is endless in the STEM Lab at DCMS with Ms. Jill Farlow. This week, students in 6th grade are studying forensics with the science of fingerprinting. Ms. Jill began the lesson with talking about data collection and how to report data with different types of charts. It was evident that the students have learned the different types of charts and diagrams from their math teachers and Ms. Jill. Students were able to watch an introductory video about how fingerprints are formed before they are born and the different types of fingerprints. Ms. Jill then tied the science of fingerprinting to jobs in law enforcement, particularly working with AFIS in the FBI.
After the introductory lesson, Ms. Jill showed the students how to take an ink fingerprint accurately. Students worked in groups and were able to take their own index fingerprint and were then able to study them with magnifying glasses. Students were able to identify their fingerprint types as arch, whorl, or loop. Students then collected data on the number of fingerprint types present in their classes. They were then divided in to groups to make a chart that represented the types of fingerprints. Students were able to make bar graphs, pie graphs, and double bar graphs to represent the percentage of fingerprints in the class and the normal representation of the fingerprints in society.
Students are learning so many fun and valuable skills in the STEM lab and creating real world connections to their future lives and careers. The creation of this lab at DCMS and placement of Ms. Jill Farlow to lead this program are invaluable to the students of Decatur County.
