Fossils

Have you ever imagined yourself as a paleontologist? Digging up dinosaurs bones from deep beneath the ground? Most of your children have. They are very excited as we begin our dinosaur unit. Yesterday many fossils (and replicas) were spread throughout the room. The children acted as true scientists as they drew observational sketches and took notes about what they drew. At the end of the session, we held a scientific meeting. The scientists shared their findings and made theories about what they noticed.

Today, we learned that a fossil is the "preserved remains of plant or animal life." Miss Winters read part of Aliki's book, "Fossils Tell of Long Ago." Finally the children created their own "amber fossils." We went outside to find artifacts. We mixed gelatin with warm water and placed the artifact inside. The "fossils" will harden over the weekend and the children will be excited to show you Tuesday.

P.S. The children know that it takes much, much, much, much, much, much, much, much longer for a real fossil to be formed. :o)