Dig Into Science With a Cookie Fossil Dig

Get ready to dig into exciting fossil science lessons with a hands-on activity that brings fossil excavation to life! The Cookie Fossil Dig is a fun and engaging way to introduce elementary students to paleontology and the careful process scientists use when unearthing fossils. With just a few simple tools and a classic chocolate chip cookie, your students will explore how fragile fossil recovery can be.

This sweet Cookie Fossil Dig Activity is the perfect blend of fun and educational content—ideal for third and fourth-grade students who love hands-on science!

Printable Cookie Fossil Stem Activity

This printable Cookie Fossil STEM activity includes everything you need to run a low-mess fossil excavation simulation in your classroom. Students will use toothpicks, cotton swabs, or other tools to carefully remove the “fossils” (chocolate chips) from the “earth” (the cookie) without breaking it apart, just like paleontologists work to preserve real fossils in the field.

What’s included in this cookie fossil stem activity?

• Step-by-step teacher directions
• Printable student lab sheet with guiding questions
• Data recording chart
• Data Comparison Activity
• Lab Reflection Questions

Download Your Chocolate Chip Cookie Fossil Dig Activity

Getting started is easy! Simply download your Chocolate Chip Cookie Fossil Dig Activity in PDF  or Google Slides format and print the pages for each student or group. Add a cookie and a toothpick, and you’ve got a ready-to-go science lab that will stick with students long after the crumbs are gone. Click the dropdown arrow on the download button to grab your resource today.

This resource was created by Brittany Kellogg, a teacher in Ohio and Teach Starter Collaborator.

Resources to Pair With This Fossil Lab Activity

Take your fossil lessons even further! Pair this fossil lab activity with resources like:

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Fossils Science Project Pack

Use a printable fossils science project pack to give your students choices on how to show their knowledge of the types of fossils and how they are created.

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Forming a Fossil - Foldable Accordion Book Template

Use our fossil foldable template to help your students sequence the steps it takes to form a fossil.

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Texas Fossils Guidebook for Kids - Mini Book

Grab a printable Texas Fossils Guidebook for kids to introduce your students to some of the most common Texas Fossils.