THE FOSSIL HUNT
Match the fossil tools with their names to open the Fossil Lab gate.
Magnifier
Hammer
Chisel
Brush
One sunny afternoon, Eli and I arrived at the Fossil Lab.
The lab was a fascinating place filled with rocks, ancient bones,
and delicate tools for digging and cleaning.
At the centre of the room stood Professor Poki. “Welcome to the Fossil Lab!” he said, smiling broadly. “Are you ready to uncover secrets from the past?” I nodded eagerly while Eli flapped her wings with excitement. The room buzzed with the promise of discovery, and we couldn’t wait to start.
Professor Poki led us to a table covered with brushes, chisels, and large chunks of sedimentary rock. “Fossils are the preserved remains of plants or animals from millions of years ago,” he explained.
He pointed to a rock with a shell imprint. “Each fossil tells a life story from long ago.” I leaned closer, and asked,“How do we find fossils, professor?”. Professor Poki grinned. “We carefully dig them out of the rock and clean them so we can study them.” Eli hopped onto the table and chirped, “Can we find one today?” Professor Poki nodded. “Absolutely! Let’s look for fossils hidden in these rocks.”
So, I picked up a small hammer and chisel, and Poki showed me how to tap gently.
“We don’t want to break the fossil,” he said.
Eli began chipping away at the surface of a large rock while I inspected nearby pieces. She exclaimed, “I see something!” as she uncovered a small, spiral-shaped imprint. Professor Poki came closer and said, “That’s a fossil of an ammonite, an ancient sea creature. Keep going, you’re doing great!”
I worked carefully, but as I brushed away the dust, the rock cracked suddenly, splitting into two pieces. “Oh no!” I cried, stepping back in dismay. Eli fluttered nervously. “Did we break the fossil?” she chirped.
Poki picked up the two halves and examined them. “Not at all!” he said cheerfully. “Look,the fossil is still intact. You just uncovered it faster than expected!” I let out a relieved sigh. “So, it’s not ruined?” I asked. Poki smiled. “No, it’s perfect! Mistakes often lead to discoveries. Let’s clean it up to see it better.”
Poki handed me a soft brush, carefully cleaning the dirt away from the fossil. The spiral shape became clearer with each stroke. Poki explained, “This ammonite lived millions of years ago in the ocean”
Eli hopped closer, “It looks like a snail’s shell!” I grinned and said, “It’s amazing to hold something so old”. Poki nodded, “That’s why fossils are important. They help us learn about creatures and environments from the past.”
I placed the fossil on the table. Eli flapped her wings excitedly and asked, “Can we find more fossils?”. Professor said, “Of course!”, pointing to another block of rock. “There’s always more to discover.”
Eli and I continued digging, uncovering tiny bones and shell imprints in the rocks. “Every fossil we find adds to the life story on Earth,” Poki said, watching us work. I held up the ammonite fossil and smiled.
I said, “I want to learn more about these creatures and what the world was like when they lived”. Poki nodded with pride. “You’re already a great fossil hunter, Riri. Remember, every fossil tells a story, and so many stories are waiting to be uncovered.” We cleaned up their tools and left the lab feeling inspired, ready to explore more about the ancient past.
