Some discussion to what kind of habitat dinosaurs lived in would be appropriate for most children, going in more depth with older ones. Ask them what can we do to change our habitat to resemble the habitat from long ago. Looking at pictures of plants from long ago, they may see some similarities to palm trees, horsetails or ferns. To help get your children into the spirit for the Big Day, have them help make plants and volcanoes.
Things your child can help build for the "habitat" for the Big Day:
The palm trees are fun to make and your children will enjoy helping. They add so much to the dig and they can be done weeks prior to the dig.
Adding coconuts to the palm trees gives your child another opportunity to experience new things.
Although setting up the
habitat with the palm trees truly does capture children's attention, it's the volcano that adds so much excitement.
Make a paper mâché dinosaur. The activity can be adapted to any animal or object your child would like to make with paper mâché.
Make paper mâché dinosaur eggs and put a special surprise inside, then hide the eggs in some tall grass. Have a dinosaur egg hunt and let your child go hunting.
Having your child make paper mache eggs will give her an opportunity to problem solve, measure, compare and create something that was once only newspaper and flour.
While you and your child are creating props for the big day, continue reading books, learning about dinosaurs and following your child's lead. If your child is interested in the size of all the dinosaurs or only one kind, it's okay. She will learn other things along the way. She should have an understanding that:
- Dinosaurs lived on earth a long time ago but they are not on earth today.
- They have left us some clues in the form of fossils and foot prints.
- Dinosaur fossils are found all over the world.
- They range in size from as small as a turkey to as large as a house.
- They ate different foods: some were carnivores, some were herbivores and some were omnivores and be familiar with their meaning.
The fun is in the preparations and anticipation, so allow your child time to absorb the information and enjoy the process. These activities are intended to be done over the course of days. When all of the elements are ready and the weather is in your favor, tell your child that tomorrow is the Big Day. Have him pack his tools, the field guide and the hat he made and get plenty of rest.
To add to the learning and the fun, your child may want to make:
A diorama is a small scene of your child's choice that can be captured inside a box. A diorama lends itself towards many uses. Some museums have life-size intricate scenes of life from long ago, like in the movie, "Night at the Museum". Your child may enjoy making her own scene, complete with appropriate dinosaurs and
habitat.
Children love to reenact things they have learned through play. Giving them an opportunity to pretend to be a dinosaur while playing with a puppet is a great learning tool.
If your child would like to make a costume of her favorite dinosaur, work with her to build it. This activity allows your child an opportunity for self-expression and to shows her comprehension of the characteristics of different dinosaurs.
Children like props to help to create a new environment and making a fun, easy hat is an excellent way to reach that goal.
Prior to the big day (when the children are in bed, at grandmas or on a play date), mom and dad can prepare the "fossils" and some other props so it will be a surprise for your children on the day of the dig.
You may want to:
You will need to make the plaster fossils ahead of time for the dig. You may also want to make some with your children afterwards or let them help you make them and surprise them when they dig them up on the Big Day.
Take your family on a real Dinosaur Dig! What kid wouldn't love to find a dinosaur bone – a real one no less? ...
April 2, 2010
Bring a sense of adventure when planning your family vacation. There is more for your family to explore ...
April 9, 2010
If you are unable to travel to participate in an actual dig, you can still check out a museum near you. With thirty-eight states having
...
April 16, 2010
Check out these sites for dinosaur tracks. The tracks are sometimes found in open terrain, ...
April 23, 2010
Surrounding your child with dinosaur activities ...
May 3, 2010
Make a Tyrannosaurus Rex tooth for your child to use as a hands-on comparison tool. You might want to do all 3 Plaster of Paris activities together to make the clean up easier. The 3 plaster activities are: the tooth, the fossils and your child's foot print.
This is where your child can put her teeth into different foods that dinosaurs might have enjoyed as she decides who would eat what. She will become familiar will the new terminology while she is problem solving.
Using these prints for your child to track the dinosaur is a great way to capture his attention. The prints also lend themselves for lots of questions and the following activities that you may do.
Fun activities with actual size dinosaur foot prints using chalk, flour or paint.
This activity helps develop your child's fine motor skills while she is manipulating the play dough. She will also be problem solving and investigating when she is determining similarities and differences.
Through this simple activity, your child will gain experience in measuring objects in an unusual way. Exploring the lengths of dinosaurs using her whole body helps your child get a clear understanding of measurement.
Have your child help make a list with all the dinosaur characteristics to sort them out by likeness: dinosaurs that are carnivores or ones with a bony head (
facts for many dinosaurs). This activity lets your child use all the information she knows about dinosaurs in different ways. It also reinforces location terms like: top, bottom, middle, left and right.
Having face painting available allows your child an opportunity for self expression. Whatever he would like painted on his face, arms or legs. He can be a ferocious beast on the outside for an afternoon and still be your sweet child on the inside.
Suggested Tools for the Dig
After your child understands what a dinosaur dig is, it's time to come up with a list of necessary tools for the dig. This is a great opportunity for him to practice problem solving.
The field guide can be used to draw or write your child's findings in. It is a great place for her to jot down things she saw, did and learned on the dig.
top
www.parentchildeducation.com
Parent Tips
