Dinosaur Fun
The preschools following our ECD curriculum have been learning about dinosaurs! Here are some fun ways that parents can continue learning at home.
Dinosaur Hunt: Take a walk outside and have a “dinosaur scavenger hunt.” Ask your child to look for rocks, leaves, or even sticks that resemble dinosaur fossils. This is a great way to get them excited about nature and develop their observation skills.
Dinosaur Storytime: Read dinosaur-themed books with your child. Encourage them to make roaring sounds or guess what will happen next. See the comments to read Book Dash’s wordless book “An Unexpected Adventure” online.
Dino Doodles: Grab some crayons and paper and encourage your child to draw their favourite dinosaurs. Help them label the parts of the dinosaur (head, tail, claws) to build vocabulary.
Fun Facts to Share: Did you know that some dinosaurs were as small as chickens? Or that not all dinosaurs were meat-eaters? Some dinosaurs had feathers – like Velociraptors. They looked a bit like giant, scary birds. T-Rex had tiny arms – even though it was super big and fierce, its arms were only about as long as a human adult’s arm. Share fun dinosaur facts with your child and spark their curiosity.
Make dinosaur fossils at home
Press small toy dinosaurs or other objects into play dough to create “fossils.” Bake them in the oven, and your child will have their very own dinosaur fossil to show and tell!
By engaging in these activities, your child will continue learning at home while having fun.
Playdough ingredients:
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup salt
• 4 teaspoons cream of tartar
• 2 cups lukewarm water
• 2 Tablespoons of vegetable oil (coconut oil works too)
• Food colouring
• Plastic container / a zip lock bag.
Method:
1) Stir together the flour, salt and cream of tartar in a large pot. Next add the water and oil. If you’re only making one colour, add in the the colour now as well. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly.
2) Continue stirring until the dough has thickened and begins to form into a ball.
3) Remove from heat and then place onto wax paper.
4) Allow to cool slightly and then knead until smooth. If you’re adding colours after, divide the dough into balls (for how many colours you want) and then add the dough into plastic bags. Start with about 5 drops of colour and add more to brighten it. Wear gloves while you do this, or knead the dough inside the bag to keep your hands stain free.
5) Once it’s all mixed together you’re ready to play.