Research a living fossil - Fun at-home activities for Kids.

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Research a living fossil

Choose a living fossil, research its history, habitat, and adaptations, then create a simple illustrated report to present your findings.

Table of contents

Step-by-step guide to research a living fossil

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Fossils for Kids | Learn all about how fossils are formed, the types of fossils and more!

What you need

Paper, coloring materials, pencil, eraser, ruler, scissors, glue stick, sticky notes, adult supervision required

Step 1

Choose a living fossil to research.

Step 2

Pick one reliable source to read such as a book webpage or encyclopedia.

Step 3

Read and write one sentence about the fossil's history on your paper.

Step 4

Read and write one sentence about the fossil's habitat on your paper.

Step 5

Read and write one sentence about the fossil's adaptations on your paper.

Step 6

Draw a simple picture of the fossil showing where it lives.

Step 7

Label two body parts or features on your drawing that help it survive.

Step 8

Make a short timeline of three events or time words about its history.

Step 9

Add a clear title and your name at the top of the report.

Step 10

Color and decorate your report to make it eye-catching.

Step 11

Use scissors and glue to attach any printed pictures or sticky notes onto the report.

Step 12

Practice explaining your report out loud in one minute.

Step 13

Share your finished creation on DIY.org.

Help!?

What can we use if we don't have a printer, scissors, glue, or sticky notes listed in the instructions?

If you don't have a printer, scissors, glue, or sticky notes, draw or photocopy pictures by hand, tear paper instead of cutting, use tape or a stapler instead of glue, and stick small folded paper notes onto the report.

What should we do if we can't find a reliable source or get stuck writing the one-sentence history, habitat, and adaptations?

Choose a trusted kid-friendly source like a library encyclopedia or a reputable webpage, highlight one clear fact about history, habitat, and adaptations, and then paraphrase each highlighted fact into the three required one-sentence entries on your paper.

How can we change the activity for younger children or make it more challenging for older students?

For younger kids, limit the work to one or two simple sentences with guided drawing and labeling, while older students can add citations, a more detailed three-event timeline with dates, and deeper adaptation explanations before decorating and sharing on DIY.org.

What are some ways to enhance or personalize the living fossil report beyond the basic instructions?

Make a habitat diorama or pop-up scene to show where it lives, compare it to an extinct relative on the timeline, add personalized decorations around the clear title and drawing, and record your one-minute explanation as a video to upload to DIY.org.

Watch videos on how to research a living fossil

0:00/0:00

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

What is a Fossil | Types of Fossils | How are Fossils formed | Educational video for Kids

4 Videos

Facts about fossils and paleontology

🐟 The coelacanth was thought extinct for about 66 million years until a living one was found in 1938.

🦀 Horseshoe crab blood is blue and is used by medicine-makers to test vaccines and medical devices for bacteria.

🌳 Ginkgo biloba is often called a living fossil because its leaf form has changed little in over 200 million years.

🐚 The chambered nautilus uses gas-filled shell chambers to adjust buoyancy—like a natural submarine.

🦎 The tuatara, native to New Zealand, has a light-sensitive 'third eye' (parietal eye) visible in hatchlings.

How do I guide my child to research a living fossil and make an illustrated report?

Guide your child by first picking a living fossil (e.g., horseshoe crab, coelacanth, ginkgo). Help them find reliable sources—children’s science books, museum websites, and library databases. Take notes on history, habitat, and key adaptations. Have the child sketch the organism and label features, then assemble a simple illustrated report with title, short paragraphs, captions, and a bibliography. Practice a 1–2 minute presentation together and encourage questions.

What materials do we need to research a living fossil and create the report?

You’ll need a few basic materials: age-appropriate books or printed articles from museums and universities, a notebook for notes, pencils, colored pencils or markers, plain paper or a stapled booklet, scissors, glue, and a ruler. A tablet or computer for supervised online research and printing is optional. Bring a library card for borrowable resources. Adult supervision is recommended when using the internet or cutting tools.

What ages is this living fossil research activity suitable for?

This activity is suitable for children roughly ages 6–14. Younger kids (6–8) will need more adult help with reading, note-taking, and safe web browsing; make tasks hands-on and short. Ages 9–11 can do more independent research with guidance and create fuller illustrated reports. Teens (12–14) can handle deeper sources, write more detailed explanations, and build digital presentations. Adapt complexity to each child’s reading and attention level.

What are the benefits, safety tips, and variations for a living fossil research project?

Benefits include improving research skills, science literacy, critical thinking, art and presentation confidence. Safety tips: supervise internet use, teach how to identify reliable sources, and assist with tools like scissors. Variations: turn findings into a diorama, timeline, comic strip, or short video; do a class or family presentation; compare two living fossils. For older kids, extend the project with a local field trip or interview with a museum educator.

Ready to create?

All Activities

Research a living fossil

Choose a living fossil, research its history, habitat, and adaptations, then create a simple illustrated report to present your findings.

Table of contents

Step-by-step guide to research a living fossil

0:00/0:00

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

Fossils for Kids | Learn all about how fossils are formed, the types of fossils and more!

What you need

Paper, coloring materials, pencil, eraser, ruler, scissors, glue stick, sticky notes, adult supervision required

Step 1

Choose a living fossil to research.

Step 2

Pick one reliable source to read such as a book webpage or encyclopedia.

Step 3

Read and write one sentence about the fossil's history on your paper.

Step 4

Read and write one sentence about the fossil's habitat on your paper.

Step 5

Read and write one sentence about the fossil's adaptations on your paper.

Step 6

Draw a simple picture of the fossil showing where it lives.

Step 7

Label two body parts or features on your drawing that help it survive.

Step 8

Make a short timeline of three events or time words about its history.

Step 9

Add a clear title and your name at the top of the report.

Step 10

Color and decorate your report to make it eye-catching.

Step 11

Use scissors and glue to attach any printed pictures or sticky notes onto the report.

Step 12

Practice explaining your report out loud in one minute.

Step 13

Share your finished creation on DIY.org.

Help!?

What can we use if we don't have a printer, scissors, glue, or sticky notes listed in the instructions?

What should we do if we can't find a reliable source or get stuck writing the one-sentence history, habitat, and adaptations?

How can we change the activity for younger children or make it more challenging for older students?

What are some ways to enhance or personalize the living fossil report beyond the basic instructions?

Watch videos on how to research a living fossil

0:00/0:00

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

What is a Fossil | Types of Fossils | How are Fossils formed | Educational video for Kids

4 Videos

Facts about fossils and paleontology

🐟 The coelacanth was thought extinct for about 66 million years until a living one was found in 1938.

🦀 Horseshoe crab blood is blue and is used by medicine-makers to test vaccines and medical devices for bacteria.

🌳 Ginkgo biloba is often called a living fossil because its leaf form has changed little in over 200 million years.

🐚 The chambered nautilus uses gas-filled shell chambers to adjust buoyancy—like a natural submarine.

🦎 The tuatara, native to New Zealand, has a light-sensitive 'third eye' (parietal eye) visible in hatchlings.