Before beginning your dinosaur skeleton process, it is crucial to discuss these mighty beasts. Although many young children come to school with a thorough knowledge of dinosaurs from T Rex to Brachiosaurus, start with an interactive chat about these ancient creatures. Go over some popular dinosaur names, show illustrations of dinosaurs and photos of fossils. If possible, show the preschoolers a real-life fossil or plaster cast of a bone. Add in a children's book on the subject such as, "Dinosaurs, Dinosaurs" by Byron Barton or Bernard Most's "The Littlest Dinosaur."
There are a variety of options for dinosaur skeleton craft materials. The specific ones you choose depend on your project and the preschoolers' abilities. For example, a basic skeleton craft can include a pre-printed bone worksheet, crayons or makers and scissors. A more advanced three dimensional model of a fossil or dino bones will necessitate materials such as modeling clay, paper, paper mache paste or paint. Any craft material you use with this age group should be non-toxic and clearly labeled for safe use with children under five years old.
Introduce the beginning or novice preschooler to the world of dinosaurs with a simple skeleton craft. Print out a free dinosaur worksheet from an educational website such as Scholastic or Enchanted Learning. Invite the children to color and cut the bones out or decorate the printable with painted craft sticks or cut straws as bones. Another option is to ask the children to paint their own dinosaur skeletons. Give them black construction paper and add bones with white tempera or finger paints.
Making a model dinosaur skeleton doesn't have to be difficult. Even preschoolers can construct their own fossilized three dimensional designs. Make single dino sized bones or create an entire skeleton using clay or paper mache. Invite the children to roll white modeling clay and form long dinosaur bones. For bigger bones, have kids fold and twist a newspaper armature and cover with strips of paper mache. Let dry and paint to an ivory or cream color. If you are looking to capture the essence of the entire dinosaur, create your own fossilized skeleton in the classroom by mixing 1/2 cup of salt and cold coffee each with one cup of flour. Add in one cup of coffee grounds for texture, roll the dough and make your skeleton imprints with craft sticks or twigs.