Book 5, Question 39 · Video
Snap and Label! Why Number and Photograph Every Find?
Scientists write a number on each find and take photos to record exactly where it was found. That way nothing gets mixed up, and the clues about where it came from are saved. Good
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What Crafty Clover says in this video
Intro
Hi! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why do we number and photograph every find?
The Big Idea
When scientists dig up a fossil, they don't just grab it! First, they take a photo. Then they give it a number. That way, every clue keeps its story: where it was, and what was next to it. Let's find out why!
Step 1
Step one: take a photo right where the fossil lies. Before anyone lifts it, the camera freezes the scene, just the way it was buried. Two photos are even better: one close up, and one wide.
Step 2
Step two: give it a number. A little tag goes right beside the find, and the number goes in the field notebook, too. Now it is one of a kind, and nobody can mix it up.
Step 3
Step three: bag it, with its tag. The number travels with the fossil all the way to the lab, so scientists always know which find it was. Later, they can use the photos and notes to replay the whole dig!
A Closer Look
Let's look at how one find gets recorded. The photo shows exactly where the bone lay. The number tag says which find it is. And the notebook writes down the layer of ground it came from.
Quick Facts
Quick facts! A little ruler in the photo shows how big the fossil is. A tag smaller than a stamp can save a whole science paper! If a museum fossil loses its label, even a famous one can get confusing. Kids can be the photographer, if a scientist asks them to!
Think Like a Scientist
Now, think like a scientist! Try this with a grown-up. Set out five small things, like shells or pebbles, on a tray. Take a photo. Then put a numbered sticky note beside each one. Now mix them up, and use your photo to put them back. What would disappear if you skipped the photo?
Outro
Photos, numbers, and notes keep a fossil's story safe, so we can learn from it for years to come! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!