Seniors Teach 3rd Graders Archeology

The Columbus School Seniors work alongside with third grade teachers in introducing the third grade students into archaeology under supervision of science coach Jose Vega.

On the 27th of november High School science teacher and coach, Jose vega had the third grade teachers took the students to high school where archaeological activities were being conducted by 12th grade students.

The third graders studying a unit with dinosaurs and fossils. The activities held in high school were meant to give them background and hands-on knowledge on the topic.

“We are currently in a unit that studies dinosaurs, rocks, minerals and fossils called, ¨Walking in the Footsteps of Dinosaurs.¨ The activities that they participated in got them excited about learning about dinosaurs.” Tai Linsay, 3rd grade Homeroom Teacher, said.

The science coach, Jose Vega alongside other third grade students designed activities that will incentivize and get students excited to learn new things on the topic.

“In my role as a science coach I was helping the entire third grade to do an entry event for a new unit on dinosaurs and fossils” Jose Vega, Science Coach, said.

Throughout the three stations the students interacted with bones, learning how a digg out worked and how to preserve bones.

“The kids were thrilled. Some of them spoke about it for days. I think that it made them really look forward to having a lab.” Tai Linsay, 3rd grade Homeroom teacher, said.

The reasoning behind Vega’s idea to bring the students to the high school was that it would have created a different environment that will incentivize them to learn something new.

“It was fun to have the kids up in the high school because is something new and different”Jose Vega, Science Coach, said.

The students were very curious, showing interest for the topic constantly asking questions to the seniors that were teaching them about connective tissue and how to observe it on a microscope.

“It was a very interactive activity, they were asking lots of questions.” Antonia Carvajal, Senior, said.

Even though the activity was only a “one time” Jose and other teachers are looking forward to have more activities like this, where “students [get to] teach students” as Vega said.

“The kids absolutely loved it. As a teacher, I loved that they had the chance to interact with older students throughout the activity. ” Tai Linsay, 3rd grade Homeroom Teacher, said.