Schools
A Fossil-Hunting Expedition Comes to Laddie A. Decker Sound Beach School
Students Handle Fossils and Equipment Used on an Expedition in Antarctica with Visiting Fossil Hunters
More than 230 fourth grade students from the Miller Place School District’s Laddie A. Decker Sound Beach School put themselves behind the goggles of fossil hunters when members of an expedition in Antarctica brought their discoveries and experiences to the school. Students took a virtual trip through Antarctica as they listened to firsthand accounts of the expedition from Dr. Kerin Claeson and graduate student Abagael West.
The students were able to hold actual fossils discovered during the expedition and try on goggles used by the team. The fossil hunters also shared slides and videos from the team’s trips in the air, on the water and during hikes. In addition, Dr. Claeson shared a video from the point of view of her eyes as she looked for fossils.
The experience spanned three subjects in the fourth grade curriculum. Students read “Antarctic Journal,” in English Language Arts classes in preparation. Also, discussions about Antarctica’s geography and climate and evidence of prehistoric vertebrate life throughout the expedition relates to the students’ Social Studies and Science lessons, respectively.
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Photo 1: Fourth grade students at Miller Place School District’s Laddie A. Decker Sound Beach School watch and learn as Dr. Kerin Claeson and graduate student, Abagael West, teach them about fossil hunting in Antarctica. Students watched a video from a fossil-hunting expedition including the team’s trips in the air, in the water and when hiking, and had the opportunity to ask the fossil hunters about their expedition.
