Preschool paleontologists: MSU grad teaches kids all about dinosaurs in Butte

Inside a room with miniature furniture and craft art table, paleontologist Patrick "P.J." Dobb holds up a stuffed duck in front of a group of 40 preschoolers and asks if it is a dinosaur. The group replies in a resounding "No." To which Dobb responds, "Wrong." 

Children and adults in the room audibly gasp, some shake their heads, this is their introduction to a special lesson on dinosaurs and for the next hour Dobb, a recent Montana State University graduate of earth sciences and paleontology, leads the group on a lesson about dinosaurs that ends in the sandbox with a simulated dig site and fake dinosaur bones - they are cow bones, Dobb says in a lowered voice in order not to give anything away. 

"We live in Montana which is a very good place to find dinosaurs," says Dobb "We can probably even find them on the playground." 

After preschool teachers pass out kitchen spoons for digging, a group of 4-year-olds spread out across the sand box. Some bones obviously stick out. Children shout out that they've found something and point at the ground. 

"That's just the tip of the bone. You never know how big a bone is until you start digging," says Dobb to the group. He encourages the group to be gentile with the bones. He and his mother Laurie Dobb hid the bone on Wednesday night and a concerned neighbor called Kidz Konnection owner and director Shelly Fischer to tell her that someone was burring bones on the playground.  

Fischer says Dobb has done volunteer dinosaur lessons at her establishment and at others around town in the past.

"He does a good job," she said adding that she is proud of the youngsters for sitting still for so long. "I really do feel like they will remember. Now it's not going to be specifics but I think my three to five-year-olds will retain some of the facts." 

Fischer said the kids will continue to read dinosaur books and do different lessons throughout the month.