Materials
Fossils Tell of Long Ago by Aliki
Items to press into the dough
Playdough2 cups (500 g) sand1 cup (125 g) cornstarch2 tablespoons (30 g) alum
Bowl
Mixing spoon
Hot water
Electric skillet (adult only)Airtight container
Paper and pen
Instructions
1. Read Fossils Tell of Long Ago by Aliki to the children.
2. Ask the children to collect items from the classroom, home, and playground.
3. Encourage the children to explore making fossils by pressing their items into playdough.
4. Make fossil mix: Mix sand, cornstarch, and alum in a bowl. Add hot water and stir vigorously. Set the electric skillet to medium heat and add the contents of the bowl (adult only). Cook until thick and let it cool. (Makes four 1/2 cup portions.) Store in an airtight container.
5. Ask each child to choose an item with which to make a fossil.
6. Give each child playdough and 1/2 cup of the fossil mix. Encourage the children to press their items into the fossil mix and remove.
7. Write each child's name on a piece of paper, place the fossil mix on the paper, and place it in the sun to dry.
8. Encourage the children to share their fossils with their friends.More to do:Pass the fossils around at Circle Time. Encourage the children to try to guess what could have made the fossil.
