Finger Print Activity

By, Jamie Stroppini

                In creating an anti-bias curriculum, I would like to allow children the opportunity to explore the differences around them so that they become more comfortable with the idea of differences. This will help enforce the classroom theme of “Alike and Difference” which I hope to incorporate in my classroom someday. In achieving this, the anti-bias activity that I would like to utilize would be the thumbprint activity on pg. 210 of the text, “Roots and Wings.” In this activity children study and look at their own fingerprints as 

well as the other students looking at any differences or similarities. Currently I am not a teacher in a classroom; therefore all writings regarding how a child will be affected by this activity is truly hypothetically based off of my knowledge and understanding of anti-bias education. However, I do hope that by reading this you do develop a clear understanding of the intention of this activity.  

                So how would I go about setting up this activity? In setting up this activity I would first clear a table space and designate it as the thumb print table.On this table I will supply paper, ink pads, magnifying glasses, and even a chart that shows the different patterns that fingerprints form. When introducing this activity to the students, I would like to start off with a discussion about what is a finger print, while showing them all the different types of finger prints that there are. With this discussion I will also make sure to ask the children open-ended questions about what they might have noticed about the different types of finger prints that they see, this will help allow the children to become active participates in the discussion. Then, I will demonstrate using my own finger how the children will do this activity; First by putting their finger in the ink and than putting it on the paper. Afterwards, I will let them loose at the table and let them explore and study their own finger prints while looking at any differences, investigating with type of pattern they may have, as well as determine whether another child’s may be the same or different in some way. As the children are engaging in this activity, I plan to go around the table and put their names on individual papers they used to put their own finger prints on.  These papers I

would collect and save for future use to use at a free choice center were children can revisit this activity and explore their classmates fingerprints again with the hopes that they will find something new and different as they continue to investigate and study.

                So what makes this activity age appropriate for preschool aged children? Young children learn best through actively exploring materials and experiencing through their senses as well as interacting with others (R&W, 188). In this particular activity children are encouraged to explore by using a magnifying glass and by using their sense of sight to guide them through their exploration of differences. This activity is also appropriate because it allows for meaningful experiences through activity applying their own fingerprints and exploring more of their own self. Children can also interact with each other by showing others what they have found and discussing differences and similarities between theirs and other student’s fingerprints. According to the text, Roots and Wings, preschoolers are experts at noticing differences among people. They are also naturally curious about the world which is why this age is often referred to as being in the question-asking stage (R&W, 17). This formula can be both detrimental and beneficial for a child’s understanding of differences, especially those leading up to racial differences. Children that are not properly introduced to or lack the experience of differences in this vulnerable stage can make up

their own distorted views due to the fact that their way of thinking is very limited(R&W, 17); however, when their curiosity of differences are properly addressed and experienced than children start to learn the truth about differences. Starting children off to notice differences at a smaller level, such as looking at differences in finger prints, allow children to focus on differences in general and not just focusing on skin color. This paints the picture to them that we all different, while focusing on their own individual differences and not just those of others.      

                Now I’m going to take a look at goals of an anti-bias based activity, as shown in the handout “Anti-Bias Activity Goals,” and discussion the goals that my finger print activity provides. The first goal that this activity provides is a recognition, appreciation, and respect for the uniqueness, and beauty of each person. In this activity children will be learning that every person has a unique fingerprint with its own unique pattern of curves and loops. Another goal is that it provides children with a positive experience exploring similarities and differences. This activity positively explores similarities and differences because it focuses on comparing traits and emphasis’s more on the uniqueness of each individual. Lastly, this activity promotes positive self concept in children in that it gets children to embrace their individuality and understand that everybody is different in some form.   

                In collaboration with this activity I can also incorporate books that support the concept of differences and similarities. One such book that could be used is the book, “We Are All Alike…We Are All Different,” by Chaltenham Elementary School Kindergarten.  This book is written by children for children and shows original pictures and songs that express understanding tolerance and diversity. This is a great book because I believe that children learn best by learning from their peers. Another book that could be used is, “We’ve All Got Bellybuttons,” by Davis Martin. This book demonstrates to children the similarities that we all have and we all use them for the same purpose.  Such as, “…we all got hands for clapping ...feet for kicking, eyes that close and months that open.”  These types of books can be introduced either

before the finger print activity of after, because I find that either way they support the anti-bias curriculum theme of “Alike of Different.” So no matter what order they follow the theme still remains the same.          

                I chose this particular activity because it focuses on individual differences and expresses to children that everyone is different and it’s that that makes everyone unique and special.  Children also are giving the opportunity to look at their own individual differences rather than looking at how others differ from them. I think that this is so important because when children look at something that is different from their self they must also be able to compare and critically think why. I strongly believe as teachers that we give children as many opportunities and experiences as possible to understand the beauty of being different and unique and it is than that we help foster understanding and cooperative future individuals.   

Works Cited:

York, S. (2003). Roots and wings. St.Paul, MN: Redleaf Press.