Fossil Boxes

The Fossil Box Project

Creating boxes of fossils for primary and secondary schools in the UK

With 30 fossils in each box, it’s large enough for a typical class size

Each box contains two insert trays, which include:

12 fossils of different types
2 modern equivalents (bivalve and gastropod) to allow the children to compare and contrast between the fossil and the modern version
A trace fossil
Laminated pictures of each fossil and a text description, including its type and age

The 4-litre box is from The Really Useful Company, is commonly used in schools, and is robust enough for schoool life

The Fossils

All fossils used are common and from the UK. We think that’s important because everything in the box can be found by the children themselves
Several of the fossils are partial or incomplete, which again is consistent with the children’s own likely ‘found-fossil’ experience
Most of the fossils have been donated from collectors across the UK (from their own collections), which keeps the box cost down
All the fossil types in the box usually come from more than one location and from different geological epochs

Primary and Secondary Box Contents

Each box contains several laminated sheets for the Teacher and Students
Common to both Primary and Secondary boxes
‘What’s in the box?’: a list of the fossil types used, their age and location around the UK
What are fossils and how are they made
Where to find fossils, what to look for, and health & safety in collecting
Links to groups running UK-based family trips
Teacher ice-breaker questions and tasks
Geological map of the UK, showing age of rocks and typical fossils found at each epoch

Specific to Primary Schools

Year 3 lesson plan suggestions
Year 6 lesson plan suggestions
Evolution

Specific to Secondary Schools

Britain’s journey from the South Pole
Careers page, featuring four bios of people working in Earth Sciences

Cost

Boxes are supplied at cost (£40 per box) to both Primary and Secondary Schools
There are three main routes to obtain a box:
A sponsored box, typically the main route for Primary schools, which is generally funded by:
Caregivers, family and friends of pupils
Friends of the School
A directly-purchased box, typically the main route for Secondary Schools
A free box, funded by my fossil sales and donations to the project
Please note, as the project grows, we might expect waiting lists for free boxes to grow
Priority for these is given to primary schools, so secondary schools may face a longer wait
The potential for grant funding is being explored – watch this space!

Project progress

The first box was delivered to a Herefordshire Primary School in December 2022
We’ve provided boxes to schools across the UK
26 to Primary Schools
3 to Secondary Schools
11 are already scheduled for delivery in the next month or so
Ongoing collection is underway to replenish our supplies of fossils
The Earth Heritage Trust is planning work with Geological groups across the UK e.g., to be delivery partners for the project
We are planning a grant application to help with free boxes for schools in need

How can I help?

If you would like a box for your school, please contact us. If the school is in a fossil-rich area, we can look to include local material in the box
If you would like to be involved in the project, we are looking for delivery partner organisations that will help us deliver the project across the UK (or any other support you feel you can offer!)
If you live/work in a part of the UK that is fossil-rich, and you’re able to donate fossils, it would be great to include some of your local material in future boxes
Please provide feedback on the boxes and tell us what works, what doesn’t, what’s missing, and any other comments
Our emphasis is on increasing accessibility, inclusivity, and making the box a better resource
We have two ongoing projects in this space, working with a blind college and a school for young people with moderate to profound and multiple learning difficulties

Fossil Boxes

The Fossil Box Project Creating boxes of fossils for primary and secondary schools in the UK

With 30 fossils in each box, it’s large enough for a typical class size

Each box contains two insert trays, which include:

12 fossils of different types

2 modern equivalents (bivalve and gastropod) to allow the children to compare and contrast between the fossil and the modern version

A trace fossil

Laminated pictures of each fossil and a text description, including its type and age

The 4-litre box is from The Really Useful Company, is commonly used in schools, and is robust enough for schoool life

The Fossils

All fossils used are common and from the UK. We think that’s important because everything in the box can be found by the children themselves

Several of the fossils are partial or incomplete, which again is consistent with the children’s own likely ‘found-fossil’ experience

Most of the fossils have been donated from collectors across the UK (from their own collections), which keeps the box cost down

All the fossil types in the box usually come from more than one location and from different geological epochs

Primary and Secondary Box Contents

Each box contains several laminated sheets for the Teacher and Students

Common to both Primary and Secondary boxes

‘What’s in the box?’: a list of the fossil types used, their age and location around the UK

What are fossils and how are they made

Where to find fossils, what to look for, and health & safety in collecting

Links to groups running UK-based family trips

Teacher ice-breaker questions and tasks

Geological map of the UK, showing age of rocks and typical fossils found at each epoch

Specific to Primary Schools

Year 3 lesson plan suggestions

Year 6 lesson plan suggestions

Evolution

Specific to Secondary Schools

Britain’s journey from the South Pole

Careers page, featuring four bios of people working in Earth Sciences

Cost

Boxes are supplied at cost (£40 per box) to both Primary and Secondary Schools

There are three main routes to obtain a box:

A sponsored box, typically the main route for Primary schools, which is generally funded by:

Caregivers, family and friends of pupils

Friends of the School

A directly-purchased box, typically the main route for Secondary Schools

A free box, funded by my fossil sales and donations to the project

Please note, as the project grows, we might expect waiting lists for free boxes to grow

Priority for these is given to primary schools, so secondary schools may face a longer wait

The potential for grant funding is being explored – watch this space!

Project progress

The first box was delivered to a Herefordshire Primary School in December 2022

We’ve provided boxes to schools across the UK

26 to Primary Schools

3 to Secondary Schools

11 are already scheduled for delivery in the next month or so

Ongoing collection is underway to replenish our supplies of fossils

The Earth Heritage Trust is planning work with Geological groups across the UK e.g., to be delivery partners for the project

We are planning a grant application to help with free boxes for schools in need

How can I help?

If you would like a box for your school, please contact us. If the school is in a fossil-rich area, we can look to include local material in the box

If you would like to be involved in the project, we are looking for delivery partner organisations that will help us deliver the project across the UK (or any other support you feel you can offer!)

If you live/work in a part of the UK that is fossil-rich, and you’re able to donate fossils, it would be great to include some of your local material in future boxes

Please provide feedback on the boxes and tell us what works, what doesn’t, what’s missing, and any other comments

Our emphasis is on increasing accessibility, inclusivity, and making the box a better resource

We have two ongoing projects in this space, working with a blind college and a school for young people with moderate to profound and multiple learning difficulties

The Fossil Box Project

Creating boxes of fossils for primary and secondary schools in the UK