Independent Learning . The follow-up activity which provides some students with an opportunity to make a presentation to the class about forensic science, is a useful extension. It enables the teacher to adapt the activity to meet the needs of those students who are able to pursue learning with greater independence. With extreme care, use a straight pin to make horizontal scratches just above the cuticle on several students' fingernails and toenails. Apply a small dab of nail polish to the scratch to mark it, and remove any excess nail polish with tissue paper.
Every week measure the height that the scratch has moved above the cuticle.
Reapply polish on the scratch whenever it is necessary to do so. Continue until the scratch marks have moved all the way up to the end of the fingernail. Relate the activity to Health, by discussing the proper ways to care for fingernails. Related topics dealing with such things as ingrown toenails can also be developed. This might also be an appropriate time to discuss nail biting, suggesting some strategies to break the habit.