For this activity, you will work with your group to create a guide that will help you in

identifying hairs that might be found at a crime scene.

Directions:
1. You will need to create a sample card for at least six hair samples. No more than 2 of
them can be human hairs.
2. Write the name of the sample in the correct location on the sample card.
3. View the sample at low and high power. Draw a sketch of the shaft of the hair as well
as the root. If the root is not present, make a note of that on your sample card.
4. Locate the three primary structures of each hair and describe each one in the correct
spaces on the sample card.
5. As you examine the hairs, think about how they differ from one another and how you
would use your observations characteristics to identity a sample from a crime scene.
List any specific characteristics (or details) that you could use to identify a hair sample.
Guide:
1. Color the cover, add some artwork, and write your names on the line provided.
2. Cut out the cover shown below and each of your sample cards.
3. Put the cover on top and organize your sample cards behind it.
4. Staple the left side of the booklet together.

Investigators: __________________________________________________________________

T. Trimpe 2006

http://sciencespot.net/

Sample ______________________________

Cuticle

Cortex
Shaft
Low

Medulla

High

Other Characteristics
Root

Sample ______________________________

Cuticle

Cortex
Shaft
Low

High

Medulla

Other Characteristics
Root

T. Trimpe 2006

http://sciencespot.net/

Teacher Notes
I collected various human and animals hairs brought in by students and other teachers to create examination slides. I
used clear plastic packing tape to secure the hairs on the slides and labeled each one with a permanent marker. You
could also use clear nail polish to seal the hairs and keep them on the slides.
Students work in small groups to document at least 6 hair samples. I require them to use 2 human hairs and 4 animal
hairs. They cut out the cover and cards to create a Hair ID Guide. The guide can be used for the Hair Challenge
activity.
For the Hair Challenge activity, I prepared four mystery slides using the human and animals hairs that I had collected.
The students were challenged to use their ID guides to correctly identify the hair samples.

T. Trimpe 2006

http://sciencespot.net/