Epic Art - Fossils and More - Fun at-home activities for Kids.

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Epic Art - Fossils and More

Make clay and salt-dough fossil imprints, paint and label them, then arrange an imaginative display to explore basic paleontology and artistic techniques.

Table of contents

Step-by-step guide to Epic Art - Fossils and More

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How Were Fossils Made #education || Kidslearning || Animationvideo

What you need

All-purpose flour, table salt, warm water, cooking oil (optional), air-dry clay, paints, paintbrushes, rolling pin or bottle, parchment paper or baking sheet, mixing bowl and spoon, found objects like leaves shells small toys or coins, small paper strips, tape or glue, shoebox or tray for display, adult supervision required

Step 1

Gather all your materials and set them on a clean table so your workspace is ready.

Step 2

Make salt dough by mixing 2 cups flour 1 cup salt 1 cup warm water and 1 tablespoon cooking oil in a bowl until a dough forms.

Step 3

Knead the salt dough on a clean surface for 3 to 5 minutes until it feels smooth and stretchy.

Step 4

Divide the dough into small portions and place each portion on a sheet of parchment paper.

Step 5

Flatten each dough portion to about 1 cm thick with a rolling pin or an empty bottle.

Step 6

Press found objects like leaves shells or small toys into each flattened piece to make fossil imprints.

Step 7

Pinch off a piece of air-dry clay and flatten it into a disc about 1 cm thick.

Step 8

Press other found objects into the clay discs to make different fossil impressions.

Step 9

Ask an adult to preheat the oven to 250°F (120°C).

Step 10

With an adult bake the salt-dough fossils at 250°F (120°C) until they are hard about 2 hours then let them cool.

Step 11

Leave the air-dry clay fossils to harden completely following the package drying time.

Step 12

Paint each dried fossil with your chosen colors and let the paint dry fully.

Step 13

Write short labels for each fossil on small paper strips such as a name or pretend species.

Step 14

Tape or glue the labels next to each fossil and arrange all fossils and labels inside a shoebox or on a tray to create your imaginative display.

Step 15

Share your finished creation on DIY.org

Help!?

What can we use if we don't have parchment paper or air-dry clay?

Use wax paper or a lightly oiled clean surface instead of parchment paper, and if you don't have air-dry clay make extra salt-dough discs (flattened to about 1 cm) and either bake them with the other fossils or let them dry slowly to achieve similar fossil impressions.

My imprints look faint or the dough is sticky—how do I fix that?

If the salt-dough is sticky while kneading, sprinkle in extra flour a tablespoon at a time, and if impressions from leaves, shells, or toys are faint press the found objects more firmly into the 1 cm-thick dough before baking or use a toothpick to deepen details.

How can I adapt this activity for different ages?

For younger kids have an adult pre-measure the 2 cups flour/1 cup salt mix, let them press leaves into the flattened dough on parchment paper and skip oven baking by air-drying extra salt-dough, while older kids can knead independently, handle the 250°F oven with supervision, and paint detailed labels and fossils.

What are some ways to enhance or personalize our fossil display?

After painting each dried fossil, varnish or mod-podge them for durability, create laminated species labels, glue natural materials into the shoebox background, and arrange the labeled fossils with small LED lights for a museum-style display.

Watch videos on how to Epic Art - Fossils and More

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Here at SafeTube, we're on a mission to create a safer and more delightful internet. 😊

Fun Facts about Fossils | Interactive | Learn about what fossils are and how they form

4 Videos

Facts about fossils and paleontology

🦕 Some fossils are actual bones or shells, but others are impressions or trace fossils like footprints and burrows.

🧪 Paleontology uses both science and art — scientists carefully dig, clean, and sometimes reconstruct fossils like a big jigsaw puzzle.

🧑‍🔬 Mary Anning found important Jurassic marine fossils (including ichthyosaurs and plesiosaurs) along the English coast when she was a child.

🥣 Salt-dough fossils are easy to make at home from flour, salt, and water and can be baked to keep impressions for years.

🖌️ When preparing fossils (real or clay replicas), paleontologists and artists use soft brushes and fine tools to protect tiny details.

How do I make fossil imprints with clay and salt dough?

Start by making salt dough (2 cups flour, 1 cup salt, 1 cup water) or use air-dry clay. Roll a palm-sized disk, press leaves, shells, toy fossils, or textured objects gently to create an imprint, then lift items away. Make a hole for hanging or flatten bases for display. Bake salt dough at low temperature (or air-dry clay) until hard, sand edges if needed, then paint, label with name and date, and arrange on a display board or shadow box.

