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Paleontologist for a Day

Activity

Crafting and Identifying Fossil Tracks

Imagine that you’re a paleontologist discovering ancient fossilized tracks! Using sticks, chalk, or even your hands, create your own tracks in the dirt or sand. Then, have friends guess what kind of animal might have made those tracks and what they were doing (walking, running, hunting, etc.). How do real animal tracks found in ancient fossils help scientists figure out what dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures were like?
Paleo 2
Paleo 2 (3)
Paleo 2 (2)

Science Seed

Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of ancient plants and animals. One type of fossil is trace fossils, like footprints or tracks, which show us how ancient creatures moved, what they ate, and where they lived. By studying these traces, paleontologists can understand behaviors, like whether a dinosaur was walking or running, and whether it lived alone or in a group. Even the size and depth of a track can tell scientists about the animal’s weight and speed. Fossilized tracks help bring prehistoric life to life, giving us a better understanding of what lived here before us!
botany jar illustration

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earn Badges

Badges can be earned through hands-on experiences within each of the 16 branches of science, or “Science Slices.” You can earn a badge in each branch of science by doing four activities in these categories. We also encourage participants to keep a Nature Journal to record their memories, and to express themselves creatively through writing or drawing after each activity. We recommend that each child (and parent if they’d like) write or draw in a journal after each activity, with expectations of your children that match their age (the goal is self-expression, not perfection).

Explore Sanchez Elementary

join Families in Nature

It is our vision to inspire all families to fall in love with nature and foster the next generation of conservationists. Becoming a member of Families in Nature will give your family the opportunity to have adventures in nature, experience field science, develop as youth conservation leaders, and make memories that will last a lifetime. Memberships are free for everyone.

Who are we?

Families in Nature works to create opportunities for nature connection with the purpose of sparking a deep love and desire to protect, conserve and restore the environment. Our mission is to connect children and their families to nature and to each other through time spent learning, playing, and volunteering outdoors. It is our vision to inspire ALL families to fall in love with nature and foster the next generation of conservationists.

Sánchez Elementary School is close to downtown on Austin’s east side. Built in 1976, the campus boasts murals by Raul Valdez depicting the school’s Hispanic history and heritage. Sánchez was one of the district’s first to introduce two-way dual language education- fitting because the school’s namesake, George Sánchez, was a pioneer in bilingual education. This project was made possible by HEB.

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