Fossil or Dinosaur Activity

Purpose of the Activity

Build Excitement: To serve as a fun and interactive promotion for the upcoming Museum of Science and Natural History speaker series.
Encourage Socialization: To provide a relaxed and themed environment for residents to chat, collaborate, and share stories.
Stimulate Creativity: To offer a hands-on, tactile craft that allows for personal expression.
Promote Cognitive Engagement: To challenge residents with fun trivia and interesting facts, keeping minds active.
Create a Memento: To give residents a tangible item they created to remember the event and display in their homes.

Materials Needed

For Fossil Making:
Air-dry clay or pre-made salt dough (Recipe: 2 cups flour, 1 cup salt, 1 cup warm water).
Wax paper or plastic placemats to protect tables.
Small rolling pins or smooth plastic cups for flattening the clay.
A variety of objects for making impressions:
Small plastic dinosaur toys
Seashells of various shapes and sizes
Large, textured leaves or ferns (real or artificial)
Twigs, acorns, or textured stones
Paper plates for residents to place their finished fossils on.
Fine-tip permanent markers for writing names on the paper plates.
For Trivia & Ambiance:
Large-print, multiple-choice trivia questions (10-15 questions).
A slideshow with images of dinosaurs and fossils to accompany trivia (optional, but highly recommended).
Projector and screen, or a large-screen TV.
Small, fun prizes for trivia winners (e.g., dinosaur-shaped cookies, a nice pen, a small succulent).
Themed background music (e.g., the Jurassic Park soundtrack).
Themed snacks and beverages: "Herbivore Veggie Tray," "Pterodactyl Wings" (chicken wings), "Fossil Cookies," and "Primordial Punch."

Estimated Duration

60–75 minutes

Ideal Group Size

10–18 residents. This size is large enough to feel social and energetic but small enough for staff to provide individual attention.