Be a paleontologist for a day and make your own homemade dinosaur fossils with your kiddos! Super easy from start to finish these salt dough fossils are perfect for adding to a sand-filled sensory bin. Learn about what a fossil is, and explore favorite dinosaur activities through fun play!

HOW TO MAKE SALT DOUGH DINOSAUR FOSSILS

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HOW TO MAKE A FOSSIL

Get creative with homemade dinosaur fossils the kids will be eager to explore! Find the hidden dinosaur fossils, one of our many fun dinosaur activities for kids. Our activities are designed with you, the parent or teacher, in mind. Easy to set up, quick to do, most activities will take only 15 to 30 minutes to complete and are heaps of fun. Plus, our supplies lists usually contain only free or cheap materials you can source from home. ALSO CHECK OUT: Dinosaur Dirt Cup Recipe Find out how to make fossils below with our easy salt dough recipe. Learn about how fossils are formed and get into your own dinosaur dig. Let’s get started!

WHAT IS A FOSSIL FOR KIDS

A fossil is the preserved remains or the impression of animals and plants that lived a very long time ago. Fossils are not the remains of the animal or plant itself! They are rocks! Bones, shells, feathers, and leaves can all become fossils.

HOW ARE FOSSILS FORMED

Most fossils are formed when a plant or animal dies in a watery environment and then is rapidly buried in mud and silt. The soft parts of the plants and animals break down leaving the hard bones or shells behind. Over time, small particles called sediment build up over the top and harden into rock. These clues of the remains of these animals and plants are preserved for scientists to find thousands of years later. These type of fossils are called body fossils. Our Dino Dig activity is a great example of this! Sometimes only the activity of the plants and animals are left behind. These types of fossil are called trace fossils. Think about footprints, burrows, trails, food remains etc. ALSO CHECK OUT: Dinosaur Footprint Activity Some other ways fossilization can happen is through rapid freezing, being preserved in amber (the resin of trees), drying, cast and molds and being compacted. Pin

FOSSIL DOUGH RECIPE

PLEASE NOTE: Salt dough is NOT edible but it is taste-safe!

YOU WILL NEED:

  • 2 cups all-purpose bleached flour
  • 1 cup of salt
  • 1 cup of warm water
  • Round cookie cutter
  • Dinosaur Figures

HOW TO MAKE FOSSILS

STEP 1: Combine all the dry ingredients in a bowl and form a well in the center. Pin STEP 2: Add the warm water to the dry ingredients and mix together until it forms a dough. TIP: If you notice the salt dough dough looks a little runny, you might be tempted to add more flour. Before you do this, allow the mixture to rest for a few moments! That will give the salt a chance to absorb the extra moisture. Pin STEP 3: Roll the dough to ¼ inch thick or so and cut out round shapes with a circle cookie cutter. Pin STEP 4:  Take your favorite dinosaurs and press the feet into the salt dough to make dinosaur fossils. Pin STEP 5: Place on a tray and leave for 24 to 48 hours to air dry. Pin STEP 6.  When the salt dough fossils are hard use them to create your own dino dig. Can you match each dinosaur fossil to the right dinosaur? Pin

Looking for more easy to print dinosaur activities?

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MORE THINGS TO MAKE WITH SALT DOUGH

HOW TO MAKE A FOSSIL WITH SALT DOUGH

Click on the image below or on the link for more fun dinosaur activities for kids.

Dinosaur activities for preschoolPin