Lots of kids love dinosaurs and our Cub Scouts are no different. This is what makes Digging in the Past, the Wolf elective adventure, so cool. While they learn about how fossils are formed, the Scouts are able to participate in fun dinosaur activities like this dino dig.

Wolf Elective Adventure Digging In the Past 3B. Make a dinosaur dig. As a paleontologist, you will dig up the remains of a dinosaur found in a dig conducted by a different member. Show and explain the ways a paleontologist works carefully in a dig.

Plaster of Paris is recommended for the fossil dig kit in the Wolf handbook. But most people don't have it sitting around their house. I did some investigation to see if could come up with a different method to create this.

Corn starch!

Yes, you can make dino digs using only water and corn starch. It is likely that you already have it in your pantry.

Mix the corn starch with water to create the oobleck.

I didn't have enough however it was simpler to go to the dollar store or grocery store to purchase corn starch instead of heading to the craft store or Home Depot for Plaster of Paris. It's also less expensive.

Materials to DIY Dinosaur Dig activity

Corn starch

Water

Mixing Bowl

Dinosaur toys and fossil skeletons

Container

The size of the container will determine how much corn starch you will need. I bought two 16 oz. I used about one-half of them to create the deep pie plate.

While shopping for the excavation kit supplies I stopped at Dollar General and Walgreen's. There were no dinosaur toys or dinosaur Skeletons. I was looking for some similar to these.

It was right after Halloween, and Walgreen's had these skeleton garlands for sale at 80percent off. They're not dinosaurs, but they're Skeletons! A Scout is considered Thrifty.

So I have a human skull dig rather than an animal skull.

Steps to Make an Dinosaur Dig

Remember that Cub Scouts are expected to dig their way around the site.

If you're able get your Cub Scouts outside to mix up the oobleck. Otherwise, you'll be sweeping corn starch off the floor for several days! Not that I had any personal experience with that.

Mix the water and corn starch in a large bowl to make oobleck. To achieve the best texture, you will have to add two times the amount of cornstarch water.

For example, you could make a mixture of 3 cups cornstarch and 1 1/2 cups water. If the mixture is too watery, add more corn starch.

Pour the oobleck into your container. The dinosaurs are buried in the oobleck in a way that you aren't able to see them.

It is possible to put your bones back into the mix if they don't want to be buried. It's fine if a few of them have poked out of the mixture, but make sure that most of them are completely submerged in the Oobleck.

Let your container dry outdoors for at minimum a day. If it rains, it's time to bring your container back inside.

If the oobleck has solidified, you'll begin to detect cracks.

If you are doing this as an activity for the den You'll likely want to take all of the containers home with you. This way, you'll be able to ensure that they all will be present at for the next gathering. A large and deep box could facilitate their transportation.

The requirement requires the Scout to excavate the remains of a dinosaur which was created by a different member of the den. To ensure that everyone gets their dig, Scouts should write their names on masking tape and put it into the container. It is also possible to randomly hand out the digs.

Digging for Dinosaur Bones

Get some dinosaur digging tools. You can let your children explore their imaginations. But, you can also make use of everyday objects like toothpicks and paintbrushes for help. A lightweight hammer is also an option. Your Cub Scouts could use their own digging tools.

We've owned this hammer for several years. It was gifted to one of my sons by Lowe's during a workshop for children. Lowe's seems to have ended this program.

This is going to get messy. There will be corn starch dust everywhere. This is why I suggest you do it outside. Picnic tables are great to do this if you have access to a place that is equipped with them.

Bring something for the Scouts. I used a pan, however, newspaper works just fine. Lay the newspaper on the table.

Flip the container upside down onto the surface. Remove the container, and the dig should slide right out.

Your dig could break up a bit which is totally fine. If it doesn't then your Cub Scout could use the hammer, and then lightly tap it until it starts breaking into pieces.

Your Scouts should brush and dig in the dried Oobleck. They must be reminded that if they discover a bone, they must take a gentle swath and clean any corn starch debris using a brush.

They'll soon discover the dinosaur's bones.

Posted by: Jaylin Simon at 10:14 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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