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Judith River Dinosaur Institute: Billings, Montana. For ages 12 and older, $1,695 for a one week dig. Tate Geological Museum at Casper College: Casper, Wyoming. For ages 16 and older (16 and 17 ...
- Overview
- What exactly is a fossil?
- How to get started
- On the hunt
- Going beyond fossil hunting
Dinosaur digs and other searches can be epic adventures. Here’s what you need to know to turn children into amateur paleontologists.
There’s just something about dinosaurs. They’re big, mysterious, and long gone—mostly. “Paleontology is a bit like piecing together this puzzle of the past,” says Kristen Olson, senior coordinator of curriculum and content at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. “It’s a little bit mysterious and relies so much on discovery.”
Take heart, parents: You don’t need to know it all before you begin. Still, a bit of knowledge will set you off on the right track—and make you seem like a genius to your children.
Basically, a fossil is the remnant of ancient life. “They’re the remains of an extinct plant or animal or some trace of their behavior, like a footprint or fossilized poop,” explains paleontologist Scott Sampson, director of the California Academy of Sciences and author of the Nat Geo Kids book You Can Be a Paleontologist!
Body fossils are the actual remains of the creature, like bones; trace fossils are signs of the creature, like imprints of feathers. The basic formula for creating a fossil goes something like this: a living thing dies, the soft parts decay, sedimentary rock builds on top of what’s left, and water seeps into the bones and teeth to turn it to stone. Sometimes, water dissolves the bone or shell and leaves an imprint on the rock.
Left: Actual remains of a creature, like this bat petrified in limestone displayed at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, is called a body fossil.
Photograph by Roberto Machado Noa / LightRocket via Getty Images
Right: Imprints of once-living things, like this leaf, are called trace fossils.
Dedicated gear is not only fuel for excitement, but it also adds seriousness to the expedition. Pack a backpack with a shovel, a small hammer or chisel, and brushes to excavate your finds. Bring a notebook, pencils, and a camera for documentation. Don’t forget sunscreen, snacks, a hat, and water since many fossil-friendly spots don’t offer much shade.
The best fossil spots vary by region, so it helps to do a bit of research ahead of time. “You’ve got to have sedimentary rocks [that is, rocks that were formed by deposits of sediment], and they’ve got to be exposed,” Sampson says.
Often, these are places where an ancient river flooded and then retreated into its channel, leaving behind layers of shale, sandstone, or limestone and, with it, fossils. To find nearby fossil-friendly spots, check out a geological survey or a paleogeographic map.
Look for places where rocks from long ago might be at the surface. Dirt-filled forests or newly landscaped locations will make your search more challenging. Deserts, quarries, or spaces where the earth has been split—like where roads have been cut into mountains or in cliffs along rivers—are great spots.
Children have a natural advantage when it comes to amateur fossil hunting: They’re closer to the ground, have better eyesight, and are curious about their surroundings. “Kids are just natural scientists,” says Ilana April, senior manager of early childhood education at the American Museum of Natural History. “They’re born with a curiosity about the world around them.”
Of course, the chance of a child stumbling across a gigantic dinosaur skull is very, very small. In fact, because so many types of fossils exist, it’s hard for experts to describe what exactly to look for. That’s why April suggests that kids start their search simply by looking slowly and carefully along the ground. “The most important tool scientists have might be their eyes,” April says.
Then, stay on the lookout for interesting designs, patterns, and textures. “I look for symmetry,” says Paul Mayer, paleontologist and collections manager for fossil invertebrates at Chicago’s Field Museum, “You want to train your eye to look for nice lines.”
For example, many shell fossils will have bilateral symmetry, so the left will be a mirror image of the right. Other times, texture will be the key.
Left: When searching for fossils, kids should look for patterns and texture in rocks, like the ones from this shell.
Photograph by Chris Griffiths / Getty Images
Discovering the world of dinosaurs and ancient living things isn’t just about digging. Here are five other activities to connect with the past.
Track living dinosaurs. Blow your kids’ minds by tossing out this fact: Dinosaurs exist today as birds. Take your kids bird-watching and see if they can find similarities between the dinosaurs in their books and the ones in the trees.
Search for ancient plants. “Certain species of plants that grow today were also around during the Ice Age and eaten by giant sloths and mammoths,” Olson says. Look for trees like Osage orange, honey locusts, magnolias, avocados, and even ferns, then imagine what creatures might have been chowing down on them millions of years ago.
Find fossils of the future. Insects still get stuck in tree sap, under a rock, or inside tar (even if it’s just on your driveway). Have kids search for fossils-in-the-making to compare with ancient versions.
Create a fossil record. If your kid’s find is in a protected space—or you just don’t want a bunch of rocks cluttering up the house—create a memento with an old-school rubbing technique. Hold paper against the unique portion of the rock and rub against the section with a crayon, marking what is raised. (Even if they don’t find a fossil, doing this activity with things like tree bark, leaves, or textured stone is still a great way to capture an adventure.)
Trace nature’s patterns. Paleontologists use fossil finds to understand the behavior of ancient living things. Have kids use their own investigative skills—and a bit of creativity—to follow clues that today’s creatures might leave behind. For example, broken acorns could mean a nearby squirrel’s nest—or nearby poop.
- Lindsay N. Smith
On the hunt. Children have a natural advantage when it comes to amateur fossil hunting: they’re closer to the ground, have better eyesight, and are curious about their surroundings. “Kids are just natural scientists,” says Ilana April, senior manager of early childhood education at the American Museum of Natural History.
With its breathtaking replicas and immersive environment, Dinos Alive is an experience loved by dino fans of all ages. Kids will also be able to enjoy their very own “Budding Experts” interactive space, where they can become paleontologists and even tame some of the most iconic dinosaurs. Children and grown-ups alike will learn all about ...
Aug 12, 2024 · Paleontologists now agree that many if not all dinosaurs maintained constant high body temperatures, just like birds and mammals do today. Feathers kept them warm. Birdlike dinosaurs did not make ...
Jan 27, 2022 · There are steps you can take to ensure that your dinosaur discovery ends up in good hands, and there are also federal and local laws that regulate fossil resources here in the United States. The first thing you should do when you find a fossil bone is to leave it alone! By picking up a fossil and removing it from its original context, you may ...
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Put two dinosaurs in perspective with this drawing activity. Educator Materials Functions of Feathers In this classroom activity, students will learn about the different types of feathers and their functions. Educator Materials Flesh Out a Fossil Discover how artists bring dinosaur skeletons to life with skin, feathers, and other features.
