DIY Dinosaur Egg Fossil Dig

This DIY Dinosaur Egg Fossil Dig is a fun boredom-buster and could be a great birthday party activity. It uses simple ingredients you already have in your kitchen. Low-cost and high-fun-factor — your kids will LOVE this.  Here’s how to do a DIY Dinosaur Egg Fossil Dig…

Think of this DIY Dinosaur Egg Fossil Dig for play dates, birthday parties, boredom busters, school break activities, and even vacations (yes, you could do it at the cottage).

There is a 2-activity-in-1 factor because you make the eggs one day (leave them overnight to dry) and then crack into them the next day. So you could either do the making as a parent-only activity and surprise the kids the next day OR have kids make the eggs and then break the eggs. The 1st situation would be advisable for birthday parties or play dates where you might want to make a bunch  quickly. The 2nd situation is advisable for any other time — because the texture of the wet “plaster” is pretty fun.

You could also make a bunch of these with some food colouring and call them rocks and boulders for a construction birthday party theme activity.

DIY Dinosaur Egg Fossil Dig

You will need:

• one box of baking soda (8oz/227 g)
• 1/4 cup water
• bowl
• spoon
• small dinosaur figures (I had mini dinosaur skeletons)
• baking sheet
• white vinegar (optional)

This “recipe” made 8 small dinosaur fossil eggs for our dig. Double or triple the “recipe” as necessary.

1. Empty baking soda box into bowl.
2. Slowly add water and mix together with baking soda using spoon. Don’t put it all in at once. A bit at a time until you create a “plaster” like substance.
3. Put baking sheet beside bowl.
4. Take a small amount of the baking soda/water plaster and shape an egg around a dinosaur figure.  The plaster should cover your dinosaur.
5. Once covered place your dinosaur egg on the baking sheet to dry. You will see in pictures I laid wax paper on top of the baking sheet (I was worried it would make a mess — but I’m happy to report – no mess made and you do not need wax paper).
6. Repeat covering all your dinosaurs with the baking soda/water plaster.
7. Leave all dinosaur eggs to dry over night.
8. The next day you can crack your eggs! I kept ours on the baking sheet (to contain the bits). We used a wooden mallet for tapping and a paint brush for sweeping. We also had a mini magnifying glass to use (just like paleontologists). Allow the kids to discover their fossils, name them, point out features etc…

OPTIONAL: once all the dinosaur fossils are dug up – you will have a mound of baking soda left over. We poured vinegar over top to enjoy the volcanic fizz experience afterwards.

CLEAN UP: The dinosaurs I just rinsed with water. Then, I put the baking soda/vinegar mixture into my kitchen sink; cleaning my sink with my sponge. As I usually use baking soda/vinegar for my sink — I thought — well, these egg fossils do double duty…it’s a boredom buster AND a sink cleaner solution!

RELATED: 65 INDOOR ACTIVITY IDEAS FOR KIDS

SHARE: Do you know a child who would like to do a DIY Dinosaur Egg Fossil Dig?

Read my books Boredom Busters and More Boredom Busters for more activity ideas (available at public libraries, school libraries, and major book sellers)