Learning centers are often part of the preschool classroom. The activities in learning centers give the preschoolers a chance for hands-on exploration of particular topics and concepts. Change your preschool learning centers to fit the dinosaur theme. Set up dinosaur puppets in the dramatic play area. Add a bucket of plastic dinosaurs with the regular toys. Fill the reading center with dinosaur books. Pull out some dinosaur puzzles to add to the learning center rotation.
Preschool students don't likely know exactly how big their favorite dinosaurs were. To give them an idea, head outdoors and show them. You'll need a tape measure and flags or another way to mark the different dinosaurs. Let the kids help operate the tape measure to mark each dinosaur's actual size. Choose several dinosaurs of different sizes so the kids can compare them.
Sensory tables are often found in preschool classrooms. Add a dinosaur theme to the sensory table by allowing the kids to dig for dinosaurs. Plastic dinosaurs buried in the sand offer a simple digging option for the kids. Let them use shovels and brushes to reveal the buried dinosaurs. Another option is to make your own dinosaur fossils and footprints using plaster of Paris. Create a mold for the dinosaur objects. One way to do this is to press a dinosaur toy into damp sand. Pour the plaster of Paris into the mold and let it harden. Bury the plaster of Paris creations in the sand of the sensory table.
Art projects add a creative twist to the scientific aspect of dinosaurs. Organize different art projects for the preschoolers. One art project with an interactive aspect is to create kid dinosaurs. Trace each child onto a large piece of butcher paper. The kids decorate their body outlines to look like dinosaurs. They might add scales, plates, horns and tails to create dinosaurs out of themselves. Hang the dinosaur pictures around the room for a themed decoration.