Press Release Battle Ground Public Schools PO Box 200 • Battle Ground, WA 98604-0200 • Office Location: 11104 NE 149th Street • Brush Prairie, Washington District Switchboard: (360) 885-5300

Date: January 16, 2014 BATTLE GROUND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS DISCOVER FOSSILS FOR BURKE MUSEUM Battle Ground, WA – Middle school students throughout the district are supporting University of Washington Paleontologist Dr. Greg Wilson by discovering fossils. For the past two years Mark Watrin, district science specialist has participated with Burke Museum at the University of Washington and their DIG field school program. The university program sends teams of researchers to dig sites in Eastern Montana where they dig for fossils in layers of sediment from the Mesozoic extinction, 67-65 million years ago. These layers of sediment hold some of most wellknown dinosaurs and fossils. Dirt and materials from DIG is boxed up and sent to schools around the Pacific Northwest for continued study. Mr. Watrin and teachers help BGPS’ middle school students process the dirt and discover "microfossils" including: teeth, jaws, vertebrae, skin, scales and small bones that give evidence of what species were alive during the time of the extinction event. The DIG box is one of many Burke Boxes of materials sent to the schools, but is unique because of the student research aspect. Chief Umtuch 8th graders sort material to discover Students collect and sort information on each item and microfossils. submit their findings back to Dr. Wilson’s team for further research. “This is a win-win for our students and science,” said Watrin. “The students get an opportunity to participate in something truly unique and support the advancement of local research.” Amboy and Chief Umtuch middle schools have received DIG Boxes already this year and the remaining middle schools will get their chance to research in the spring. To learn more about CASEE and available educational resources please contact Mark Watrin at [email protected].

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