For the students here, a whale or dolphin sighting is a fairly common occurrence. But not long ago, a very unusual whale made an appearance. This rare whale, however, wasn't found in the icy blue waters of the Pacific, but rather in a nearby construction site. Found by construction workers dig-ging foundations in a housing development, the skeleton was donated to Dana Elementary last year.
Paleontologists believe that the skeleton is nearly completely intact.
It's a very rare find. Being able to study and restore it is an incredible opportunity for the school. After an inspection from paleontologists, the school received the green light to let the students begin restoring the fossil. Weighing an estimated 10,000 pounds, Splash resides on a portion of the school playground. But day by day, Splash begins to take shape as students from every grade level wield dental picks, chisels, hammers, and brushes and go to work uncovering and cleaning bones.