Dinosaur Fossil Excavation

Dinosaur Fossil Excavation

Posted 2015-01-26 by Jane Streetfollow
Here's a great messy activity for young dinosaur fans - a dinosaur 'fossil' excavation. Get your excavation kit together and chip away at the plaster to reveal a dinosaur hidden inside.



Time: 1 week setting time
Age: 5 to 10s
Level: Medium

Materials
  • Plaster of Paris
  • Handful of soil
  • Water
  • Old tub just larger than the dinosaur
  • Plastic dinosaur toy
  • Spare old container to mix the plaster
  • Excavation kit - we used a tray, toy hammer, toy screwdriver, paintbrush, safety goggles.

  • Safety note: quite a bit of plaster dust is created during the excavation so this is best done outdoors. You might also wear a dust mask.

    Method
  • Mix the plaster of Paris according to the instructions on the packet. We used about 1 part plaster to 1 part water. We also mixed a handful of soil through the plaster to make it look older and help it break up more easily during the excavation.
  • Pour about a third of the plaster in the bottom of the tub. Allow to set for a few minutes then place the plastic dinosaur toy on top. (Keep stirring the rest of the plaster in the other tub to stop it from setting).



  • Pour the remaining plaster over the dinosaur until just covered.



  • Allow to set for about 24 hours then pop out of the tub.



  • Allow to dry out for a few more days until completely dry. (We left ours for about a week total).
  • Set out the lump of plaster on a tray and put together an excavation kit. We used safety goggles, a toy wooden hammer, a toy wooden screwdriver and a paintbrush.

  • Ready for the dinosaur excavation


  • Now have fun excavating your dinosaur. We hammered and chiselled the plaster, brushing the dust off with a paintbrush. My son was very excited to see the dinosaur limbs emerging first. More hammering broke up the plaster and the dinosaur could finally be removed and dusted.

  • Discovering a dinosaur leg






    For more dinosaur craft ideas, click here .

    Categories
    #dinosaur
    #plaster_of_paris
    #plaster
    #messy_play
    #5_to_10s
    #medium
    #fossil

    %mykidcraft
    238970 - 2023-07-18 04:19:13

    Tags

    Easy
    5_to_10s
    Under_5s
    Any_age
    Over_10s
    Cheap
    Medium
    Recycled
    Paint
    Christmas
    Greeting_card
    Decoration
    Fun_food
    Easter
    Animals
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