Preview draft. Activities have not been tested with caregivers.
Science · The activity desk
Pretend fossil discovery
Uncover a toy and imagine finding a fossil.
Let's play →
A little plan for play
Open interactive activity →Add to play journal →What you need
A large child-appropriate dinosaur toy and a small towel; paper and a large child-appropriate crayon are optional.
Age: 3–5 years; choose for the individual child.
Let's make it happen
- Place the toy on a clear table and loosely cover it with the towel.
- Invite your child to lift a corner and uncover the toy. Notice its shape and any details together.
- Explain that paleontologists study fossils, including preserved remains and traces from long ago. Draw a picture of your pretend discovery if you wish.
Adult chooses a toy too large to fit in the child's mouth, stays beside the child, and keeps the towel away from the face. The toy is a pretend fossil, not a real one.