But not all fossils are remnants of fierce monsters. In fact, most fossils are so small you could dig them up yourself. Discovering the ancient plant and animal life preserved in stone teaches kids that the earth's history is not just a model in a museum or a picture in a textbook. According to Sally Shelton of the San Diego Natural History Museum, the earlier kids become involved with fossils, the better. Supporting and challenging their natural curiosity about the world encourages a lifelong love of science.
Some kids never outgrow fossils.
Gilmore is now a collections manager for the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, and has been leading family fossil trips since 1984. His favorite stomping ground is Big Brook, a river well-known for its abundant fossilized Goblin Shark and Enchodus, or primitive salmon teeth. But Big Brook is also full of shiny brown and dark sea-green dinosaur teeth. In fact, the first dinosaur skeleton found anywhere in the world was discovered in Haddonfield, N.J. in 1858. Kids usually learn how to hunt for fossils a lot faster than adults, according to Gilmore.