Across the country, you can find all different kinds of fossils, from dinosaurs to ferns, using different hunting techniques. From the volcanic shale beds in Washington to the coal-mining quarries of Illinois and the limestone caves of Alabama, fossils mean fun for you and your kids. Learn how fossils form, and how to interpret the clues that plants and animals have left behind from millions of years ago. Paleontologists study two types of fossils. When most people think of fossils, they imagine petrified fossils , which are actual remnants of living organisms, such as bones and teeth.
Trace fossils are the other type.
A good fossil is hard to find Petrified fossils are formed when bones are preserved underground and eventually are replaced by rock and mineral. Observing traces in nature Head out to a local park where you can find uncovered mud or dirt. Pick a patch of dirt to study with your child. You and your child can find traces of humans, animals and plants. In a hole about 6 inches deep, have your child bury three of the bones, one of each type.