A fossil is any evidence of ancient life that is preserved in stoneor other material. Fossils can include molds, casts, defecationmaterial, stomach stones, bones, footprints, trails and burrows.Fossils can be preserved in sedimentary rock (and rarelymetamorphic and igneous rock), tar pits, and amber, and are usuallythe result of the organism being covered rapidly upon death.Fossils are very important in helping us trace the history of lifeon Earth and the evolutionary relationships between organisms ofthe past and present.

One form of fossil forms when an organism dies and its body is covered by layers of sediment. As time passes, the organism itself, particularly when composed primarily of softer materials, is eroded and carried away, leaving a negative imprint of its body. This type of fossil is called a mold.

A cas t fossil forms when a mold fossil is filled with some form of mineral, usually through the seepage of water depositing the minerals within the mold. In time, the mold is filled and the materials deposited harden, creating a replica of the original fossil. This is called a cast fossil.

A mold is a hollow rock left by an organism, A cast is when the rock is filled with sediment. They both are usually found in creeks, rivers, and streams. A mold is a negative imprint, While a cast.

Real fossils are millions and even billions of years old, but that doesn’t mean you can’t create your own version at home. All you need are a few specimens to fossilize plus flour, salt, and, well, cold coffee and coffee grounds left over from this morning’s brew.

How do these unusual ingredients combine to help your student learn about fossils? Find out in our Fun with Fossils Instructographic, which gives you step-by-step instructions on how to make your own fossils. Before you get started, quiz your student with some basic questions to measure his or her fossil knowledge. • What are fossils? The preserved remains of plants, animals, and other organisms.

• Where are fossils found? In (sedimentary) rock.

• Why do we study fossils? To determine an organism’s anatomy, its way of life, and how it evolved. • What are the people who study fossils called? • Have you seen any fossils? Digging for Fossils. Parents and Learning Coaches, consider making the fossils ahead of time and burying them in the backyard. Challenge your child to search for the fossils and dig them up.

What are his or her observations about the fossilized organisms? A Paleontology Expedition.

After trying this “make your own fossils” activity, take a trip to a nearby museum to see some real fossils. Ask your student to identify the fossil type of each specimen you look at. You can also visit a national park and take along this fun for ages 5–12. Fossil Facts • The word comes from the Latin word fossilis, which means “obtained by digging.” • Fossils are usually found within sedimentary rock, which is made up of sand, mud, and small pieces of rock compressed together. • A fossil discovery in 1993 uncovered the, the largest dinosaur we have evidence of. It would have been about 130 feet long and weighed about 110 tons. • The we’ve found is of some algae, and it’s over three billion years old.

• A fossil of the, the smallest dinosaur at 12 inches long, was discovered in China. • The in the world was discovered in some coal mines in eastern Illinois. Four square miles of a swamp were preserved when an earthquake submerged the land 307 million years ago. How did your homemade fossils turn out?

Share your opinions about the activity! I am so glad you had fun with the project Kristen. I am sure that was gross. I am assuming you used a dead bug. I am enjoying getting your feedback on the project.

Lexie- I am delighted that you problem solved and found another way to finish your assignment. Sometimes science experiments don’t go exactly as we expect or hope and we have to realize that this is just part of science. It happens to professional Scientist too! I think what we have found as a group is that the instructions needed to say “dry, cold coffee grounds”. If they were wet, it struggles to dry. I am a librarian, and we are considering incorporating this activity into an upcoming dinosaur program. The catch is that we would need to create the fossils about 2 weeks in advance, due to staff schedules and time constraints.

At the actual program, the homemade fossils would be part of a “Paleontology Training” station that challenges kids to measure, make observations, collect data, and identify them. In your experience, would the coffee-dough fossils hold up well for that length of time?