Lesson Planning
Fossils and rocks
Topics Year 4/5
Objectives
Science
- To recognise that fossils provide information about living things that inhabited the Earth millions of years ago.
- To understand that most fossils are not the bones or shells of dead creatures but mineral deposits left behind – that’s why Jurassic Park had to use an insect preserved in amber and not fossilised bones!
Enquiry question
What is a fossil? How are they formed?
Outcomes
Children will:
- Have discussed, with understanding, terms associated with the topic such as archaeology and palaeontology as well as cast and mould fossils.
- Have understood how fossils are formed and made our own.
- Be able to explain the process of fossilisation in a variety of depth using appropriate topic vocabulary.
Provided Resources
You Will Also Need
If possible, a collection of fossils or bones for the class to look at.
For making Plaster of Paris fossils: suitable pots – yogurt pots or similar; clay; collection of small shells; fibrous leaves; small bones; watercolour paints.
For making cast fossils: newspaper; sticky tape; Modroc; warm water.
For making mould fossils: air-drying clay; toy dinosaurs/plastic bones; shells; leaves; sweets in the shape of worms, animals, etc.
For making amber fossils: cheap epoxy resin; yellow food colouring; a small heat-proof mould; something to trap inside the fossil; something to protect the table; warm, soapy water to hand.
Weblinks
How do dinosaur fossils form? Natural History Museum
Oxford University Museum of Natural History fossil information
How to make a fossil with plaster of Paris