How to Make a Fossil Kit

Gather fossils. You can get simple fossils like sharks teeth or trilobites at science stores, rock stores and online sources and can often find odd dinosaur bones, ammonites and fossilized plants at shops such as The Discovery Store or on eBay. Depending on the age of the kit recipient, you can include many inexpensive fossils to enhance the fun. For an older person you can include a larger more impressive collection of fossils.

Include sand. Sand gives the user the feel and idea of digging for fossils like a real paleontologist might. Lay the fossils into a wooden box and then cover with sand so that little fossil diggers can excavate the fossils.

Present the tools of the trade. A medium-size paint brush, a small magnifying glass, and a dental pick are terrific tools for your fossil kit. They are inexpensive and can aide in the real fossil digs your gift recipient may venture into. Dental picks can be bought at flea markets or online and brushes and magnifying glasses can be bought at hobby shops.

Include printed materials. Research the types of fossils you are including in the kit and print information that is age-appropriate for the fossil kit recipient. Print it into a booklet form (see your desktop software instructions on how to make a booklet) and include some drawings of what the plants and animals looked like in life. For smaller children include some coloring-book pages of dinosaurs and prehistoric fish.

Put it all in a wooden crate-style box. Pick up a wooden crate-style box at a hobby shop. The rough-hewn box provides a neat presentation and allows the recipient to safely store his fossils and tools for years to come.