Calling all elementary teachers: imagine a science lesson that starts with a hidden find and ends with children explaining what they noticed. A classroom dig gives students something to uncover, sketch, compare and talk about. With a few good questions, the excitement can become a useful science conversation.
Excavating Adventures offers a Free Dig Kit campaign route for classroom groups. Physical kits require full funding and school and delivery confirmation before they are provided. You can use the free learning resources now while exploring the hands-on option.
Whether you are planning for one class or talking with a grade-level team, these five steps will help you connect the discovery to the learning.
1. Choose one question worth exploring
Start with what you want students to notice. For a rocks-and-minerals activity, a question might be: “How can we describe two finds so someone else can tell them apart?”
Children can look at color, shape, surface patterns and texture, then use those observations in a drawing or a short description. Ask them to explain a comparison: “Both have light and dark areas, but this one has larger patches.”
You are giving the class a reason to look closely. The question can stay the same while students discover different details. At the end, return to it and ask which observations helped them explain their ideas.
2. Give students a simple place to record discoveries
Choose a worksheet from the free science resource library, or fold a sheet into three spaces: a drawing, descriptive words and one comparison. The library includes teacher guidance and answer keys to help you choose a resource that fits your topic.
Try the observation format before the dig. Show the class two objects and ask students to describe how they are alike and different. A short practice conversation can help them understand what to record when the physical activity begins.
You can also preview one of the 36 free Online Adventures across elementary science subjects. Online play requires neither an account nor a physical kit. Choose an available Adventure that fits the lesson, then ask students which question or clue they would like to investigate further.
3. Decide who will join the classroom experience
For one classroom, start with the student count and the lesson you want to teach. For a grade-level plan, ask the interested teachers which classes would participate and name a school contact to coordinate campaign questions.
A short team note is enough to begin: the proposed group, the science question and who will coordinate the conversation with EA. Ask how your group fits the current campaign process when you explore the Free Dig Kit information.
Each teacher can adapt the lesson to the room and the students. One class might spend more time sketching; another might focus on descriptive words or a partner explanation. Shared planning can make the group easier to organize while keeping the learning practical for each classroom.
4. Set up the discovery and the cleanup
Give students a clear place to work, a pencil and their observation page. Decide where finds will go during the activity and how you will move into the discussion afterward. Review the supplied instructions and leave time for setup and cleanup.
The optional physical experience follows Discover–Identify–Collect. During discovery, invite students to describe a find before naming it. During identification, use the information provided to discuss the clues. During collection, have students choose one observation they want to remember.
If another adult is helping, give them a useful task: distributing materials, helping students record a comparison or organizing the cleanup. A clear job makes the lesson easier to manage.
Read the hands-on classroom plan for more observation and discussion ideas.
5. Turn interest into a clear next step
Share the learning idea with your school contact or grade-level team. A simple opening could be: “Our students could compare real specimens and explain their clues. Would you like to explore a classroom Dig Kit campaign together?”
If you create a campaign, use its actual group link and current details when inviting others to learn about it. Sharing is optional. Your PTA or PTO may also be a helpful contact for discussing school-approved support.
Finish the lesson plan with a question students can answer using their own observations. The hidden find starts the excitement; the explanation gives it a learning purpose.
Explore the Free Dig Kit campaign route. Physical kits require full funding and school and delivery confirmation.