Made salt dough fossils / Activity Analysis

Art

• The child learned about different textures and shapes as they molded the salt dough into fossils.
• They explored their creativity by designing and decorating their fossils with paint or markers.
• They learned about the concept of preservation as they carefully handled and dried their salt dough fossils.
• They practiced fine motor skills as they manipulated the dough and created intricate details on their fossils.

Science

• The child learned about fossils and how they are formed through the process of making salt dough fossils.
• They learned about different types of organisms that can become fossilized, such as plants, animals, and even footprints.
• They gained an understanding of the concept of time and how fossils provide evidence of past life on Earth.
• They explored the concept of layers and sedimentation as they pressed objects into the salt dough to create impressions.

Continued Development Tip: Encourage the child to take their learning further by visiting a natural history museum or researching more about fossils online. They can also experiment with different materials and techniques to create more realistic or elaborate salt dough fossils.

Book Recommendations

• The Fossil Girl by Catherine Brighton: A story about a girl who discovers a fossil and learns about paleontology.
• Dinosaur Bones by Bob Barner: A colorful book that introduces young children to different types of dinosaur fossils.
• If You Find a Rock by Peggy Christian: Although not specifically about fossils, this book explores the wonders of rocks and can spark curiosity about natural history.