DIY Fossil Excavation Activity

Original DIY Fossil Excavation Video (Click here)
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In celebration of OT month, OT Outdoors will send out activities throughout April that you may do with kiddos with explanations on the skills that are worked on.

Precautions - eating of non-food items
Ingredients:

• 2 cups cornflour
• 4 cups play sand
• ¾ cup water

Other materials:

• Container
• Utensils for digging
• Kid tools - hammer, wood stick, plier (optional)
• Toys/figurines/stones

Instruction:

1. In a container, mix together cornflour, play sand, and water .
2. Reserve about ⅓ of the mixture for later.
3. Press down gently on the mixture to remove air bubbles (pressing too hard could make it difficult to excavate)
4. Put in toys/figurines.
5. Bury toys/figurines with reserved mixture, press down again lightly.
6. Let it air dry for ~24 hours
7. Excavate when dry!

Whether you choose to have kiddos participate in part or all of the activity, they each have benefits from OT perspective. 

Let me explain how:

1. Measuring, scooping, and pouring ingredients work on fine motor coordination, visual motor integration, bilateral hand use, hand-eye coordination, and heavy work.
2. Mixing ingredients works on gross motor coordination, arm strength and endurance, arm range of motion, and using appropriate amount of pressure for the task (grading of movement). 
3. Putting toys in mixture could work on spacing, bilateral assist (stabilize with non-dominant hand), fine motor coordination (picking up and placing small objects) and address tactile sensitivity. 
4. Excavation of the objects work on arm strength and endurance, utensil/tool use, using appropriate amount of strength for the task (grading of strength), and play theme expansion.

If the activity is too easy or too hard - you may assist if needed, brainstorm with the kiddo what could help make it easier/harder, or even change up the tools to make it the ‘just right challenge’ for them. After all, this should be a fun activity!

Hope this explanation gives you a better understanding of the OT thought process behind the fun activities we do in session. 

Send us a picture or video if you work on this activity with your kiddo!