The Edge: Let's find the real Bruno & Dolores!

What can we use if we don't have the washable ink pad or clear tape for fingerprints?

For the fingerprint steps, rub pencil graphite on the fingertip and lift prints with clear tape as described, or press a fingertip into a small dab of washable paint on a plate and transfer it to the index card as an ink-pad-free alternative.

My fingerprint smudged or came out too faint—how can I fix it?

To avoid smudged or faint prints when making Bruno’s and Dolores’s fingerprint samples, practice on scrap paper to find the right fingertip pressure, press straight down and lift straight up, and let the card air-dry completely before adding lookalike smudges.

How can we adapt the activity for younger or older kids?

For younger children, choose only one simple trait per character, draw fewer lookalike cards and hide them in easy spots, while older kids can pick subtler traits, draw more than six lookalikes, and write detailed fingerprint clues on the sticky notes.

How can we extend or personalize the scavenger hunt after completing the basic steps?

Extend the game by giving detectives a magnifying glass, adding an evidence log to note fingerprint similarities on each index card, or creating themed props (hats, toys) that match the picked traits before sharing the hunt on DIY.org.