In the educational program ‘’ The secrets of sand: Exploring the sand from the beaches of the Petrified Forest of Lesvos’’, the children become explorers, are equipped with the appropriate equipment and with the guidance of the Museum staff, study sand samples from the beaches of the Petrified Forest of Lesvos. In the Museum’s laboratories, children process the sand, examine their dry samples under a microscope and look for tiny organisms and minerals.

The aim of the educational program is for children to be able to discover and get to know tiny snails, shells and many other marine organisms as well as parts of fossil trunks that are found in the sand, but can only be observed with a microscope. They will also discover the minerals and rocks that we find in the beaches as well as how the sand was created and the origin of all its components.

The program includes:

• Discussion on concepts such as sand, rocks and minerals of Western Lesvos, tiny marine organisms, fossils, microscope, etc.

• Discussion on the research methods of studying the microcosm and the scientific equipment used in geological research.

• Processing of sand samples in the Museum’s laboratory.

• Identification of rocks from the area of the Petrified Forest.

• Identification of microorganisms that live in the sea and the processes that create sand.

• Observation, through the special stereoscopic microscopes of the Museum, of the microcosm that hides the sand inside.

• Recording and fixing the findings in the special educational cards.

• Composition of observations and drawing conclusions.