Homemade Fossils
With some basic kitchen ingredients, your child can have fun learning about fossils in this hands-on educational activity.
Before You Play
Ask your child if she knows what fossils are. If she gets stuck, explain that fossils are the remains of animals or plants that lived millions of years ago. Scientists known as paleontologists study fossils, which helps us to learn about dinosaurs.
Materials
Directions
Have your child mix the first four ingredients together with her hands. Ask her to describe how the mixture feels. Add more flour if the dough is too sticky.
Help your child divide the dough into even pieces and place on waxed or parchment paper.
Grab the specimens to "fossilize." Have your child press the items in the dough using her fingers or the back of a spoon. You may need to help her carefully lift out each item after the impression is made.
Set "fossils" on a countertop or table to dry overnight. You may need to turn them over halfway through the night for even drying.
Optional: For more fun with fossils, your child can play Dinosaur Train’s Fossil Finder game on the PBS KIDS website.
Anne Campbell is the mother to three boys (in every sense of the word!). Her house is a zoo, but she would not have it any other way. Anne is a former classroom teacher, and has been homeschooling for ten years. When they are not outside soaking up nature or looking for new critters to bring home, Anne blogs about their journey at Learning Table.
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