Below you’ll find an easy step-by-step tutorial for how to draw a Fossil and a Fossil Coloring Page. White lines on brown paper give them a much more realistic look.

Learning how to draw a fossil is not difficult, as students need to only sketch the basic outline shape, and maybe add some texture inside. What really helps though, is having some examples to look at so they can easily add some variety to their collection. Foot prints may be the first type they think of doing, but plants can leave some pretty interesting shapes too.

Fossils are formed in different ways, but most are made when a plant or animal gets caught in a watery environment and buried in mud. The soft tissues quickly decompose leaving the hard bones or shells behind. Over time sediment builds over the top and hardens into rock.

The sample fossils above were drawn with a white paint marker on card stock paper. The paper edge was also rubbed with a peeled brown crayon to give it an older look. This white-on-brown combination is a refreshing change from the usual black on white drawings, so if your budget permits, I encourage teachers to give it a try.

The next best option though, if paint markers are not available, is to use white pencil crayons on the same smooth brown card stock paper. My favorite Prismacolor brand will make nice white lines because they are so soft, but Crayola works pretty well too.

Use the Button below to download a PDF Tutorial

Open Fossils Tutorial

Fossils Coloring Page

Open Fossils COLORING PAGE

Materials

Brown Card Stock Paper. I cut mine into 2.5″ x 3.5″ trading card size.
Pencils. I like how this brand always makes nice dark lines.
White Paint Pens. Buy a pack or two and have students take turns using them.
White Pencil Crayons. These make really white lines, but are soft so save them for older students.
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