Temple Beth Sholom Students Become Junior Paleontologists

Third- and fourth-grade students of Temple Beth Sholom Schools (www.tbsschools.org) became junior Paleontologists last week as they began the meticulous task of surveying and excavating faux dinosaur bones.

In teacher Dan Michaels’ science class, the students designed and built the to-scale box, using wood, nails and hammers, that houses the dig site the classes filled with sand.

Each student also built a dinosaur replica, which are wooden punch-out jigsaw puzzle pieces of dinosaurs like Tyrannosaurus rex, Triceratops and Stegosaurus, and later disassembled the models to hide the fossils in the dig site.

“It’s not just digging,” said Michaels. “This comprehensive, project-based learning encompasses a variety of different activities. The students are writing, reading, researching, building and constructing. Having a hands-on activity like our dig site jumpstarts the learning and academic skills.”

Prior to the digging expedition, the students read from a certification manual to learn how to sketch, research and dig to become a faux certified Paleontologist. They will name, sketch and label the dinosaur parts before doing a research report on their selected dinosaur.

Other items were included in the dig site, not only fossils. Other objects from the modern era included fake lizard bodies, other animal bones, stones, minerals, pieces of construction materials and other natural objects.

More than 10 parents showed up to witness the digging at TBS Schools, where parents are very involved. The classes will continue to study this unit on rocks, fossils and minerals for two months.

About TBS Schools

Temple Beth Sholom (TBS), a Sarasota preschool to 8th grade private school, is open to all faiths and established its preschool program in 1974. TBS Schools has been in its current building located at 1050 S. Tuttle Avenue, Sarasota, Fla. since January 1988. The Justin Lee Wiesner preschool program consists of classes for baby play and children up to 4 years of age. The Goldie Feldman Academy (GFA) was founded in 1992 as an expansion of the Justin Lee Wiesner Preschool. It has continued to grow and flourish under the careful guidance of the administration, dedicated teachers, volunteer leadership, staff and the demand for excellence from its parents. At GFA, TBS Schools nurtures the whole child as one who is capable of an infinite amount of possibilities. The caring and qualified staff is committed to helping each student reach his/her full potential. The Goldie Feldman Academy at Temple Beth Sholom is the only private Jewish school in Sarasota and Manatee Counties. Justin Lee Wiesner Preschool is accredited by Florida Kindergarten Council. Goldie Feldman Academy is accredited by the Florida Kindergarten Council and the Florida Council of Independent Schools. For more information, visit www.tbsschools.org.