A young boy with glasses, wearing a white T-shirt, smiles as he holds up a large rock while sitting at a table. Several other children are seated nearby, with tables and materials visible in the background.

On November 15, Professor Mick Whitelaw from ETSU engaged our fourth graders with a hands-on experience learning about fossils. Students gained an understanding of the different types of fossils, such as molds, casts, and impressions, and then were allowed to choose from the many molds Professor Whitelaw brought with him to create their fossils. Students used the same plaster that paleontologists use when they study fossils. While waiting for their plaster to harden, students viewed Professor Whitelaw's extensive collection of fossils and discussed how fossils help scientists understand the history of life on Earth. Fourth-grader, Aiden Hamlin said of the lesson, "It was pretty cool!".

A bearded man in a yellow T-shirt assists two boys working on plaster molds at a table. One boy is spreading material with a tool, while the other observes. A window and classroom shelves are visible in the background.A student wearing a maroon Vikings sweatshirt focuses on spreading plaster onto a mold with the guidance of an adult in a yellow T-shirt. The classroom environment features tables and students working on similar projects in the background.A young girl in a purple T-shirt carefully uses a brush to apply material to a square mold, while an adult in a white Haynesfield Hurricanes T-shirt pours liquid from a container beside her. A sign with “Canes’ Code” is visible on the wall behind them.A boy in a gray hoodie uses a tool to shape a triangular plaster mold on a black-covered table. A sign with “Canes’ Code” is visible in the background, alongside classroom decorations.A close-up of a rectangular plaster fossil replica depicting a trilobite, with detailed ridges and texture, placed on a black, slightly messy table surface.