Activity:
Fossilize Your Footprints
Make your very own fossils using clay! Your child will learn a bit about Paleontologists and how they study dinosaurs and other prehistoric life forms through digging into the ground and looking at their fossils. Through this hands-on investigation, your child can create his very own fossil imprints of their footprints and toys. This is one activity that is sure to leave a positive impression!
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What You Need:
- Metal tray with edges
- Playdough (any color)
- Specimens (leaves, flowers, hands, shoes and toys)
- Plaster of Paris
- Water
- Mixing bucket
What You Do:
- Have your child fill the metal tray with his favorite color playdough. Leave a couple of inches at the very top for the plaster.
- Encourage him to press various objects into the clay, pressing them down to make an imprint. Try to fill the top of the playdough as much as possible with a variety of objects, both natural and synthetic.
- Help him to follow directions on the Plaster of Paris and mix it with water until it creates the same consistency as split pea soup.
- Help him slowly pour the plaster into the imprints he made. Try not to fill up the entire tray or it may be difficult to separate each object when it comes out!
- Allow the Plaster of Paris to set for about 30 minutes.
- Carefully, help your child to remove the objects from the clay. This is a super-fun part where he gets to dig, just like a Paleontologist!
- Have him clean off his fossil objects and if he likes, he can paint and display them.
