Making Dinosaur Fossils!

I was invited as one of the four judges at a Science Fair Project competition at an elementary school. I had fun looking at all the projects and admiring the work and efforts that the students (and their parents) put into their work.

Dinosaurs Project Done by Junior Kindergarten Students

What I really enjoyed looking at when I was at the Science Fair competition was the group projects which the kindergarten students did with with their teachers.


The one project that I really like was the dinosaurs project in which the teacher  talked about the various types of dinosaurs - carnivores or herbivores and then had the students made some fossils from some easy to find everyday recycled material.


It was evident that the kindergarten students really enjoyed making these dinosaurs fossils and they proudly showed and explained to the judges what they did with their teacher.

I immediately asked the teacher for the recipe as I regularly give workshops to teachers who are always looking for excellent hands on activities for their students.

Dinosaurs Fossils Made from used Coffee Grind

Here is the recipe for making little fossils with kids:

1 1/2 cup flour
1 cup used coffee grind
1/2  cup cold coffee - any left over coffee will do
1/2 cup salt

Mix all the ingredients together. Press small  plastic animal in dough.
Remove the plastic animal and let dough dry overnight.

Enjoy this great activity with the children!

R.T.
Toronto
p.s. If you live close by a Starbuck Coffee cafe, you can ask them for coffee grind. They have a store policy for giving out coffee grind to local residents who may use it as fertilizer.