Last updated: January 31, 2024
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Fossilization Challenge
Complete the activity below to earn your George Washington Birthplace National Monument Virtual Junior Ranger badge! When you finish, download and print your badge to add to your collection!
NPS / John Day Fossil Beds NM
Instructions
You are on a journey to become a fossil.
Not everyone will succeed. Sometimes fossils will be eroded or destroyed. Some fossils will be discovered and others will never be found.
Can you survive the fossilization challenge and be discovered by a paleontologist?
- Follow the instructions at each stop.
- When the conditions are good, you will move ahead.
- When the conditions are hazardous, that may be the end of your journey.
Fossils & Paleontologists
What are fossils?
These are any remains or evidence of life preserved in a geologic context.Who are Paleontologists?
They are the scientists who learn, study, and make discoveries about the forms of life that existed in former geologic periods, mainly by studying fossils.
Library of Congress
You are Alive!
You are a creature from a long time ago.Did you slither across the hot desert sand?
Maybe you flew high upon the winds!
Or did you run through the forests on legs?
It is even possible you swam in the murky sea!
WAIT A MINUTE! WHAT IS THAT SOUND? IS THERE SOMETHING MOVING NEARBY?
NPS / John Day Fossil Beds NM
You are Dead!
You lived an unique and wonderful life, but now you are not only merely dead, you are really most sincerely dead.Of course, being dead means you can begin a dangerous new journey to become a fossil.
Sadly not everyone will complete their journey through time.
Choose your journey below!
You are Eaten!
The circle of life has happened. Your body was discovered by hungry scavengers. They wasted no time and ate you up.
They did not even wash their mouths!
This is the end of your journey. You cannot move on to Fossilization.
The circle of life has happened. Your body was discovered by hungry scavengers. They wasted no time and ate you up.
They did not even wash their mouths!
This is the end of your journey. You cannot move on to Fossilization.
You are Washed Away!
Your body was caught up in a violent rainstorm.
The running water and the powerful forces were strong enough to break up and destroy your partially decomposed body.
This is the end of your journey. You cannot move on to Fossilization
Your body was caught up in a violent rainstorm.
The running water and the powerful forces were strong enough to break up and destroy your partially decomposed body.
This is the end of your journey. You cannot move on to Fossilization
You are Rotting Away!
Your body has been left to decomposition.
The micro-organisms, such as bacteria, are slowly transforming your body. When they are done, you have become nourishment for the land.
This is the end of your journey. You cannot move on to Fossilization
Your body has been left to decomposition.
The micro-organisms, such as bacteria, are slowly transforming your body. When they are done, you have become nourishment for the land.
This is the end of your journey. You cannot move on to Fossilization
You are Dead and Buried!
You have made it past the first major hurdle.
Yay!
Your body has remained together and as if by good fortune, you have been covered up by sedimentary soil.
It is surprisingly comfortable.
You are on your way to fossilization! Continue to Fossilization.
You have made it past the first major hurdle.
Yay!
Your body has remained together and as if by good fortune, you have been covered up by sedimentary soil.
It is surprisingly comfortable.
You are on your way to fossilization! Continue to Fossilization.
NPS Natural Resources
Fossilization!
Your body is now covered with sediment, such as a thick layer of gooey mud or soft sand.
Over a very long period of time, all that sediment starts to gather and compress.
When this happens, it starts to squeeze out water that is rich in minerals, which spread around.
Choose where your journey will take you below!
Body Fossil
All that time you spent in the ground, the water full of dissolved minerals seeps through the layers of sediment to reach your bones.
As the bone slowly decayed, the mineral water leaks into the bone and replaces the chemicals in the bone with rock-like minerals.
After the water evaporates from your body, only the hardened minerals are left behind. This makes you look and feel like a bone, but now you are actually a rock.
Move on to Getting a Little Rest.
All that time you spent in the ground, the water full of dissolved minerals seeps through the layers of sediment to reach your bones.
As the bone slowly decayed, the mineral water leaks into the bone and replaces the chemicals in the bone with rock-like minerals.
After the water evaporates from your body, only the hardened minerals are left behind. This makes you look and feel like a bone, but now you are actually a rock.
Move on to Getting a Little Rest.
Trace Fossil
You have decayed away after all this time, but you have left a sign that this is where you laid to rest.
An impression of your body was left in the spot you used to reside in.
This is not surprising, since you always made a great first impression when you were alive.
Move on to Getting a Little Rest.
You have decayed away after all this time, but you have left a sign that this is where you laid to rest.
An impression of your body was left in the spot you used to reside in.
This is not surprising, since you always made a great first impression when you were alive.
Move on to Getting a Little Rest.
Metamorphism
Although you were successfully fossilized, the rocks containing your fossil became deeply buried. Extreme temperature and pressure changed and distorted your body's minerals, which destroyed your fossil.
This is the end of your journey. You cannot move on to Getting a Little Rest.
Although you were successfully fossilized, the rocks containing your fossil became deeply buried. Extreme temperature and pressure changed and distorted your body's minerals, which destroyed your fossil.
This is the end of your journey. You cannot move on to Getting a Little Rest.
NPS Natural Resources
Getting a Little Rest
Now you have become a type of fossil.
You are not really the same creature that you were when you were alive.
Becoming something unique has really taken a lot out of you.
You have earned a nice long nap. Don't bother to set your alarm clock.
It is Time to Rock & Roll!
You have one more hurdle to overcome.
Can you avoid being destroyed?
Choose your next journey below!
Erosion
Nature has taken its course.
In the years since you became a fossil, the rock you are in is exposed to wind, water, and heat.
Both you and the rock slowly break apart eroding into dust.
In the end you were washed and blown away.
Nature has taken its course.
In the years since you became a fossil, the rock you are in is exposed to wind, water, and heat.
Both you and the rock slowly break apart eroding into dust.
In the end you were washed and blown away.
Never Found
You are left in the dark, alone with only you and your thoughts.
You have hummed your favorite song for the billionth time (literally).
Maybe you can make up a new song. Of course, no one will ever hear it.
You are left in the dark, alone with only you and your thoughts.
You have hummed your favorite song for the billionth time (literally).
Maybe you can make up a new song. Of course, no one will ever hear it.
Humans
Just when you thought you might be discovered, as a really cool fossil, you are not.
Instead, you are destroyed with the rock around you. Sadly, people have decided that you are in the ideal spot for a road, or even worse, a mega-shopping mall.
When the construction started, they dug up the whole area and never saw you.
No more you.
Just when you thought you might be discovered, as a really cool fossil, you are not.
Instead, you are destroyed with the rock around you. Sadly, people have decided that you are in the ideal spot for a road, or even worse, a mega-shopping mall.
When the construction started, they dug up the whole area and never saw you.
No more you.
Discovered!
What luck!
Erosion has exposed just enough of you so that a responsible human has found you and notified the proper authorities.
A short time later, a team of paleontologists from the National Park Service have dug you up and moved you to a laboratory to work on you.
Move on to You are a Rock Star!
What luck!
Erosion has exposed just enough of you so that a responsible human has found you and notified the proper authorities.
A short time later, a team of paleontologists from the National Park Service have dug you up and moved you to a laboratory to work on you.
Move on to You are a Rock Star!
You are a Rock Star!
The paleontologists are amazed with you, because you are a new type of fossil and you are in great condition!
Soon afterwards, the National Park Service makes a brand new exhibit all about you!
Maybe next year, pictures of you will be seen on t-shirts, baseball caps, and posters as the new icon for National Fossil Day!
Learn more about the paleontological resources at the birthplace.