Make Your Own Dinosaur Fossils – A Hands-On Science Activity for Kids

What Are Fossils?

Fossils are the preserved remains, impressions, or traces of ancient plants and animals. Most of the dinosaur bones we see in museums today are actually fossils—stone replicas of the original bones that have mineralized over millions of years.

There are many types of fossils, including:

• Body fossils: preserved bones, teeth, and shells

• Trace fossils: footprints, burrows, or other impressions left behind

• Molds and casts: where a shape was left in rock and then filled with minerals over time

Fossils help scientists understand what life was like long ago. The people who study these fossils are called paleontologists. They dig up fossils at excavation sites and carefully study them to learn about prehistoric life, especially dinosaurs!

How We Made Our Dinosaur Skeleton

1. Choose a fossil image: I found a dinosaur skeleton illustration online and saved it as a PDF.

2. Print it poster-style: I enlarged it and printed it across multiple pages (poster format), then taped them together to use as our layout guide.

3. Shape the bones: Using the salt dough, we shaped individual bones to match the picture.

4. Dry: We left them out to air dry for 2 days in the sun, though baking is an option.

5. Reassemble: Once dry, we laid the pieces out on the lawn and had the kids try to reassemble the dinosaur like a puzzle!

This part was challenging but so rewarding. It gave them a taste of what it’s like to be a real fossil hunter.

Extend the Learning with Books

Here are some excellent books to pair with this activity:

• Digging Up Dinosaurs by Aliki

• Fossils Tell of Long Ago by Aliki

• Oh Say Can You Say Dinosaur? by Bonnie Worth

• Dinosaur Bones by Bob Barner

These books help explain fossils, paleontology, and dinosaur history in a way that’s fun and easy to understand.

Educational Benefits of Making Dinosaur Fossils

This fossil-making activity blends science, sensory play, and art—all while developing fine motor skills and sparking curiosity.

Children learn:

• What fossils are and how they form

• The difference between bones and fossil replicas

• How paleontologists use evidence to reconstruct the past

• Observation and puzzle-solving skills

It’s a perfect way to bring science to life!

Want to keep the dinosaur fun going? Check out our Letter D Activities, or make a dinosaur dig sensory bin to go with your new fossils!