For this project I had students bring a small textured object to their art lesson (i.e an interesting leaf, shell etc). I then gave each child a small disposable plastic bowl with some dry Plaster of Paris in the bottom and went from one child to the next adding the correct amount of water to the mixture. Each child stirred the plaster to get it smooth. Once it was the right consistency, the students needed to place their object lightly into the plaster so it was half in half out.
The next day I popped the plaster pieces from their bowls and carefully removed the embedded objects. I also sanded the edges of each plaster disc so it was smooth and round.
When the students came in they applied two coats of paint to their fossil to make it appear aged. They firstly applied a brown undercoat and when dry, a small amount of white paint was dabbed on over the top in a dry brush manner.
I have made fossils with grade ones before as part of a dinosaur themed
unit. I do like the ones I had done previously with objects cast in plaster
(see them HERE) However, they were quite tricky. Then I saw this simple but effective fossil idea from Gail at That Artist Woman.
I had the students create a small flat disc from terracotta clay (like a
biscuit or a cookie). We used plastic dinosaurs as well as plastic
trees to make imprints in clay. After firing I had each child add a
small amount of white paint using a sponge roller, just to bring out the
texture details a little more.
