LABS ACTIVITY

FOSSILS ROCK!
Lainey Losekamp
EDUC-224
Scientific Inquiry
Dr. Bowers

Lesson Name: Fossils Rock!

Objective: Students will be able to define what a fossil is and how they are created. Students
will be able to recall the two different fossils they learned.
Grade Level: Third
Safety Concerns: Students shall not eat the clay; keep clay away from eyes and mouth. Students
should wash hands after they are done working with the clay.
Estimated Time: 1 hour; Two-day activity
Supplies: Crayola Model Magic Fusion, shells, pinecones, fossils, play-dough (Batavia)

Explicit Instructions:
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Students should be in groups of 4-6, preferably at their desks.

A paper bag will be given to each group.
In the bag, students will find leaves and shells to help create their fossils.
The 2lb tub of Model Magic will be passed out to each group (Batavia).
Each group will grab one package of clay. If there is not enough clay students should use
the extra play-dough.
6. Students should divide the Model Magic so that each person has some by only taking a
palm size of the clay from the container.
7. Demonstrate to the class on how to make a trace fossil by using the objects to make an
imprint.
8. Show students to roll the clay flat.
9. On the back of the play-dough or clay have students initial their names.
10. Have students take the objects (shell, pinecone,) and press these objects into the clay.

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11. Students then take the objects out of the clay, and see that they have made an imprint.
12. Next have students fill in the imprint with the white glue.
13. Have students walk around the classroom to see everyones different fossils.
14. Student place their trace fossils on the window sill.
15. Students should clean up and be seated in their seats when finished.
(Batavia)

Follow up activity: Next week, we will look to see what how what the white glue does in the
imprint. Does anyone have ideas? Today we have learned that fossils are remains of plants and
animals from long ago. We have learned that fossils are made when animal or plant remains are
buried in the dirt that turns into rock; this is a body fossil. We have also learned that fossils can
be made when plants or animals leave an imprint, which is a trace fossil. Ask your parents to
take you to a park or outside to search places where you possibly think you might find where
fossils are located.

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Works Cited
Batavia, Mariska. (N.D.) Bay Area Scientists in Schools Presentation Plan. Community Resources for
Science. Berkley, California. http://www.crscience.org/lessonplans/2_fossils_batavia_07-08.pdf

http://www.education.com/activity/article/make_a_fossil_from_glue/

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Can you take a look at this rock and tell me what you see? Do you notice anything different about this
rock? Its a fossil. Can anyone tell me what a fossil is? A fossil is the remains left behind of any plant or
animals that once lived on the Earth. When fossils are made where the ground is soft and muddy but
the dirt hardens overtime. Fossils are made two different ways: one ways is that that the plant or
animal is buried in the dirt and turns into rock overtime. The other way fossils are made thought the
dirt the animal or plant leaves an imprint and the outline is preserved. There are two types of fossils:
body fossils and trace fossils. Body fossils include the remains of organisms which would be bones,
shells, and teeth (Batavia). Trace fossils are signs that the organism was alive before. Trace fossils
include footprints, tracks, and leaf impressions (Batavia). Today we are going to make some imprint
fossils of our own (Batavia).