Third graders became paleontologists for a week, uncovering evidence of God’s creativity through hands-on fossil exploration.

Hilton Head Christian Academy third graders recently embarked on Fossil Week, a hands-on science experience that invited them to dig deep: both into the earth and into their understanding of God’s creation. The week began with a visit from Spiritual Life Mentor Neely Langhals, who helped students explore what Scripture says about the earth’s beginnings and the wonder of God’s design.

From there, students took on the role of scientists, conducting their own fossil digs in the classroom using sand trays, sorting guides, and plenty of curiosity. They even created imprint fossils from salt dough, learning how scientists preserve evidence of life from long ago.

To prepare for their big field experience, students practiced careful excavation during a cookie dig—using toothpicks to remove “fossil chips” without damaging them—before heading to Palmetto Fossil Excursions, one of the world’s top fossil sites.

There, they uncovered whale bones, shark teeth, and shells, connecting their discoveries to what they’d learned about organisms and environments from the past. Throughout the week, students were encouraged to ask questions, make inferences, and reflect on how God’s world tells a story of purpose and creativity.

Discovering fossils reminds us that God designed an incredible variety of living creatures. It invites us to marvel at the age, mystery, and depth of His creation and see that His world is both vast and intentional.

- Mrs. Brooke Brown Third Grade Mentor