Objective

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to understand what fossils are and how they are formed.

Materials and Prep

• A small toy dinosaur or any other small toy animal
• A small container or cup
• A plastic bag
• A piece of modeling clay or playdough
• A small paintbrush or toothbrush
• A small rock or stone
• A piece of paper and crayons or markers
• Access to the internet or books about fossils (optional)

Activities

1. Start by discussing what fossils are. Explain that fossils are the remains or traces of plants and animals that lived long ago.

2. Take the small toy dinosaur or animal and bury it in the modeling clay or playdough to create a fossil. Press it gently to leave an imprint.

3. Place the modeling clay or playdough with the fossil in the small container or cup. Fill the container with water until the fossil is covered.

4. Put the container in the freezer and let it freeze overnight.

5. The next day, remove the container from the freezer and run warm water over it to melt the ice. Carefully remove the frozen fossil from the container.

6. Use the small paintbrush or toothbrush to gently brush away any remaining ice or clay from the fossil.

7. Take the small rock or stone and use it to make rubbings on the piece of paper. This represents the layers of sediment where fossils are often found.

8. Use the crayons or markers to color the rubbings and make them look like real rocks.

9. Discuss the process of fossilization and how it takes a long time for fossils to form. Encourage the student to ask questions and share their observations.

10. If available, explore additional resources about fossils using books or the internet. Look at pictures of different types of fossils and discuss their characteristics.

First Grade Talking Points

• "Fossils are the remains or traces of plants and animals that lived long ago."
• "We can make our own fossils by burying a toy dinosaur or animal in clay or playdough and freezing it."
• "Fossils are usually found in layers of sediment, like the layers we made rubbings of with the rock or stone."
• "It takes a long time for fossils to form, sometimes thousands or millions of years!"
• "Fossils can help scientists learn about the plants and animals that lived long ago."