Help me give my students each a fossil brick so they can dig out fossils like real paleontologists!
$251 goal
This project expired on June 19, 2024.
This project expired on June 19, 2024.
My Project
Fossils are a topic all students love in Science! Why? Because they think they will uncover dinosaur fossils. However, there are so many more fossils that are abundant and much older and fascinating! I would love to give my students the opportunity to dig GENUINE fossils like clams, ammonites, gastropods, and yes, even dinosaur bones! These materials would provide a fossil brick, chisel/brush, and identification card to each young paleontologist for the pleasure of excavating!
By digging real fossils, my students will become junior paleontologists -- discovering authentic fossil evidence which helps us learn about past life.
I know my fourth graders would love working outside on the picnic tables near our playground to dig fossils. With their own personal tools, classes can excavate shark vertebrae, coprolite, and other permineralized fossils that are millions of years old! We will use these discoveries to compare past organisms to their present-day ancestors according to similarities and differences. My amazing students will be able to ask questions about earth's history that can be answered through this scientific investigation.
One hope for this project is that children will realize that people of all cultures, genders, and backgrounds can pursue a career in science. By digging these fossils and gaining knowledge from their discoveries, my fourth graders will practice their skills of observation, explaining, and critical thinking. I hope they also disagree! When students present arguments based on fossil evidence, they are modeling real-life scientists. My students love to get messy, so let's start digging!
More than a third of students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
100 students impacted
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mrs. Swangstu and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
