Search page
Different discoveries are hidden among sand and rock in this fossil hunt. Children search for a skull, bone, tooth, egg, shell, and footprint, then consider what stories those objects might preserve.
Ready to play
Some activities also include a short guide with background information for grown-ups.
At a glance
Printer, paper, pencil, and optionally a brush or magnifying glass
Ideas for this printable
Name every target shape together so the child knows what to look for in the larger picture.
Begin at the top left and move across the picture row by row instead of letting the eyes jump randomly.
Group the objects into body remains, traces, and other ancient remains such as shells.
What children practise
Search pages develop visual attention and the ability to examine a complex area systematically. Sorting the discoveries shows children that fossils are not limited to large dinosaur bones and that different evidence preserves different information.
A dinosaur fact to share
A fossil may be a mineralized body remain such as a bone or tooth. Footprints, burrows, and other activities can survive as trace fossils. Not every ancient bone belonged to a dinosaur, and not every fossil is a bone.
Good to know
The targets appear as small symbols on the page. If needed, search together in a fixed order from one side of the picture to the other.
Yes. Fossil shells can help scientists understand ancient habitats and the ages and environments of rock layers.
