Fossil Fun - National Fossil Day

Today is National Fossil Day, the best time to talk some science! Have you ever wondered how fossils are created? How old they really are? I hope that we can discuss these topics and more... there is SO MUCH to learn about when it comes to this topic so get ready for a ton of links!

**To help with link overload, I moved the coloring sheet printables to its own post, but did keep the printables which include activities below.

Check out this link for some information on what fossils are, and a video:

https://science.lovetoknow.com/understanding-science/explaining-fossils-kids

This link from the American Museum of Natural History, part of the dinosaur curriculum, talks about what a fossil is:

https://www.amnh.org/learn-teach/curriculum-collections/dinosaurs-activities-and-lesson-plans/what-is-a-fossil

Check this out for some Cool Kid Facts about fossils:

https://www.coolkidfacts.com/fossils/

DK Find Out has an awesome and interactive page on the topic of fossils. Find out all sorts of things like how they are formed and where they are found:

https://www.dkfindout.com/us/dinosaurs-and-prehistoric-life/fossils/

DK even has a fossil quiz:

https://www.dkfindout.com/us/quiz/dinosaurs-and-prehistoric-life/true-or-false-take-fossil-quiz/

Science Kids is also a good resource for some fossil facts:

https://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/earth/fossils.html

Looking for crafts and activities? Preschool Powol has a fun activity for making a sand dough for fossils:

http://preschoolpowolpackets.blogspot.com/2015/07/dinosaur-fossils-with-sand-dough.html

This fossil craft activity doesn't use handmade dough, but model magic and plaster:

https://www.funathomewithkids.com/2013/02/making-your-own-dinosaur-fossils.html

Make a q-tip dino skeleton:

http://stuck-on-glue.blogspot.com/2012/02/q-tip-dino.html

This link has tons more ideas!:

http://www.playideas.com/25-fun-fossil-ideas-for-kids/

Snack time! Check out these fossil cookie recipes:

Recipe 1:

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/food-recipes/party-ideas/a28593596/fossil-cookies-recipe/

Recipe 2:

https://www.tableandachair.com/dinosaur-fossil-cookies/

If you're looking to make a themed sensory table/bin, try an archeology dig:

https://parentingchaos.com/pretend-archeological-dinosaur-dig-preschool/

Or this fossil excavation bin:

http://loveplayandlearn.com/dinosaur-fossil-excavation-activity-kids/

Incorporate letters in a bin like this:

https://www.learning4kids.net/2015/06/02/digging-for-dinosaur-fossils-sensory-bin/

Check out this PDF worksheet where you can analyze a dinosaur fossil to help us learn how to draw conclusions:

https://www.education.com/worksheet/article/dig-it-fossils-5/

Work on those coloring and cutting skills with this cute Curious George dinosaur bone worksheet:

http://www.getcoloringpages.com/coloring/58045

This website from the Oxford Museum of Natural History touches on fossils and has some fun ideas:

http://www.oum.ox.ac.uk/thezone/funstuff/games/pack.htm

Especially this page:

http://www.oum.ox.ac.uk/thezone/fossils/index.htm

Here is a downloadable workbook from Mammoth Cave National Park:

https://www.nps.gov/maca/learn/education/upload/Fossil_Identification_Workbook_2010.pdf

Visit this link to get a Curious George fossil maze:

https://www.curiousgeorge.com/~/media/sites/CG/Resources/Theme%20Resources/Dinosaurs/Dinosaurs_Parents_FossilMaze.pdf

Work with your kiddo to complete this Junior Paleontologist Activity Book from Dinosaur National Monument:

https://media.npr.org/documents/2008/jun/jrpaleobooklet.pdf

The Park Service also has a dedicated National Fossil Day page:

https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossilday/index.htm

Check out this downloadable activity packet:

http://www.greatshowsforkids.com/wp-content/themes/greatshows/download.php?show=drtrex&file=The%20Dinosaur%20Quest%20of%20Dr%20T-Rex_ACTIVITY%20PACK_LO.pdf

Another HUGE PDF activity book, this only touches on true fossils, but there's a ton of dinosaur themed sheets on a wide variety of learning areas (numbers, tracing, hand eye via scissors and more):

http://123learncurriculum.info/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Dinosaur_Worksheets.233122614.pdf

PHEW. There is a bunch more available online if you want to look around for other things as well, but I hope this helps you kick off a fun celebration of National Fossil Day! Be sure to check out the coloring page post if you want to just do some easy passive learning fun. Use the hashtag #LearningFunWithLaura when get your hands dirty with some fossil fun today so I don't miss it!