Fossilize Your Footprints

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:

1. Have your child fill the metal tray with their favorite color playdough. Leave a couple of inches at the very top for the plaster.
2. Encourage your child 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.
3. Help your child follow directions on the Plaster of Paris and mix it with water until it creates the same consistency as split pea soup.
4. Assist your child as they slowly pour the plaster into the imprints they made. Try not to fill up the entire tray or it may be difficult to separate each object when it comes out!
5. Allow the Plaster of Paris to set for about 30 minutes.
6. Carefully, help your child to remove the objects from the clay. This is a super-fun part where your child gets to dig, just like a Paleontologist!
7. Have your child clean off their fossil objects and if they would like, your child can paint and display them.