Discover the Fascinating World of Fossils with Six Cross-Curricular Activities
Transform your Year 3 Science lessons with this comprehensive resource featuring six engaging activities that explore fossils, prehistoric life, and paleontology through hands-on investigation, art, and historical exploration.
Six Complete Activities Included:
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Identifying Fossils: Become fossil detectives! Examine different types of fossils including ammonites, trilobites, and dinosaur bones, learning to identify and classify fossils while understanding what they reveal about prehistoric life
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Comparing Fossil Models: Investigate how fossils form and what they preserve! Compare different fossil types including body fossils, trace fossils, and mold and cast fossils, understanding the fossilization process and what different fossils tell us
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Creating A Cast Fossil: Make your own fossils using plaster of Paris! Create molds and casts that replicate the fossilization process, developing hands-on understanding of how fossils form and preserve ancient life
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Measuring Dinosaurs: Explore the incredible size of prehistoric creatures! Use measurement and scale to understand how big dinosaurs really were, comparing their sizes to familiar objects and developing measurement skills alongside paleontological knowledge
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Mary Anning Timeline: Discover the remarkable life of pioneering fossil hunter Mary Anning! Create a timeline of her discoveries and achievements, learning about this incredible woman who changed our understanding of prehistoric life despite facing enormous challenges
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Coprolite Model: Investigate fossilized dinosaur poo! Create coprolite (fossilized feces) models and explore what these unusual fossils reveal about dinosaur diets and behavior—making paleontology fun and memorable
Why Teachers Choose This Resource:
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Cross-Curricular Excellence: Seamlessly combines Science (rocks and fossils), History (Mary Anning), Maths (measurement), and Art & Design
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Curriculum-Aligned: Fully supports Year 3 Science objectives for rocks and fossils in the National Curriculum
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Hands-On Learning: Practical activities including fossil making that make paleontology tangible and exciting
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Ready to Use: Complete lesson plans with learning objectives, equipment lists, and step-by-step instructions
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Engaging Content: Dinosaurs and fossils naturally capture children's imagination and enthusiasm
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Develops Multiple Skills: Builds scientific knowledge, historical understanding, measurement skills, and artistic abilities
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Inspirational Role Model: Introduces Mary Anning as a pioneering female scientist
Perfect For:
- Year 3 Science lessons on rocks and fossils
- Key Stage 2 geology and paleontology teaching
- Cross-curricular prehistoric life topic work
- Homeschool science curriculum
- Building understanding of Earth's history and evolution
- Developing scientific enquiry and observation skills
Learning Outcomes:
Through these activities, children will describe in simple terms how fossils are formed when things that have lived are trapped within rock, understand what fossils tell us about prehistoric life, identify and classify different types of fossils, explore the fossilization process through practical model-making, develop measurement and scale understanding, and learn about Mary Anning's contributions to paleontology.
What Makes This Resource Special:
Fossils are windows into Earth's incredible past, and children find them endlessly fascinating. These activities harness that natural interest, helping children understand not just what fossils are, but how they form, what they reveal, and how scientists like Mary Anning used them to unlock secrets of prehistoric life. The hands-on fossil making makes abstract geological processes concrete and memorable.
Building Scientific Understanding:
Understanding fossils helps children grasp deep time, evolution, and how we know about the past. By creating their own cast fossils and examining real fossil types, children develop genuine understanding of fossilization processes and the scientific methods paleontologists use to study ancient life—building both knowledge and scientific thinking skills.
Inspiring Through Mary Anning:
Mary Anning's story is remarkable—a working-class woman who became one of the most important paleontologists in history despite facing enormous barriers. By learning about her discoveries and determination, children understand that science is for everyone and that persistence and curiosity can overcome obstacles—an inspiring message for all young scientists.
Bring fossils to life! These engaging activities help Year 3 students discover the fascinating world of paleontology through hands-on exploration that combines science, history, maths, and art—building knowledge, curiosity, and enthusiasm for Earth's incredible prehistoric past.