What materials do I need for Epic Art - Fossils and More?

You’ll need flour, salt, and water for salt dough or air-dry clay; a rolling pin; leaves, shells, small plastic dinosaurs or carving tools for textures; cookie cutters or molds; baking tray (for oven drying) or drying rack; acrylic paints, brushes, and markers for labels; glue, string, or hot glue for displays; cardstock or shadow box for arranging; and a clear sealant. Optional: sandpaper, varnish, and safety aprons and gloves.

What ages is this fossil-making activity suitable for?

This activity suits toddlers through teens with supervision and adaptations. Ages 3–5 enjoy simple pressing with pre-made dough and adult help; ages 5–8 can press, paint, and label with guidance; ages 9–14 can research fossil names, create detailed displays, and try plaster casts. Always supervise young children with small objects and oven use, and adjust tools to limit sharp edges for younger kids.

What are the benefits and fun variations for the fossil imprint activity?

Making fossil imprints develops fine motor skills, observation, creativity, and introduces basic paleontology vocabulary. It encourages storytelling and scientific labeling. Variations include coloring dough before pressing; making plaster casts from impressions; creating themed displays (marine, dinosaur, plant); combining with rubbings or a discovery journal; or turning pieces into magnets or jewelry. Always use non-toxic materials and supervise baking or small parts for safety.

Ready to create?

All Activities

Epic Art - Fossils and More

Make clay and salt-dough fossil imprints, paint and label them, then arrange an imaginative display to explore basic paleontology and artistic techniques.

Table of contents

Step-by-step guide to Epic Art - Fossils and More

0:00/0:00

Here at SafeTube, we're on a mission to create a safer and more delightful internet. 😊

How Were Fossils Made #education || Kidslearning || Animationvideo

What you need

Step 1

Gather all your materials and set them on a clean table so your workspace is ready.

Step 2

Make salt dough by mixing 2 cups flour 1 cup salt 1 cup warm water and 1 tablespoon cooking oil in a bowl until a dough forms.

Step 3

Knead the salt dough on a clean surface for 3 to 5 minutes until it feels smooth and stretchy.

Step 4

Divide the dough into small portions and place each portion on a sheet of parchment paper.

Step 5

Flatten each dough portion to about 1 cm thick with a rolling pin or an empty bottle.

Step 6

Press found objects like leaves shells or small toys into each flattened piece to make fossil imprints.

Step 7

Pinch off a piece of air-dry clay and flatten it into a disc about 1 cm thick.

Step 8

Press other found objects into the clay discs to make different fossil impressions.

Step 9

Ask an adult to preheat the oven to 250°F (120°C).

Step 10

With an adult bake the salt-dough fossils at 250°F (120°C) until they are hard about 2 hours then let them cool.

Step 11

Leave the air-dry clay fossils to harden completely following the package drying time.

Step 12

Paint each dried fossil with your chosen colors and let the paint dry fully.

Step 13

Write short labels for each fossil on small paper strips such as a name or pretend species.

Step 14

Tape or glue the labels next to each fossil and arrange all fossils and labels inside a shoebox or on a tray to create your imaginative display.

Step 15

Share your finished creation on DIY.org

Help!?

What can we use if we don't have parchment paper or air-dry clay?

My imprints look faint or the dough is sticky—how do I fix that?

How can I adapt this activity for different ages?

What are some ways to enhance or personalize our fossil display?

Watch videos on how to Epic Art - Fossils and More

0:00/0:00

Here at SafeTube, we're on a mission to create a safer and more delightful internet. 😊

Fun Facts about Fossils | Interactive | Learn about what fossils are and how they form

4 Videos

Facts about fossils and paleontology

🦕 Some fossils are actual bones or shells, but others are impressions or trace fossils like footprints and burrows.

🧪 Paleontology uses both science and art — scientists carefully dig, clean, and sometimes reconstruct fossils like a big jigsaw puzzle.

🧑‍🔬 Mary Anning found important Jurassic marine fossils (including ichthyosaurs and plesiosaurs) along the English coast when she was a child.

🥣 Salt-dough fossils are easy to make at home from flour, salt, and water and can be baked to keep impressions for years.

🖌️ When preparing fossils (real or clay replicas), paleontologists and artists use soft brushes and fine tools to protect tiny details.