Dinosaurs are loved by so many young children. They reside in a strange fantasy meets reality context that is fascinating to young minds. From the complex names to the unique features, dinosaurs offer a ton of engaging and educational opportunities as well.

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Learning and practicing dinosaur names is often a test of phonics and phonemic awareness. To pronounce an unknown dinosaur name, we often chunk the word into small parts (phonemes), then lean on the known parts and sound out the other pieces of text to put together the unfamiliar word. For example, the dinosaur Apatosaurus. If you are familiar with some dinosaur names, then the chunk -saurus is already a known part of the word. You then sound out the text from the beginning and middle of the word, add in “-saurus” and voila. This is literacy gold. It feels especially satisfying to kids who have mastered the complicated names of their favorite dinosaurs and when their adults have not. It feels like having special scientific knowledge that the child can share.

Talking about dinosaur traits, both physical and behavioral, is a great way to build science concepts and vocabulary with young children. The plates on a Triceratops helps to protect it from predators, much like the plates on an armadillo today. When we compare traits of living animals today, we draw on their natural curiosity and inferencing skills about animal adaptation. Many children learn the terms predator and prey, as well as the concept of plant and meat-eaters by looking at dinosaur eye placement and tooth shape, and can then translate that information to living creatures.

So how can you indulge a natural curiosity for dinosaurs?

Here are some fun activities and Toy Ideas…

Pretend play is important for children’s development, and pretending to be dinosaurs is especially fun. Try stomping and roaring like dinosaurs with We Are the Dinosaurs by the Laurie Berkner Band. Songs and pretend play allow children to try out different behaviors, and help them develop imagination, coordination, and core strength.

Try this online Dinosaur Name Generator from The Aspinall Foundation. Enter your first name, favorite color, and birth month and the generator will give you your own unique dinosaur name.

This activity uses sidewalk chalk and a large measuring tape to create visuals about the length of dinosaurs. I have seen educators measure and cut a ribbon that can be labeled and rolled out for this activity as well. The sidewalk chalk is kinesthetic and engaging, the ribbon can be reused with for multiple classes and activities, either one will give children the opportunity to visually compare the size difference of dinosaurs.

Also, check out some of my favorite Dinosaur Toy Ideas.

1) Animal Dinosaur Figures with Dinosaur Sound Book