Create Your Own Fossil

Materials Required:

• Plaster of Paris
• Water
• Small Styrofoam or paper bowls
• Treasures such as rocks, shells or feathers
• Spoon
• Bucket for mixing
• Measuring cup
• Gloves and mask

Instructions:

To give your children a better understanding of fossils, help them create their own using simple art supplies and their own treasures.

Send your children out to find treasures to use as their fossils. These can be feathers, rocks, shells or any other item of interest that might be interesting as a fossil. While they are searching, prepare the plaster of Paris.

In the bucket, pour in the plaster mix and add enough water to make it thick and creamy, but not stiff. It is also a good idea to wear gloves and possibly a mask to avoid breathing in the plaster dust.

Mix enough plaster to fill three or four small bowls – the amount really depends on how many fossils you plan to make. When your children return with their treasures, help them pour the plaster into the bowls.

In the center of each bowl of plaster, press the treasure firmly into the thick plaster. If you’ve made the plaster too thin for the imprint to stay, thicken it by adding more plaster. If it is too thick to press into easily, simply add more water.

After pressing in the treasure, remove it. The imprint and details should stay behind in the plaster. You can put as many imprints in a bowl as you’d like. Once you are finished making the fossil imprints, place the bowls in the sun or in a dry spot to finish drying.

When the plaster is completely dry, remove the bowl by tearing it away from the plaster and enjoy your fossils as paperweights or simple decorations around the house or bedroom.