Fossil Dig

 I had an amazing experience today with a group of young people on a school field trip to Stonerose Fossil Site and Interpretive Center. Stonerose was formed during the time of Eocene Era. The fossil site plants and animals lived over 40 million years ago.   Stonerose Fossil Site in located about 30 miles from Curlew School and the students visit the site often with their families. Even though the students have visited the site often their interest is still peeked.

It was amazing to watch the students. Why? Because the experienced students were paired with novice students and they were teaching them to use the tools. They were so excited to help and to teach it was amazing to watch them.  When a novice digger would find a fossil the other student who try and guess what the fossil was called.  The students had about 1hour and 15 minutes to dig and no one felt like it was enough time.   

After we came down from the dig site the students were allowed to pick an era on the time line that was painted on the street for the yearly Fossil Festival Next week.  Our school decorated Mesozoic Era and the Eocene Era.  Students painted and used chalk to decorate the time line for next week events.

After the students decorated their portion on the timeline they were able to visit and ask questions to paleontologist that came for next week’s event.  I was impressed that the students asked great questions and paid close attention to short 20 minutes presentation about the local site.

When we returned to school we used the smart board and overhead to see every fossil the students found and they told the name. Toward the end of the student presentations the students in the class were able to classify the fossils the students were presenting.  This was such an amazing time. One student was not allowed to keep his fossil because it was a rare fossil and was only the fifth time it has been found at the site. However, this student had taken a picture of the fossil and we were able to share it with the class. This was such a stroke of luck and an amazing learning process for me as a future teacher. 

Here is the website for more information. 

http://stonerosefossil.org/