5 Easy Dinosaur Science Activities for Preschoolers: Unlocking Prehistoric Fun

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Do your little paleontologists love dinosaurs?

Harness their fascination with these prehistoric creatures into a learning opportunity with simple dinosaur science experiments perfect for preschoolers. From excavating fossils to comparing bones, these hands-on activities will let your kids' imagination and intelligence roar while sneakily teaching science concepts like observation, comparison, and inquiry.

These interactive activities aim to stimulate the curiosity of young learners and provide a hands-on understanding of basic scientific principles for preschoolers.

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Simple Dinosaur Science Experiments for Preschool

Dinosaurs may be extinct, but the fascination for these magnificent creatures is alive and kicking in the minds of preschoolers! Dive into the world of prehistoric discovery with simple dinosaur science experiments for preschool.

Digging for Fossils

Fossil digging is the ultimate dinosaur activity.

Set up a mini archaeological dig site in your backyard or at the playground.

Provide tools like small brushes, spoons, and shovels.

Bury plastic dinosaur skeletons or bones in sand, dirt, or a sensory bin filled with crushed up cereal, or sand.

If you want something really eco friendly, use bird seed for sensory bin filler when you're outside, so anything that falls on the ground is safe for wildlife.

Let kids carefully excavate the buried treasures just like real paleontologists!

This activity teaches fine motor skills, patience, focus, and scientific observation.

We add fun plates like this dinosaur fossil themed plate for snack and lunchtime to encourage our kids to do more digging!

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Making Dinosaur Footprints

Head outside and create a dinosaur footprint path!

Use chalk, paint, or stickers to make large dinosaur tracks on the sidewalk, driveway, or playground blacktop.

Then have kids follow the tracks, calling out the dinosaur name and imitating how they might have walked based on the print.

Try making tracks for a gigantic sauropod with huge rounded footprints or a fierce carnivore like T-rex with three-toed tracks.

This activity gets preschoolers moving while learning about dinosaur feet.

Size Sorting Dinosaur

Gather up a collection of dinosaur toys and figures in different sizes, making sure to include herbivores and carnivores.

Set up signs or tape squares on the floor for “biggest”, “medium”, and “smallest”. This is a great way to discuss these ideas with students.

Show students how to examine a dinosaur and sort it by size. I like to do the first few together as a class, then call up a student to do each following dinosaur.

Ask questions like “which dinosaur is the largest” and then follow up with how can you tell?

This activity teaches size comparison, spatial reasoning skills, and dinosaur identification. Classifying objects based on a particular attribute is a foundational skill for science!

Use these dinosaurs to sort by color!

Included in the unit study: Sorting herbivores and carnivores.

Hatching Dino Eggs

This “eggs”periment is a roaring hit we couldn't wait to do with our little ones!

Grab some water balloons, small dinosaur toys (those skeletons from above are PERFECT for this) and water.

Stuff a dino toy into a water balloon, then put a little water in, and toss in the freezer.

A few quick tips for this one:

• Use Small Toys: Select small and lightweight dinosaur toys that will fit comfortably inside the balloon without tearing it.
• Avoid Overfilling: Fill the balloons with just enough water to cover the toy, but not so full that it becomes difficult to tie or risks bursting. This makes it easier to melt later too!
• Consider Using Food Coloring: Add a drop or two of food coloring to the water before freezing to give the eggs a fun and unique color.
• Melting Fun: Provide kids with small tools like brushes or pipettes with warm water to explore melting the eggs. It adds an extra layer of interactive fun.
• Outdoor Play Option: If you're concerned about the melting mess, you could take this activity outside on a sunny day, and the natural warmth will help the eggs melt.
• Safety First: Always supervise younger children during this activity to ensure they don't attempt to eat or put parts of the balloon or small toys in their mouths.
• Prep in Advance: Make the eggs a day or two in advance. That way, you're not in a scramble on the big day.
• Encourage Exploration: Use this experiment as a chance to talk about dinosaurs, eggs, and freezing and melting. It's a fantastic opportunity to blend play with education.

Volcano Eruption

This one is a real crowd pleaser. It wouldn't be a dinosaur unit without a volcano!

Combine the thrill of a volcanic eruption with a hands-on science lesson.

All you need is baking soda, vinegar, dish soap, and red food coloring for that fiery lava effect.

Pack a mound of baking soda. Then mix together vinegar, soap and red food coloring, and pour it on top.

Kids will be wide-eyed with excitement as they watch the bubbly lava flow!

A few quick tips for this one:

• Use a Tray or Container: To contain the overflow of the eruption, set up the volcano inside a tray, baking pan, or large container. This helps in easy cleanup.
• Build a Paper Mache Volcano: For added realism, you can craft a volcano using paper mache around a small bowl to hold the baking soda. This can be a fun craft project before the experiment.
• Go Slow with the Vinegar: Pouring the vinegar slowly allows for a longer-lasting eruption, which can increase the excitement and prolong the fun.
• Experiment with Colors: While red is the classic lava color, why not mix it up and try other colors? It can be a fun way to experiment and see what color lava the kids prefer.
• Talk About the Science: Take the opportunity to discuss the chemical reaction between baking soda and vinegar. It’s a great learning moment wrapped up in a fun activity.
• Add Dish Soap: A small squirt of dish soap can add more bubbles to the eruption, making it even more visually appealing.
• Use a Funnel: If you're using a narrow-necked bottle for the volcano, a funnel can make adding the baking soda and vinegar much easier and less messy.
• Safety Goggles: While the materials are generally safe, safety goggles can add an extra layer of protection and make the kids feel like real scientists!
• Capture the Moment: Don't forget to have a camera ready. The look on their faces when the volcano erupts is a memory you'll want to keep!

Tips for Dinosaur Science Activities with Preschoolers

Hands-on science with preschoolers does require some modifications from how older students might approach an experiment. Here are some tips to help you get the most learning value:

• Focus activities on sensory exploration, movement, and hands-on engagement. These hold young kids' interest the most.
• Keep explanations brief and tie concrete examples to abstract concepts. Use toddler-friendly language.
• Encourage playful investigation and questioning. Don't expect preschoolers to rigorously follow the scientific method.
• Accept messiness! Preschool science can be messy—plan for spills and embrace the learning process.
• Let kids take the lead in how they interact with materials. Don't force a specific outcome.
• Ask questions to guide them, but let preschoolers make their own discoveries rather than giving answers.
• Be flexible—tweak activities based on your child's development level and interests.
• Use preschool science time to introduce new vocabulary words and science concepts.
• Focus on the process not the product. Learning happens through hands-on engagement.

I have a great collection of dinosaur activities in an entire 2 week thematic unit study you can find in my shop!

Remember, the goal is to make science a fun, safe, and educational experience for your little one. With these tips, you can ensure your preschooler gets the most out of their dinosaur science experiments. Let the adventure begin!

Benefits of Teaching Science in Preschool

Exposing preschool-aged kids to science concepts and processes has many benefits including:

• Sparks curiosity and fascination with the natural world
• Develops early critical thinking skills like observing and comparing
• Strengthens sensory and fine motor skills
• Builds vocabulary and background knowledge
• Fosters independence, creativity, and imagination
• Introduces foundational science inquiry skills
• Helps teach cause and effect relationships
• Promotes respect for living things and the environment

The preschool years are an optimal time for learning through play and active engagement. Capitalize on your child's natural curiosity by trying these fun dinosaur science activities!

Their interest in fossils and dinosaurs makes an engaging gateway into exploring exciting science concepts.

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