Science Year 3
Session F
Fossils
Working
scientifically
Resources
needed
Chemistry Strand: Rocks
Programme of study: Describe in simple terms how fossils are formed when things that have
lived are trapped within rock
Record findings using simple scientific language and drawings
Set up simple practical enquiries
Examples of fossils if available. Plasticine, thin card, masking tape, Alginate (safe Plaster of Paris
substitute), paints &/or varnish, paintbrushes, objects to create moulds to make fossils, e.g. small
bones, shells, leaves, etc. Access to internet.
Whole class teaching:
Ask if chn know what a fossil is. Has anyone seen any or actually got any examples at home? Perhaps chn have a home
built out of rocks that contain fossils or they have been hunting for fossils on holiday. Show some examples of fossils if
available or pictures of fossils in session resources.
Explain how fossils are formed in sedimentary rocks. Various websites have a series of diagrams showing this process,
e.g. http://www.discoveringfossils.co.uk/whatisafossil.htm, http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/earth/fossils/fossilfolklore/how_are_fossils.htm, http://www.oum.ox.ac.uk/thezone/fossils/intro/form.htm,
http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/fossils (scroll down the page), or watch a video clip at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEDfRy6DQns or read Monster Stones: The Story of a Dinosaur Fossil by Jacquie
Bailey & Matthew Lilly.
Not all plants or animals that die become fossils. The best conditions for fossilisation are: a. the quick burial of animal
remains in moist sediments. This prevents scavengers from eating and bacteria from decaying them; b. the quick
burial in volcanic ash; c. the presence of hard body or plant parts, e.g. teeth, bones, shell & wood; d. unchanging
temperature conditions; e. ground water that is heavily mineralised; f. sediments that are very fine make a better
burial than coarser gravels; g. calm conditions, so that remains are not broken up (by wave or current action for
example). Try out different environments at
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sn/prehistoric_life/dinosaurs/burying_bodies/burial/index.shtml.
Group activities:
Adult-led activity:
Use plasticine and Alginate to create model ‘fossils’. Show chn how to do this following the instructions in the session
resource. Individuals, pairs or small groups could each make a ‘fossil’.
Individual activity:
Use information books and the internet to find out more about fossils. Draw a cartoon strip (session resources –
choose 6 or 8 pictures) to show how they are formed.
Individual activity:
Put the diagrams (session resource) showing how a fossil is formed into the correct order, stick them on a sheet of
paper & add labels or captions.
Plenary:
Recap on the different formation of igneous & sedimentary rocks. Look at the fossil models once they have dried.
Explain that fossils can help us to understand how plants and animals have developed over thousands of years – chn
will find out more about this in Year 4. Prepare a soil sample for session G – put some soil in a jam jar (or clay soil,
loam soil & sandy soil in 3 separate jam jars) of water and mix thoroughly. Stand in a safe place where contents can
settle without disturbance.
I can:
1. Describe how a fossil is formed.
2. Realise that not all animals and plants that die become fossils.
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