Building a diorama is a creative way to put new-found dinosaur knowledge into practice in a visual way. Kids can use old shoe boxes and build scenes inside, using construction paper, pipe cleaners, glue, markers, small dollar-store figurines and any other appropriate craft supplies you can think of. Challenge older kids to make their models scientifically accurate, making plant and dinosaur cut-outs that reflect what they saw and read about in their dinosaur books. This project can also help enhance communication skills if you encourage each child to present his scene to the class.
Making a terrarium not only encourages kids to build on their knowledge about dinosaurs but also teaches them about what plants need to grow and thrive. For this project start with a thin layer of pebbles at the bottom of a goldfish bowl. Add a layer of sand and sprinkle a two- to three-inch layer of potting soil on top. Plant a few small house plants inside, water lightly and finish the project off by populating your "jungle" with dinosaur figures. Keep the terrarium in a sunny spot, covered with plastic wrap with a few holes poked through it.
Make fossils by creating imprints in modelling clay and allowing them to harden or try your hand at making dinosaur fossils with coffee grounds. Coffee-ground fossils are sure to delight since they look remarkably like real rocks when they're finished. To make the coffee-ground dough, mix 1 cup of used coffee grounds, 1/2 cup of cold coffee, 1 cup of flour and 1/2 cup of salt together in a large bowl. Roll the mixture out onto wax paper, make your "fossil impressions," and allow creations to dry overnight.
It's hard to believe that massive creatures like dinosaurs hatched from eggs like birds, but they did. Talk with the class about how dinosaurs came from eggs and discuss other modern-day animals that also lay eggs. This lesson provides a good opportunity to draw comparisons between the birds and reptiles of today and the dinosaurs that ruled the planet millions of years ago. Finish the lesson by making paper mache dinosaur eggs. Put dinosaur figurines inside balloons and blow them up. Cover the balloons with paper mache strips and allow them to dry overnight. Later, kids can paint their eggs and hatch them once they are completely dry.
If you're looking for a research-based activity for older children, home-made board games provide a way to integrate dinosaur facts and trivia into a creative project. Provide markers, card stock, construction paper and other supplies, then let imaginations run wild. Kids can create quiz-show-themed games or adventure games that show off what they know about dinosaurs. For example, kids could create game tokens that correspond to different dinosaur species. They might have players respond differently to game situations based on their species. For example, a plant-eating dinosaur would have to move back a couple of spaces if a sudden drought killed off a lot of plants, but a meat-eater wouldn't have to.