On the tables for excavation, you will need:The plaster/sand blocksClay tools

Small hammers

Clean paint brushes

Small note books and pencilsCamera

For the excavation block, you will need: Plaster of Paris Sand or soil Foil baking trays Plastic dinosaurs, shells, or other dig-able treasures Water A bucket for mixing A large stick for stirring

1. Place your ‘ingredients’ on the table.

2. Measure out the sand, plaster of Paris powder andwater. A good ratio is 1 equal measure of both. The measures in the photograph will make one block in a tin foil container.

3. Put the plaster of Paris in a large bowl/bucket.

UKS2 Topic: Dinosaurs and Fossils Block A: Fossils and Rocks Session 1

How to make a fossil excavation block

UKS2 Topic: Dinosaurs and Fossils Block A: Fossils and Rocks Session 1

4. Add the sand. In the picture it is white art sand, butadding soil or beach sand would make the block more bitty and crumbly.

5. Get the tin foil container and dinosaurs ready.Add the water and stir until smooth. Pour into tin and leave to dry (about 2 hours minimum).

6. When it is dry, turn it out of the container. It isready to be chipped away at and its contents discovered!

You might also want to freeze dinosaurs in a block of water. This is a quicker approach with no knives or other tools involved. To get the dinosaur out, squeeze warm water from a drinks bottle over the ice.

PalaeontologyDino Dictionary

... the scientific study of fossils to determine how organisms changed over time, interacted with each other and lived in their environments. In Greek: "ancient" (palaeo), "being" (onto ) and "study" ( logy).

OrganismDino Dictionary

… a living thing or system, such as a vertebrate, insect, plant or bacterium.

UKS2 Topic: Dinosaurs and Fossils Block A: Fossils and Rocks Session 1

© Hamilton Trust. This activity may be adapted for use by a teacher in his/her own class. It may not be reproduced for any other purpose.