The Big Question Chapter 1

Fossil Camp

• Fossil Camp is a 10-day camp in eastern Montana where participants can dig for dinosaur fossils.
• The camp is led by Dr. Pam Forester, a paleontologist and expert on Cretaceous dinosaurs.

Setting

• The camp is located in the badlands of eastern Montana, an area known for its hot weather and dry landscape.
• The campsite is near a high, barren ridge, and the tents are set up in its shadow.

Characters

• Amy: a twin sister who is accompanying her brother Matt to Fossil Camp. She is not enthusiastic about the camp and prefers to stay at home.
• Matt: Amy's twin brother, who is excited about Fossil Camp and wants to dig for dinosaur fossils.
• Tess: a student of Dr. Forester's, who is getting her degree in paleontology with a minor in chemistry.
• Dr. Forester: the leader of Fossil Camp, a paleontologist, and expert on Cretaceous dinosaurs.
• Other campers: Daria, Julian, Felix, and Kristal.

Fossil Digging

• The campers will be excavating fossils from the Cretaceous period, which are around 100 million years old.
• They will learn about the process of excavating fossils and how to analyze them.
• The fossils they will be excavating are related to Velociraptor, a type of dinosaur.

Paleontology

• Paleontology is the study of fossils and how they form.
• Fossils are matter that has undergone a change.
• Matter can exist in different forms, such as solid, liquid, or gas.
• Physical properties of matter include shape, texture, color, and mass.

Fossil Analysis

• The campers will learn how to analyze fossils, including recording their physical properties, such as shape, texture, and color.
• They will also learn how to measure the mass of fossils using a balance.
• The analysis will help them understand more about the fossils they are excavating.