Free learning resources from arts, cultural and heritage organisations.

A Fossil from the Jurassic Period

This resource is part of the Museum Snapshot collection - a collection of smaller resources perfect for starters, plenaries or spare moments to explore something fascinating.

 

Curriculum Links:

KS1 and KS2 Science: Rocks and Fossils


This starfish fossil is over 175 million years old. It dates from the Jurassic period, when dinosaurs walked the Earth, and the Yorkshire Coast was beneath a warm tropical sea!

The fossil was collected 150 years ago by someone from Scarborough, who gave it to the museum in Scarborough. 

Colour illustration showing a beach environment with a forest edge and several dinosaurs
Illustration showing dinosaurs of the same period as the starfish.

Discussion Ideas:

  • This starfish has five 'arms', how you think they move?
  • Starfish have eyes on the end of their 'arms', why do you think this is?
  • Where do starfish live?
    • What adaptations do they have to help them survive?
  • What other kinds of fossils can you find on beaches? These might be shells, leaf imprints or even poo!
  • Draw a comic strip to explain how this starfish became a fossil
  • This starfish was alive when dinosaurs were walking the earth and swimming in the sea. Write a short story describing a day in the life of the starfish.
    • What did it see?
    • Where did it go?
    • What happened to it?