Teachers and parents can instill a respect for fossils in children by helping them create their own. Producing a truly authentic fossil takes thousands of years, a bit longer than the prep time for a more feasible project. A grownup should start by locating some plasticine, which can be molded and flattened into a ball whose top is smooth. This ball is placed into a paper cup, and a youngster then presses anything she'd like to "fossilize" into the ball. After slowly removing the object, plaster of Paris is poured in and hardens. Kids tear off the plastic cup and take out the plaster to reveal a unique fossil.
Coffee grounds are typically thrown away immediately after their use. But parents in the mood for a teachable moment, particularly on an occasion like Earth Day, should conserve them for an energetic fossil activity. A child can help Mom or Dad mix some grounds along with a touch of coffee, flour, and salt, creating a ball of dough. Flattened onto wax paper, any small item is then pushed into the mixture, then taken out. The "fossil" should then dry out, for a couple days at maximum.
Educators and parents frequently lament how much free time children can waste on the Web. They can help young people grasp how useful the Internet can be by exposing them to a few excellent pages for fossil information. The University of California Museum of Paleontology, for example, has developed The Paleontology Portal, focusing on the biological history of North America. The Fossil Horse Cybermuseum, another strong Web resource, is sponsored by the Florida Museum of Natural History and traces the evolution of equines using impressive fossil displays.
Fossils aren't just dry subject matter for paleontology aficionados. They can also be seen as beautiful and detailed works of art. Children can be guided through fossil projects that expose them to both the scientific and creative sides of fossilization. An educator will need to track down plastic dinosaur skeletons, in addition to either standard clay or play dough. Students impress the skeletons into the clay, focusing on the side of the skull. Tempura or watercolor paint can adorn the fossils once dry.