Fantastic Fossils!

Sand Cast Fossils

The second grade classes were studying fossils.  We made our own "fossils" by making leaf and shell impressions in sand and then pouring plaster into the imprints.   When the plaster hardened the students "excavated" their fossils by cleaning off the extra sand with brushes.

Colorful Abstract Fossils

Fossils make great abstracts!  We looked for the elements of art in pictures of fossils and then made several sketches looking closely at the lines and shapes.  The object wasn't to copy the picture exactly but to use the lines and shapes they observed to make an abstract drawing inspired by the fossils.  Each student chose one drawing to trace onto a neutral dark paper and then outlined the pencil lines with black glue.   The following week pastels were used to fill the entire paper with brightly colored patterns.  They turned out to be quite beautiful!

Sketch fossil lines and shapes

Transfer drawings to pastel paper

Outline with black glue

Fill in shapes with colorful pastel patterns