Let the kids each choose a sheet of construction paper in a color they like. Then give them each a sheet of white paper on which is printed a dinosaur skeleton outline. Have them use child-safe scissors to cut out the skeleton and then glue it to their construction paper. Next give them a variety of dried pasta shapes. Have them choose pasta shapes to represent the bones in their dinosaur skeletons, gluing them on to the white outline to make their own unique fossil recreation.
Give the kids Play-Doh or have them make salt dough, depending on how much time you have for your project. They can color their dough light brown, like a sandy soil, and roll it out on a sheet of wax paper. If you are working with younger children, give them small plastic dinosaurs that they can press into the dough to create a dinosaur-shaped impression. If they are a little older, give them a variety of single plastic bones and have them plan out a dinosaur shape and press the bones in one by one to create their fossil impression.
Create your own giant bone with papier-mache. Give each child an empty paper towel roll tube, some newspaper and some tape. Have them use a sheet of scrunched up newspaper to create the joint ends of the bone at each end of the tube. They should tape these securely to the tube. Then stir up a mixture of flour, water and glue in a large container and rip more newspaper into strips. Dipping the strips into the flour glue, wind them around the bone-shaped tube to create the final effect. When the papier-mache is dry you can paint it for a more realistic look.
Show your children some pictures and if possible some real examples of dinosaur teeth. Give them air-dry clay and let them sculpt their own dinosaur teeth. Put a hole at the top of each tooth large enough to thread yarn through. Leave the teeth to dry for several days and then let the kids paint them – glow in the dark paint is a nice touch – and thread them to make a necklace.