Micro-Fossil Dig Box Lab | DIY Paleontology
Micro-Fossil Dig Box Lab
Build a small “dig site,” excavate hidden finds, and sort them like a field scientist.
Hide 15 Finds Sort & Count
What You Need
- 1 small bin or tray
- Sand, rice, or dry beans for the “dig layer”
- 15 small hidden items total
- Safe tools: spoon, small brush, plastic rake, or craft stick
- 3 small bowls for sorting
Hidden items can be safe shells, small fossil teeth, tumbled stones, beads, or mini “mystery” objects.
Safety
- Adults handle sharp teeth or fragile pieces.
- Wash hands after the lab.
- Keep small objects away from toddlers.
Required Action Steps
- Choose 15 small items to hide.
- Create three categories for sorting: Tooth, Shell, Mystery.
- Hide all 15 items in your dig layer inside the bin.
- Excavate carefully until you recover every item.
- Place each find into the correct sorting bowl.
- Count how many items are in each category.
- Check your counts add up to 15 total.