Today we’re making edible fossils, and you can grab the free Magic School Bus fossils worksheet. Also, you’ll love my Amber – Freezing Gold Lapbook and Unit Study.
What’s more fun than giving your preschooler or kindergartener a dino excavation to enjoy?
An edible dino fossil excavation of course.
I think that even older kids would enjoy doing this activity and of course, enjoy eating it.
You do not need any special molds or equipment.
I’m showing you how to make edible dinosaur fossils using just what you have in your kitchen already.
This activity has three fun parts, creating the mold and filing it, then the hands-on excavation, and finally enjoying this tasty treat.
The fossil activity and free Magic School Bus Fossils Worksheet I have for you go perfectly with Mrs. Frizzle and her Magic School Bus In The Time of The Dinosaurs book.
In The Time of The Dinosaurs launches back to dinosaur days with their time-traveling bus to learn about the creatures, their habitats, and diets, and even a nesting ground.
These books are great for preschool to mid-elementary-aged kids and are a great learning tool for a variety of topics, kids just love them.
Too, with my printables, you can use them any way you like but laminating them makes them stronger and longer lasting.
It is also great for use with messy activities as they can be easily wiped off clean and used again and again.
5 Fossil Facts For the Magic School Bus Fossils Worksheet
Next, look at these facts about fossils.
- Scientists who study fossils are called Paleontologists.
- The fossils of almost 700 different animals have been found in the Le Brea Tar Pits in California.
- Fossils can be made up of bones, plants, teeth, shells, or even footprints.
- There are 8 different types of fossils- petrified fossils, mold and cast fossils, carbon film fossils, trace fossils, preserved remains, compression fossils, impression fossils, and pseudo fossils. Our activity today is an example of a mold and cast fossil.
- Not all fossils that are found are on rocks. Some fossils can be found in tar pits, ice, and in amber.
Also, use some of these resources with the free Magic School Bus fossils worksheet.
15 Books for Kids Crazy About Fossils and Dinosaurs
Your dinosaur loving kids will love some of these books and resources for a fun dinosaur unit study.
What is a fossil? Sometimes it's the imprint of an ancient leaf in a rock. Or it could be the skeleton of a dinosaur that has turned to stone. With clear prose and beautifully detailed illustrations, award-winning author and illustrator Aliki describes the different ways fossils are formed and what they tell us about life on Earth long ago.
This is a clear and appealing science book for early elementary age kids, both at home and in the classroom. It includes a find out more section with a glossary and activity guide so kids can create their own fossils for someone to find a million years from now.
Gail Gibbons presents the most recent and up-to-date theories about the history of dinosaurs and dinosaur discoveries. She discusses the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods and the non-bird dinosaurs that lived during each time. Each dinosaur is explored in just the right amount of detail for young paleontologists, as this book brings these magnificent creatures to life again
How did those enormous dinosaur skeletons get inside the museum? Beloved author-illustrator Aliki’s simple, engaging text and colorful artwork bring the long-extinct creatures to life for young dinosaur enthusiasts.
Long ago, dinosaurs ruled the Earth. Then, suddenly, they died out. For thousands of years, no one knew these giant creatures had ever existed. Then people began finding fossils—bones and teeth and footprints that had turned to stone. Today, teams of experts work together to dig dinosaur fossils out of the ground, bone by fragile bone
A playful peek into the homes of dinosaur babies and their parents at bedtime!How do dinosaurs say good night?Brimming with humor and familiar good-night antics, here is a playful peek into the homes of dinosaur children and their parents at bedtime. Perfect for sharing and reading aloud, this is one nighttime book your own little dinosaur will want to read again and again.
A celebratory edition of this much loved classic picture book, now twenty-five years old. This rollicking rhyming text is a joy to read aloud, and the charming and colourful pictures will appeal to the very youngest dinosaur fans. Originally published in 1994, Dinosaur Roar! by Henrietta and Paul Stickland is now seen as a modern classic, a book that every preschool child should have.In the back of the book is a wonderful pull-out poster showing the dinosaur characters.The book carries the endorsement of the Earth Sciences Department at the Natural History Museum.
With a lively rhyming text and vibrant paper collage illustrations, author-artist Bob Barner shakes the dust off the dinosaur bones found in museums and reminds us that they once belonged to
living, breathing creatures. Filled with fun dinosaur facts (a T. Rex skull can weigh up to 750 pounds!) and an informational "Dinometer," Dinosaur Bones is sure to make young dinosaur enthusiasts roar with delight.
A long time ago there were dinosaurs. Big dinosaurs and small dinosaurs. Dinosaurs with horns on their heads or spikes down their backs. Dinosaurs with long, long necks and long, long tails. Imaginatively and with a masterful use of color, shape and composition, Bryon Barton brings to life a unique and endearing vision of what the world may have looked like once upon a time.
A long time ago there was dinosaurs. Big dinosaurs and small dinosaurs. Dinosaurs with horns on their heads or spikes down their backs. Dinosaurs with long, long necks and long, long tails.Imaginatively and with a masterful use of color, shape and composition, Byron Barton brings to life unique and endearing vision of what the world may have looked like once up ona time.
This STEM-friendly musical fossil dig will have dinosaur lovers singing along as they learn the science behind paleontology.
