As they searched with a magnifying glass, these second graders discovered a fossil of a trilobite in a stone matrix. Garden City second graders recently met to begin a new unit of study about fossils and dinosaurs in the Discovery Science Club program. Spearheaded by district science coordinator Mrs. Gail Bennington, the after school program, new this year, is offered to elementary students in grades 2 - 5. "Our goal is to instill an appreciation of science and the world around us in these young minds," commented Mrs. Bennington.

After an introduction to fossils and dinosaurs, the students, rotating as groups, took part in three different activities in three different classrooms at the Stewart School. In the science laboratory, the students identified fossils such as trilobites, sharks' teeth, corals and shells. They used magnifying glasses to match fossils to specific species, referencing printed material at each of the science lab's fossil "stations". In the learning center, the second graders took part in a simulated "dig", matching the fossils they uncovered to illustrations. In Stewart's library, the students created their own fossils using clay, and imprinted it with dinosaur models (footprints), shells, feathers, and sculpting tools.

District science coordinator, Mrs. Gail Bennington, assists Discovery Science Club students with identifying fossils as part of the "Fossils and Dinosaurs" unit of study.

Second grade students took part in a simulated fossil "dig" with tweezers and magnifying glasses. Shark's teeth come in all different sizes and shapes; these students tried to match them to the scientific illustrations. Using a triceratops model, this student created a "fossil" footprint in clay.