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A Fossil Find

Here's how you can make your very own imprint fossil.

Materials

Plaster of Paris
Water
A small container
A pile of sand
A leaf with lots of texture
Cooking oil spray

What to do

Make a little well in the pile of sand - just big enough to fit the leaf.
Spray the leaf with some cooking oil so it doesn't stick to the plaster.
Place the leaf in the well with the textured side facing up.
In the small container, add 3 parts of plaster to 2 parts of water and mix it thoroughly. You may need to ask an adult to help you with the measurements.
Pour the plaster on top of the leaf until it is fully covered.
Leave the plaster to dry and harden, approximately one to two hours.
Dig out the plaster and carefully peel off the leaf to reveal your very own fossil leaf imprint.

Why

Imprint fossils are formed when things like animals, insects or plants are covered with sand or mud and left for thousands or even millions of years. Over time, the heat and pressure of the sand or mud harden the ground around it and as the animal, insect or plant dissolve away a hollow imprint remains.