If you could be a dinosaur, which would you be? Would you roar like the ferocious T-Rex? Or soar overhead like the pterodactyl? In this playful early-learning book, Stella Blackstone s lyrical, rhyming text takes readers on an unforgettable Jurassic journey, while fabric artist Clare Beaton recreates the prehistoric world of dinosaurs using a colorful array of felt, sequins, beads and buttons.
I am Tyrannosaurus Rex.
I am a dinosaur,
otherwise known as
a terrible lizard.
Tyrannosaurus rex is a terrible dinosaur; of this, everyone is certain. But is this dinosaur really so terrible? He IS very big and very hungry. True, he might even eat his neighbors for lunch. But from his point of view, he can't help it. After all, he's not a vegetarian . . .
Meet George. He's strong, as a giant dinosaur should be, strong enough to wreck a plane! (Of course he thinks it's his old enemy, the flying Pteranodon.) He's loyal. He'll do anything to help Joan and Joey save their mother's ranch at Cricket Creek, even chase a bank robber. He's shy. He's so shy he gets Joan and Joey into hilarious, dinosaur sized trouble!
The classroom is decorated as Dinosaur Land, but Ms. Frizzle-inspired by an archeological dig-craves a more authentic experience. The Magic School Bus turns into a time machine and transports the class back millions of years to an adventure where they learn about dinosaurs, their habitats and diets, and even a Maiasaura nesting ground.
Fossils are one of the most important tools we have for learning about long-extinct wildlife.
A True Book: Earth Science series presents fascinating facts and fun activities that will engage the budding earth scientist, while exploring the fields of geology, meteorology, ecology, and more. This series includes an age appropriate (grades 3-5) introduction to curriculum-relevant subjects and a robust resource section that encourages independent study. In the 4.6 billion years since Earth was formed, many plant and animal species have come and gone. Readers will discover how fossils are formed, how paleontologists search for them, and what kinds of information they can provide.
A box of ten fossils: A box of this paleontological fossil sample contains ten of fossils, including sea clam fossils, trilobites, ichthyodonts, porphyrites, copal amber, graptolites, nematodes, phylloceras, corals, and spirals. Fossil specimen of algae.
Step into Prehistory: This Toob contains 10 expertly hand-painted mini figurines of ancient fossils, including a Dinosaur Footprint, Giant Crab, Ammonite, Raptor Claw, Fossilized Frog, Trilobite, T-Rex Tooth, Fossilized Fish, Dinosaur Skin, and a Sea Scorpion.
Also, look at these other activities about fossils and dinosaur activities.
Fossil And Dinosaur Crafts and Activities
- Watch Magic School Bus Fossil Field Trip.
- Geronimo Stilton The Journey Through Time Fun Easy No Sew Dinosaur Mat
- Print and play this Fossil Dig Travel Matching Game.
- Make Coffee Ground Fossils, a fun gritty texture that makes a nice display piece for the science shelf or keepsake.
- Science Fiction for Middle School Fun Jurassic Park Quick Unit Study (DIY Insect in Amber)
- If your child is really into dinosaurs and fossils I think this Tabletop Dinosaur Fossil Dig | Dino Dig Game is worth the effort.
- With a sensory twist on fossils, this Jurassic World Inspired Amber Fossil Slime will be a huge hit.
Also, look how to make fun edible fossils to excavate.
Make Fun Edible Fossils to Excavate
You can make your fossils from toys right out of the toy box or sensory bin, as long as you have a large enough container and enough brown sugar you can make as many or as large of fossils as you want.
You will need:
- Shallow container
- Brown sugar
- ½-1 cup white chocolate chips
- ½ – 1 teaspoon coconut oil
- Clean plastic dinosaur figurines
As well as items for the excavation:
- Plastic spoons
- Craft sticks
- Clean new paint brushes
- Clean new toothbrush
- Magnifying glass
- tongs
First, pour a couple of inches of brown sugar into a shallow dish.
How to Make Edible Fossils to Excavate
Pat down brown sugar firmly with your hands or the back of a spoon or a spatula.
Heat ½ to 1 cup of white chocolate chips and ½ teaspoon to 1 teaspoon of coconut oil in the microwave depending on how many you want to make.
The easiest way to do this is in a glass measuring cup with a pour spout heat and 30-second increments each time until completely melted.
Take clean, sanitized toys and press them firmly into the brown sugar. You can use skeletons, or full-bodied dinosaurs, as well as their feet. I find the skeletons were a lot trickier to use in the “mold”.
Then carefully remove the dinosaur toy, disturbing the sugar as little as possible.
Now use the pour spout of the measuring cup, or a small spoon to carefully drizzle chocolate into the impression you made in the brown sugar.
Gently shake and tap the pan to fill in all the little cavities.
Allow the chocolate to completely harden, you can put it in the refrigerator or freezer to quicken the hardening time.
Now provide your child with a clean paintbrush, a new toothbrush, tweezers, magnifying glass, a craft stick, and any other tools you think they might enjoy for their excavation.
And have them carefully lift their fossils out of the sand.
Let your child carefully dig the fossils out of the “soil” and use a paintbrush or clean toothbrush to carefully brush away the brown sugar/soil.
If there is still quite a bit sticking, you can run it under cold water to dissolve some of it. Do not use warm or hot water as it will melt your chocolate.
Then carefully pat them dry with a paper towel.
Your fossils are ready to eat and enjoy. Use them with my free printables to compare and talk about the features they see in their fossils.
How to Get the Free Magic School Bus Fossils & Dinosaur Worksheet
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