When we hosted the Dinotopia exhibit (James Gurney the artist) we did a
hands-on activity in which the child visitor could take air hardening
clay and press it into a rubber mold of a fossil.  With Dinotopia we
stuck to items like a T-Rex claw and other very small fossilized items.
We actually asked for a $1 donation to do this and it went over very
well.  We popped the clay out of the mold and placed it into a paper bag
and gave it back to the visitor to carry about while it dried.  Ran it
all with volunteer help.

We cast the molds off of commercially available fossil replicas.  This
was over 10 years ago so product-brand names have changed and I will not
get into brand names to use.  I am sure a fast check with any art or
craft supplier will get you fast, clean, non-toxic things to use.

FYI Dinotopia is now 20 years old as a publication and exhibit is still
touring.

______________________
 
Mike Breza
Assistant Director
Oshkosh Public Museum
(920) 236-5765
www.oshkoshmuseum.org
 

-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Richard Fields
Sent: Wednesday, January 25, 2012 6:55 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [MUSEUM-L] Fossil projects

Does anyone have a source for how to make fossil kits for a kids
project. We need to create an activity for kids per-K to 6th grade. I am
thinking of being able to have kids scrape away the surface to uncover
pretend fossils. Thanks in advance.
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