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Collect a Whizz Pop Bang Magazine to find out even more about fossils...

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Watch the video and then answer the questions in your books

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Not many plants and animals are lucky enough be turned into fossils.

When an animal or plant dies its remains usually rot away to nothing. Sometimes though, when the conditions are just right and its remains can be buried quickly, it may be fossilised. There are several different ways fossils are formed. Here we go through the five steps of fossilisation to make a typical 'mould and cast' fossil.

An animal dies, its skeleton settles on the sea floor and is buried by sediment.

An animal dies and its body sinks to the sea floor. The soft parts of the animal rot away, leaving only its skeleton. The skeleton is buried by sediment (like mud or sand) falling from the ocean above. The sea floor is an ideal place for fossilisation, which explains why many fossils are marine (from animals that lived in the sea). Land animals may die and be swept out to sea to be buried in the same way.

The sediment surrounding the skeleton thickens and begins to turn to stone.

The skeleton continues to be buried as sediment is added to the surface of the sea floor. As the sea floor sinks, pressure increases in the lower layers of sediment and it turns it into hard rock.

The skeleton dissolves and a mould is formed.

Now buried at depth and surrounded by stone, the skeleton is dissolved by ground water. This leaves a cavity (or hole) preserving the shape of the original skeleton. This cavity is known as a natural mould.

Minerals crystallise inside the mould and a cast is formed.

Water rich in minerals enters the mould, and fills the cavity. The minerals deposited in the mould form a cast of the mould. This cast has the same shape as the original skeleton, but none of its internal features.

The fossil is exposed on the Earth's surface.

Millions of years later, the rock surrounding the skeleton rises to the Earth's surface (this happens during mountain building, earthquakes and other earth processes). The rock is worn away by wind and rain, and the fossil is now exposed, waiting to be found!

Fossils form when the conditions are right. Why not find out more about fossils?
See how difficult it is to become a fossil by playing our game, A twist in time!

If you read these pages you should get a pretty good idea of what a fossil is. Find out more about fossils by visiting

Introducing the basics What can fossils tell us?
How do fossils form? Different types of fossils

Invertebrate I.D. or the History of life

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oxford university museum of natural history

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Not many plants and animals are lucky enough be turned into fossils. When an animal or plant dies its remains usually rot away to nothing. Sometimes though, when the conditions are just right and its remains can be buried quickly, it may be fossilised. There are several different ways fossils are formed.

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WHAT are fossils? What do they look like? Where can they be found? Discuss in groups of four and then feedback to the rest of the class. WHAT is a PALEONTOLOGIST? What do they do?

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WHAT are the BIGGEST fossils ever found?

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ABC News Documentary National Geographic

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Biggest Dinosaur Ever Found: Giant Titanosaurus Discovered in Argentina

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The bones of a dinosaur believed to be the largest creature ever to walk the earth were discovered in Argentina. Palaeontologists in Argentina believe they have found bones belonging to the heaviest dinosaur to ever have walked the Earth - which had an estimated body mass of 77 tonnes.

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1. Watch both videos
2. Write down all the scientific vocabulary you think you will need in order to explain fossilization.
3. Explain to your partner, using scientific vocabulary, how fossils are formed.
4. Create a flow diagram with captions (see example). Stick in your science book.
4. Use the Jurassic Coast website to find an example of a fossilized plant, insect or animal. Draw and label this in your science books.

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Explore the ancient Earth with videos from BBC programmes.

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The Jurassic Coast is a 95-mile long stretch of coastline in southern England, situated within the counties of Dorset and Devon. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site recognised for its outstanding rocks, fossils and landforms.

The Jurassic Coast is one of the most popular destinations in Britain, drawing millions of visitors from all over the world each year. To discover all of its secrets and treasures would take a lifetime, but likewise, its unique history and character can be felt right from your very first glimpse.

A Geological Marvel

On the Jurassic Coast, geology takes centre stage. It is the only place on Earth where rocks from the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous Periods can be seen in one place, representing 185 million years of Earth's history.

Within these rocks are countless stories of continents colliding, landscapes being formed and shaped by time and tide, and extraordinary creatures living, dying and evolving across millions of years, many of which we are lucky enough to discover, enjoy and study today through the fossils they've left behind.

Discover rocks, fossils and landforms span the entire Mesozoic era and provide remarkable insight into 185 million years of environmental change and evolution.

An Experience to Treasure

Whether you want to hunt for fossils, visit a , or simply take in the Jurassic Coast's stunning scenery at the beach or on a good walk, you'll find there are plenty of things to do here, whatever the time of year.

Begin your Jurassic Coast experience by Exploring our distinctive towns and villages and some of our iconic natural landmarks. Dive into the Jurassic Coast's rich and varied Science and Heritage, and discover some of the coastline's most renowned characters, including the legendary fossil hunter Mary Anning.

A hugely diverse and beautiful landscape underpinned by incredible geology of global importance.

Everything You Need at Your Fingertips

We've got everything you need to plan, book and enjoy your perfect Jurassic Coast visit. Find a fabulous Place to Stay, explore some of the best Things to Do (everything from and to coasteering and caves), download our Jurassic Coast map or request a printed brochure in the post, and sign up to our email list for all our latest news. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Information You Can Trust

Our website is written and maintained by the team of experts at the Jurassic Coast Trust. We are passionate about our coastline and want to share its wonders with you on your visit, so all our information is regularly checked and updated by our locally-based team.

We are an independent charity responsible for maintaining the Jurassic Coast's World Heritage Site status, so by planning your holiday using our site, and booking accommodation and activities with our brilliant Business Partners, you can rest assured that you are helping to maintain this incredible place for current and future generations.

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The Jurassic Coast Trust looks after the World Heritage Site known as the Jurassic Coast.