Science With Your Pet

                  Cast In Stone                  

With a little help from your family’s animal member, you can create a unique way to immortalize your pet. Casting animal tracks is a method used by paleontologists and zoologists to study footprints. Using casts, these scientists can tell a lot about the animals they study, including: the animal’s approximate size; whether it was walking, running, or standing still; and even the animal’s age and sex!

The Materials

A large, shallow box filled with sand, a spray bottle AND a pitcher, both filled with water, an empty, disposable container and plastic spoon for mixing, plaster of Paris, aluminum foil, two paperclips, newspapers, an assistant and your pet

What to Do  

• Cover an area on the floor with newspapers. This will be your work space.

• Place the box of sand on the papers.

• Use the spray bottle to wet the sand so that it is moist and sticks together.

• Your pet and your assistant should join you on the workspace.

• Your assistant should gently place your pet, gently, into the sand. Firmly, press your pet’s paw into the sand, making an impression. You can do just one paw or can stand your pet in the sand, making impressions of all its feet. Be sure the impression is clear with sharp edges. The deeper and cleaner the sand impression, the better the final casting.

• Lift your pet out of the work area before releasing him. Reward your pet with a treat for his help.

• Tear off a strip of aluminum foil and fold it over and over itself to make a 2-inch wide band that is several layers thick. Form the band into a circle and paperclip the two ends together.

• Press the aluminum foil circle into the sand, around the footprint.

• Mix plaster of paris and water together, a little at a time, until the mixture is the consistency of applesauce.

• Ask your assistant to steady the aluminum foil ring while you slowly pour in the plaster. Make sure to cover all of the print. Wiggle the box back and forth a few times to remove air bubbles.

• Write the date and your pet’s name gently on the top surface, using the handle of the spoon as a pencil.

• Allow the plaster to dry several hours or overnight.

• Did you notice that the plaster got warmer as it dried? Why did that happen? While you are waiting for the plaster to dry, do some research on exothermic reactions to find an answer.

• Once the cast is dry, remove it from the sand and foil.

• Clean up your workspace and display your pet’s cast.