Published: 12-06-07
Students from Premier High School of Abilene are experiencing the world around them through a special Paleontology project. In addition to regular class work the students are spending time off campus in Geology labs museums and paleontology work sites.The students recently spent time with a university professor as they visited the Geology lab at Hardin-Simmons University accompanied by faculty members Larry Millar and Jennifer Powers. Mr. Millar who also teaches at McMurray University has been coordinating these types of activities for students since the late 1990’s.
“We work with Ken Barnes in Terlingua Texas; he discovered bones of a Hadrosaur dinosaur on private land and graciously invited us to bring high school aged students to work with him on these sites”. Along with teachers Scott Clark from Jim Ned High and Marsha Morgan from Cooper High they co-curated the Dinosaurs of Texas exhibit at the Grace museum which ran for eighteen months.
“I believe it is paramount that young people develop a passion for something” said Millar. “And this is just one way we can help them do that.” He believes that it is just as important for teachers to also have a passion for something.
“I believe it is paramount that young people develop a passion for something” said Millar. “And this is just one way we can help them do that.” He believes that it is just as important for teachers to also have a passion for something.
He asserts that the enthusiasm of educators is contagious for students which helps them develop into life-long learners. “These students may not pursue a career in paleontology but they can take what they learn from these experiences into any field they choose.”
While at the Hardin-Simmons lab the Premier students were able to participate in removing the matrix from the bones of a 10000 year old Mammoth discovered in Bangs TX. These bones had been previously excavated by another group of students in 2005.
The students’ next dig will be in the Big Bend area in early November. Before going on the trip they will be given a pre-test to find out how much they know about natural science - flora and fauna geology and our natural parks. After the trip they are given a post test to see what they have learned.
Emily Lyon an 11th grade student at PHS is a participant in the project.
While at the Hardin-Simmons lab the Premier students were able to participate in removing the matrix from the bones of a 10000 year old Mammoth discovered in Bangs TX. These bones had been previously excavated by another group of students in 2005.
The students’ next dig will be in the Big Bend area in early November. Before going on the trip they will be given a pre-test to find out how much they know about natural science - flora and fauna geology and our natural parks. After the trip they are given a post test to see what they have learned.
Emily Lyon an 11th grade student at PHS is a participant in the project.
“I learned a lot by going to the lab at HSU. We got to see how real dinosaur bones are jacketed to be transported out of the field and how much work it is to get them out of those jackets. My expectations of the dig are to learn a lot more about how dinosaur bones are discovered and to really experience digging at a real site. The only thing I am really dreading are the Bugs” said Lyon.
In the spring Abilene students will be inviting their peers from PHS campuses in Lubbock Midland Amarillo and other cities to join them on another dig in the Big Bend area.
For more information about this and other Premier High School projects contact Larry Millar at Premier High School of Abilene.
For more information about this and other Premier High School projects contact Larry Millar at Premier High School of Abilene.
