Suggested Grades

K+

Objective

Students will better understand how fossils are created by making their own.

Materials

• plaster of paris
• paper plates
• objects to make impressions of (leaves, shells, twigs, grass, flowers, etc.)
• paint (optional)

Method

• Explain to students about fossilization.
  Fossilization:The preservation of the remains or an imprint of a living organism in a geological structure.
• Pour out plaster of paris into the paper plates. (you might want to do this ahead of time).
• Have students pressing items into the plaster of paris and lifting them up right away to make impressions.
• Explain to students that normally, fossils are created when the object decomposes.
• Let plaster dry.
• Paint if you would like. Try using different coloured paint for each impression.
• Variation:Wrap a plaster of paris ball around a small plastic object (eg: toy for birthday bags like dinosaurs, spiders, etc.). Crack the ball carefully and you should see an impression of the object in the plaster.