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Fun with Dinosaur Foot Prints
(part of Discovering Dinosaurs Unit)

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child following a dinosaur foot print pat to dinosaur activities

Making a path of dinosaur foot prints on the sidewalk or through the yards in your neighborhood can be a source of great fun for all! Children love following them.  The foot prints can lead to a play area, be part of a scavenger or treasure hunt or they simply can disappear, the remaining traces of visitors from long ago that happened to wander through your yard one summer evening.




Dinosaur Foot Prints


Use the life-size foot prints as a stencil to make the dinosaur tracks using chalk, flour, sand or paint.

Tyrannosaurus Rex
Foot Print
Approx. 33" long
by 28" wide 		Apatosaurus/Brontosaurus
Foot Print
Approx. 36" long
by 42" wide

Using Chalk:

Chalk works well on concrete or other hard surfaces.

Materials:
sidewalk chalk
foot print stencil
water
paper plate


Dinosaur Foot Print Path

trace the inside edge of the dinosaur foot print template to make a foot print for activity
  1. Lay the stencil out and trace the inside edge with chalk.
  2. Then remove the stencil and fill in the foot print with more chalk so it stands out.
  3. You can make groups of prints "walking" in one direction or have another set of foot prints crossing it or you can have the prints lead nowhere, it is up to you.

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Dinosaur Foot Print Comparison Activity:

  1. trace your child's foot print inside the dinosaur foot print outline
    Lay the stencil out and trace the inside edge with chalk.
  2. Remove the stencil.
  3. Have your child guess how many of his or her foot prints will fit inside the dinosaur foot print.
  4. Trace your child's foot print inside the dinosaur foot prints as many times as it will fit.
  5. Have your child count his or her foot prints by putting a number in each of her foot prints. Was her guess close? 

    Parent Tip: parent tip Estimate or Guess


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Compare the Size of Your Child's Foot Print with a Dinosaur's

have your child dip his or her foot print in water and put it on the dinosaur foot print for comparison
  1. Lay the stencil out and trace the inside edge with chalk.
  2. Then remove the stencil and fill in the foot print with more chalk.
  3. Have your child dip her foot in water and place it inside the dinosaur foot print. When your child lift's her foot and step's back to look at the difference you could ask questions about the different sizes.

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Using Flour/Sand:

Flour or sand works well on grass, wood and other soft surfaces.

Materials:
flour or sand
sifter or sieve
foot print stencil
spread flour inside the template of the dinosaur foot print
  1. Lay out the outside edge of the stencil where you would like the foot print.
  2. Put flour in the sifter or sieve or just use your hand and carefully shake the flour to fill the opening in the center of the stencil. You don't want big clumps of flour, just a nice layer to fill the center only.
  3. Gently remove the stencil, sliding the flour from the paper into the center of the stencil.

    finish spreading the flour on the inside of the dinosaur foot print
    Continue until you have made as many dinosaur foot prints as you would like.






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Using Paint:

Materials:
water-based paint like tempura
sponge cut to fit in your child's hand easily
paper plate
painter's tape
foot print stencil
paint the inside of the dinosaur template on a wall

You can do this inside or outside. On a sidewalk you can use tempera paint, it will eventually wash away with the rain. Inside you can put it on the floor or wall to make a cool area for your son or daughter.

  1. Using the outside of the stencil, place it on the area to be painted and tape it in place with painter's tape so the stencil doesn't move as you are working (the painter's tape will come off the wall without removing the wall paint).
  2. Pour a small amount of paint on a paper plate and dab the sponge in the paint. Remove any excess so the paint doesn't drip or run because you want a clean line on the edge of the stencil.
    3. the dinosaur foot print on the wall could be a cool addition to your child's bedroom
  3. Continue dabbing the sponge on the surface until the center and the outside edge of the stencil is completely filled.
  4. Wait until the paint dries a little on the stencil before removing the tape. If you want to make a new print, place it in a new location. Since the paint is not completely dry be careful not to touch anything else while you are moving it.

    Having foot prints climb a wall or "walk" over the floor in a play area or bedroom is very cool and your children will enjoy them for years.

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Think About It!

Some questions that might be asked:

  • How much bigger is this dinosaur foot print from your foot print? Why do you think it was so big?
  • How many toes did this dinosaur have?  How many do you have?
  • Why do you think this dinosaurs feet were so big?
  • Compare the size of the Tyrannosaurus Rex foot print with the Apatosaurus'.

    These kinds of conversations promotes vocabulary and analyzing capabilities in your child.


July 16, 2009

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