Gainesville
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Florida Museum of Natural History Early Explorers - Prehistoric Life

  • When: Tuesday, September 16, 2025, 10:30 am - 11:00 am
  • Location: Millhopper Branch Library Children's Area 3145 NW 43rd St, Gainesville, FL 32606
  • Cost: free

Gear up for fun and learning with your littles! Our Prehistoric Life series shows us the fascinating animals that roamed Florida millions of years ago with real fossils, replicas, and models. Ages 3-5

PREHISTORIC LIFE – How do we know about animals that lived in the past? In this series children will examine real Florida fossils, replicas, and models to learn about the fascinating prehistoric animals that roamed Florida millions of years ago.

Topic 1: September 9. Exploring Fossils – Scientists use fossils to learn about plants and animals that lived a long time ago. Children will examine and compare various types of real fossils and make their own imprint fossil.
Topic 2: September 16. Fossil Dig – Children will take on the role of paleontologist and uncover fossils in a dig pit to better understand how paleontologists work. They will use an ID sheet to identify the fossils they find.
Topic 3: September 23. Trackways – Children will be introduced to the idea that footprints and other kinds of impressions can also be fossils. They will use footprints to tell about the animal that made it.
Topic 4: September 30. Florida's Megafauna – Meet Megalodon, the Giant Ground sloth, and Columbian Mammoth to learn more about the ancient megafauna that lived in Florida.

Preschool (3-5 years)

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