Make Your Own: Dinosaur Fossils

These rock-like relics are sure to bring out your inner palaeontologist. Not only are they fun and tactile to make, but the outcome is really impressive! You can create whatever you like: a fossilised dinosaur, shell or plant!

What you need:

• Modelling clay
• Plaster of Paris
• Toy dinosaur or chosen animal/plant
• Cup (one you don’t mind getting dirty)
• Stirrer
• Water
• Coffee
• Paintbrush

What to do:

Step 1: Make a circle out of your clay, saving around a third of it.

Step 2: Gently press the area of your dinosaur that you want to focus on. Usually, the head looks best. Remove the toy.

Step 3: Use your remaining clay to create a circular wall around your dinosaur print. It should look like a little bowl.

Step 4: Prepare the plaster of Paris in your cup, following its instructions. Typically, you mix three parts of powder to every two parts of water. Give it a good stir.

Step 5: Pour the plaster of Paris mixture into the centre of the fossil. Don’t fill it any higher than your wall. Wait at least two hours for it to dry.

Step 6: Gently peel away the clay from the sides and front of the fossil. Leave to dry for another 12 hours. Don’t worry if you still have some clay stuck to the fossil – it will easily come off when dry.

Step 7: Once dry, use the end of a paintbrush to gently scrape away any clay.

Step 8: With the help of an adult, make a small amount of coffee. Use this to paint your fossil. This will make it look ancient and made from real rock. Ta-da! Your fossil is complete!