Following dinosaur footprints in Revere

REVERE – Shayna Smith is only in first grade but she thinks she knows a lot about dinosaurs and she learned a little more on Tuesday when Kornell Nash visited her Paul Revere School class.Nash researches and uncovers dinosaur footprints and brings them to schools like Paul Revere where he talks about his finds with students like Smith. He explained his finds while Smith and her classmates measured their small hands against claw-like indentations bigger than a catcher?s mitt.?They have really big feet,” Smith said.First grade teacher Jennifer Howard said introducing students to long-extinct creatures with long, complicated names is an easy way to teach mathematics, literature and science. As part of Paul Revere?s project-based learning program, students have read dinosaur books, used measuring techniques to gauge the estimated size of dinosaurs and even participated in a table-top archaeological dig designed to show them how Nash uncovered his footprints.?They love doing this – they are so into it,” Howard said.Nash lives in South Hadley in a section of the state he said is rich in dinosaur tracks. He arrived at Paul Revere with cafeteria tray-size examples of footprints and displays showing different types of dinosaurs. He also had a few questions for Howard?s students.?How many of you would it take to make the length of a dinosaur?” he asked.Paul Revere Principal Barbara Kelly said children are fascinated by books and movies about dinosaurs, but she said Nash?s tracks give students a chance to imagine the size of the ancient giants by seeing and touching their footprints.?To see it physically is another addition to their learning,” Kelly said.Howard said her students even understand the connection scientists have proposed between climate change and dinosaur extinction. Smith wishes the big beasts still roamed the Earth.?I like dinosaurs because they are colorful and they are really pretty,” Smith said.