Let’s look at how amber is formed with a fun and engaging activity, amber slime, complete with insects “trapped” inside and ready to be investigated. You can find more about fossils on my Amber – Freezing Gold Lapbook and Unit Study
Amber may look like a beautiful golden gemstone, but it begins as something sticky…tree sap.
Long ago, certain trees produced thick, gooey resin. This resin would drip down the bark and sometimes trap tiny bits of nature like insects, leaves, or even air bubbles.
Over many years, this resin hardened and went through chemical changes. With pressure, heat, and time, it transformed into amber.
Throughout time, rivers and oceans carried pieces of hardened resin to new locations, which is why amber is often found along coastlines today.
That’s why amber is often called a “time capsule of the ancient world.” Some pieces of amber still hold perfectly preserved insects, giving scientists clues about life long ago.
BOOKS ABOUT FOSSILS FOR KIDS
Next, look at some books to add to your study day.
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.
Amber has preserved ants, spiders, beetles, feathers from dinosaurs, plant pollen, and tiny flowers.
Also, look at some facts about amber.
12 FUN FACTS ABOUT AMBER AND HOW IT IS FORMED
- Amber often has a warm golden color, but can also appear red, green, or even blue.
- Scientists study amber to learn about extinct plants and animals.
- Amber isn’t a mineral like most gemstones; it’s actually fossilized tree resin, which makes it organic.
- Some amber can generate a small static charge when rubbed; this is called the “amber effect” and is where the word electricity originally comes from (Greek word elektron).
- Amber can float in saltwater but sink in freshwater—this is one way scientists test if it’s real.
- Scientists have even found air bubbles trapped inside amber, giving clues about ancient atmospheres.
- Some insects are so perfectly preserved that researchers can study their tiny hairs and wings under microscopes.
- Ancient people traded amber like money; it was highly valuable.
- The “Amber Road” was an ancient trade route stretching across Europe.
- Amber was used in jewelry, amulets, and even medicine in ancient cultures.
- If dinosaurs walked through sticky resin, they could have gotten stuck, but most amber pieces are small, so we usually find tiny creatures.
- Amber can sometimes smell like pine if gently warmed.
Fossils come in many forms, and amber is just one unique way that ancient life is preserved- each type gives scientists a different clue about how ancient creatures lived.
OTHER TYPES OF FOSSILS
Most fossils are formed in sedimentary rock. As the layers build up, pressure turns them into rock, leaving behind imprints or mineralized remains.
These are called body fossils, like bones and teeth, or trace fossils, such as footprints, burrows, or even fossilized dung (called coprolites).
Another fascinating fossil type is cast and mold fossils.
A mold forms when an organism leaves an impression in soft sediment and then decays away. Later, minerals can fill in that space to create a cast, a 3D replica of the original organism.
This process helps scientists understand the shapes and structures of extinct animals, even if the original material is long gone.
Compared to amber, which preserves actual organisms in stunning detail, molds and casts are more like nature’s imprints or “snapshots” in stone.
Fossils also help scientists piece together Earth’s history, almost like a giant puzzle. Researchers can estimate the age of the rocks by studying where fossils are found in rock layers. And the organisms within them.
This is part of a field called paleontology. Fossils show how life has changed over time, including major events like mass extinctions.
Whether it’s a tiny insect in amber or a massive dinosaur bone, each fossil tells a story about the world.
MORE HANDS-ON WAYS TO EXPLORE AMBER
- Science Fiction for Middle School Fun Jurassic Park Quick Unit Study (DIY Insect in Amber)
- Amber Fossilized Insect Soap – Garden Therapy
- Jurassic World Party Ideas ~ Mosquito In Amber Craft for Kids – A Thrifty Mom
- Amber Freezing Gold Lap Book
AMBER SLIME WITH INSECTS
You will need:
- Clear school glue
- Baking soda
- Contact lens solution (must contain boric acid)
- Yellow and/or orange food coloring
- Plastic insects or small objects (leaves, beads, etc.)
- Bowl and spoon for mixing
For the Investigation Tray:
- Test tubes
- Beakers or small cups
- Magnifying glass
- Petri dish
- Tweezers
Pour about 1 cup of clear glue into a bowl.
Add ½ teaspoon of baking soda and mix well.
Add a few drops of yellow and orange food coloring to create that rich amber color.
Slowly add contact solution (about 1 tablespoon at a time) and stir until the slime forms and pulls away from the bowl.
Once your slime is ready, gently press plastic insects or small items into it. Talk about how real amber trapped insects millions of years ago.
Instead of just handing your child a blob of slime, take a few minutes to set up a science tray to take it to another level.
Grab a slime safe tray, plastic or metal, and add test tubes, beakers, a magnifying glass, tweezers, more plastic bugs, and even flash cards, photos of bugs trapped in amber, or books.
Place slime in a beaker or other container and add it to the tray.
As your child explores, ask questions to deepen their understanding:
- What happens when something gets stuck in the slime?
- Do you think it could escape? Why or why not?
- How is this similar to real amber?
