paleontologist- a scientist who studies the fossils of animals and plants of the distant past to learn what the earth was like and what kind of animals and plants lived on the earth millions of years ago.

excavate- 1 : to dig out and remove 2 : to expose to view by or as if by digging away a covering

During our study of the letter D, we studied dinosaurs. We learned that scientists called paleontologists learn about dinosaurs by excavating their bones and teeth. They also excavate and study fossils left behind by dinosaurs.

We decided to excavate chocolate chips from Chips Ahoy cookies.

We used tooth picks for our tools.

Paleontologists not only dig up fossils and bones, they also study them and write about them.

We examined our chips and counted them. We also recorded the number of chips we excavated and wrote about our experience.

Paleontologist carefully preserve the bones and fossils they excavate. We ate the chocolate chips we excavated!