In our house, dinosaurs are where it’s at! See what we have in store for DINO themed summer camp and learn how to make your own volcano, DIY dinosaur costumes, dino crispy rice treats and more!
Dinosaur reading!
🦖 So many dinosaur books! 🦕
Let’s start with some dino-riffic questions to get those brains thinking:
What does it mean to be a carnivore, omnivore, or herbivore?
Describe the habitat of dinosaurs during these prehistoric periods. What did plants look like? What did the animals eat? What was the weather/climate like?
What do we know about dinosaurs from the Jurassic period? How about the Creataceous? Mesozoic? Do you know the names of any other dinosaur/geologic time periods?
What are some differences between these types of volcanoes: Composite, Strato, and Shield?
If you were a dinosaur, which kind would you be and why?
Volcanoes!
Air dry clay volcanoes!Need: air dry clay or salt dough (see my Dino Pinterest board for recipe), cardboard, sharpie and clay tools if you have them, & paint Learn about the three types of volcanoes- cinder cone, shield & strato Let clay dry overnight, and paint!
Volcanic eruptions!
Science in your backyard!Need: vinegar, dish soap, baking soda, food coloring, measuring spoons & cupsCreate a mound in the dirt & dig a hole for the cupAdd toy dinosaurs for added effectPour a teaspoon or so of baking soda into the cup that’s buried in the dirt. In a separate cup, mix 1/4 cup of vinegar with a few drops of dish soap, water, and red food coloringAwesome! Pour the liquid mixture into the cup of baking soda and wait for an exciting scientific reaction! (Full instructions can be found on my Dinosaur Pinterest board)
Dinosaur ice eggs!
Dinosaur ice eggs- a fun & beautiful STEAM project Need: balloons, water, food coloring, casserole dish, watercolor paint & brush (optional), and magnifying glass (also optional)Fill balloons with water & freeze overnight. Remove plastic part of balloons to reveal ice “eggs.”Experiment with food coloring drops and watch colors drip and blendAlso try watercolor painting if you have itEnjoy the beautiful color combinations and effects of the colored liquid on the ice!We’ve done this ice/food coloring project many times and it’s always a hit (see Rainbow 🌈 theme)
Dinosaur snacks!
Dino egg crispy rice treatsNeed: ingredients for Rice Krispie treats plus Oreo cookiesEncourage kids to read the recipe and measure ingredients on their ownEnjoy!
Dinosaur costumes!
Dino spikes & mask!Need: paper plates, egg carton, construction paper, pipe cleaners, scissors, glue & paintFor spikes, cut egg carton and use center portionApply paint!For mask, cut holes for eyes and curved or spiked edges for the headAttach colorful construction paper shapes with glueUse pipe cleaners to secure costumesWatch out for these fierce dinos! 🦖🦕
Dino hunt!
Get outside with this easy dinosaur activity Hide toy dinosaurs all over the yard or house. Tip: use camouflage for extra challengeEnjoy the hunt! Tip: once found, organize the toys by carnivore, omnivore, & herbivore
Measuring dinosaurs!
Research different dinosaur sizes. Use sidewalk chalk in the driveway to draw their life-size measurements
Digging for fossils!
Invest in a dinosaur fossil kit and prepare for fun exploration, scientific thinking, and a big mess ☺️Check out those bones! Tip: do this project outdoors for easier cleanup Younger kids might need a hand. This is a great project for practicing teamwork
Dino drawing!
Dinosaurs are great subjects for gesture drawing practice!Use basic shapes to build the body, and then outlineWe always try and check out “how to draw” library books that are related to our theme. Tip: themed coloring books are perfect for younger kidsDeacon (age 3) working in his dinosaur activity book (dollar store)
Paper plate dino!
Need: half of a paper plate, scissors, glue, construction paper, markers &/or paint. Rawr!
Out & about!
The dinosaur exhibit at Woodland Park Zoo
Life size, moving dinosaurs
So cool!
Media & resources
Dinosaurs kept us busy learning, digging, playing and creating this week! For more ideas on how to incorporate dino-themed activities into your DIY summer camp or home learning fun, visit my Pinterest boards and Instagram page. Also, check out these links for more dinosaur activities and learning!
Dinosaur Train. Ever since I discovered this PBS show with my kids a few years back, I’ve thought- how genius to combine two of kids’ (random) favorite things and make them into one show! Also, this website has games, videos, and other fun learning.
And, brought to you by the creators of Brains On, check out Smash Boom Best, another of my kids’ favorites podcasts. Listen as two debaters go head to head on behalf of their topic. For Dino week, check out Ice Age vs. Jurassic!
Burke Museum Activities for Kids & Families: This Seattle-area museum is famous for it’s dinosaur bone collection, and they’ve created this wonderful resource for families that is accessible virtually. And it’s free!
See also: Bone-themed home learning! Learn about dinosaur bones, the human skeleton and more with these fun activities.
