Young Paleontologists

Our most recent Language Arts unit has been "Fossils".  My class has enjoyed reading and learning about fossils, dinosaurs, paleontologists, and anything in-between!  Some of their interest has amazed me, especially after we briefly read about organisms that become trapped and perfectly preserved in amber.  Within a couple days, Charydyn, Janice, and Melrod came bouncing into class, thrilled to tell me that they had made fossils with amber!  Excitedly, they continued to explain that they had gotten some sap from one of the trees at the shelter, found ants (alive! poor ants!!), and stuck them in the middle of the sap.  Then they had waited for it to get hard, and proudly proclaimed that they had made a fossil!  Wow, I'm amazed yet again by their application of concepts taught in class!

Janice and Charydyn with their version of a fossil!

Melrod's ants hardened in the tree sap.  He was so proud!

Today we took a break from the book and did a little hands-on learning.  I found a dinosaur puzzle here that I let the kids put together.  Despite my anxious desire to dive in and help and figure out where all the "bones" fit, I remembered my teacher manners :) and sat back to watch them struggle and tackle it themselves.  It was interesting to see their frustration after even just five minutes, then even a few words of giving up.  What an excellent teaching moment as I reminded them of all the discussions we'd had about how much patience paleontologists need to have.  It can take hours, days, months, even years for people to carefully dig up bones and fossils.  Then even after they find the bones, the time it takes to assemble a creature (given they have the correct pieces!) can be quite lengthy as well. 

Starting out, trying to figure out what to do with all the pieces.

Cyril and Jeffrey working hard!  Charydyn was supervising. :)

Charryto looking on as Melrod tackles the ribs.  He never gave up!!

Then you would have thought I had paid them for providing the next teaching moment.... they told me they were all finished and the puzzle was complete.  I looked, confused, at the rest of the pieces laying on the floor.  I decided to inquire..."What about those pieces?"  Their response?  "Oh, they are extra.  They don't go with this puzzle.  They are for a different puzzle."  It was hard to convince them that the "bones" actually did all belong to that one and they needed to find a way for them to fit.  Paleontologists can't just stop short and ignore the rest of the pieces.  They have to take the time to figure it out with all of them.  Some of these young paleontologists were quite frustrated (mostly the girls!), and some were determined and impressed me with their problem-solving skills (yup, the boys got the prize on this one!). 

After only about 30 minutes and a number of excellent discussions and learning points, they successfully assembled the dinosaur.  They were thrilled and so proud of their work!  Some of the students were even tearing through our dinosaur books trying to find which dinosaur this was.  They were thrilled when they thought they had found it!  Mr. Dino is now proudly displayed in our room.  Here is the finished product!