DIY Dinosaur Play Fossil

Inspired by the 'Backyard Science' show recently, the kids requested to try making fossils.

So here are the fossils, made from my little boy's play dinosaurs.


Materials :

Plaster of paris
Sand
Water
Petroleum jelly / oil
Large container
Play dinosaurs



Steps :

1) Fill the container with sand, compacting them as much as you could.
2) Apply the dinosaurs generously with petroleum jelly or oil.

 

3) Press the dinosaurs horizontally on the sand.
4) Prepare the plaster of paris according to the instructions on the packet.  Wait for it to thicken to cream like.
5) Pour the plaster of paris carefully over the dinosaur, making sure to cover it completely.
6) Leave the plaster to set, ideally overnight.
7) Turn the container upside down to remove all its content.
8) Carefully remove the sand and the dinosaur.

9) Clean the fossil carefully to remove excess sand.  Allow to dry.




Applying the dinosaurs with petroleum jelly or oil prevents it sticking to the plaster.  Do be generous or else you will have a lot to answer for when your child does not get back his favourite toy.  I did batch 1 with oil and batch 2 with petroleum jelly.  Oil does work but the one applied with petroleum jelly is much easier to remove.

Removing and cleaning the fossils needed a lot of patience.  As careful as we were, we still ended up breaking the fossils.  But the kids were happy and thrilled nevertheless. At least we had a taste of what it is like to be an archaeologist.

Look at the Texture

 

Happy face with the fossil

 

The fossil is heavy