If you have a little dino-lover at home, you know just how exciting anything with spikes, scales, or ROARS can be! That’s why hands-on dinosaur craft activities for preschoolers are the perfect way to blend learning with fun. These crafts encourage creativity, fine motor skills, and imaginative play—without requiring fancy supplies or complicated prep.
Whether you’re a homeschooling parent, classroom teacher, or just need an easy rainy-day activity, you’ll love these simple and budget-friendly ideas.
Basic Supplies for Dinosaur Craft Activities for Preschoolers
One of the best parts about dinosaur craft activities for preschoolers is that most of them can be made with everyday supplies you already have at home or in the classroom. Here’s a quick list of basic materials you’ll want to keep on hand:
- Paper products: Construction paper, cardstock, paper plates, paper lunch bags
- Adhesives: Glue sticks, liquid glue, tape
- Cutting tools: Safety scissors (plus adult scissors for prep)
- Coloring materials: Washable paint, markers, crayons, and colored pencils
- Decorative extras: Googly eyes, pom-poms, tissue paper, buttons, yarn
- Recyclables: Toilet paper rolls
- Sensory bin fillers (optional): Rice, kinetic sand, pasta, beans
If you gather all of these into a single bin or drawer, you’ll be able to set up any of the crafts below in just a few minutes — no last-minute craft store run required!
Dinosaur Books to Pair with Craft Activities
Reading and crafting go hand-in-hand! Pairing dinosaur craft activities for preschoolers with a few engaging dinosaur books can extend the learning and spark even more imagination.
Dinosaur Craft Activities for Preschoolers
1. Paper Plate Dinosaurs
Let kids paint or color paper plates, then cut and glue on construction paper legs, tails, and spikes. Instant stegosaurus!
2. Toilet Paper Roll Dinosaurs
Save those empty toilet paper rolls and turn them into adorable dinos! Paint them green, blue, or purple, then glue on paper legs, tails, and spikes. Add googly eyes or draw faces with markers. These stand up on their own, making them perfect for pretend play.
3. Salt Dough Fossils
Create fossils using homemade salt dough and press toy bones or leaves into the dough before baking.
4. Handprint or Footprint Dinosaurs
Trace and cut out your child’s handprint to use as the body of a brontosaurus or T-Rex. Add googly eyes for extra charm!
5. Dinosaur Paper Bag Puppet
Turn a simple paper lunch bag into a roaring dinosaur puppet! Just print and cut out the template pieces, glue them onto the bag, and let your preschooler decorate. It’s perfect for storytelling and pretend play.
6. Dinosaur Bone Sensory Bin
Fill a bin with rice or kinetic sand and hide toy bones or pasta “bones” for digging and discovering.
7. Tissue Paper Volcano Craft
Crumple red, orange, and yellow tissue paper to create an erupting volcano backdrop for dinosaur play.
8. Popsicle Stick Dinosaurs
Arrange sticks into triangles or rectangles and decorate with paper spikes, markers, or buttons.
9. Dinosaur Headband
Download the template and make a paper dinosaur headband craft kids are sure to love.
10. Dinosaur Silhouette Art
Print or trace a dinosaur silhouette onto cardstock, then let kids paint or collage the inside with tissue paper, buttons, pom-poms, or torn paper scraps. You can also place the silhouette over a watercolor background for a stunning contrast!
Tips for Making Dinosaur Craft Activities for Preschoolers Easy and Manageable
- Prep ahead: Cut tricky shapes before introducing the craft.
- Offer choices: Let kids pick colors or dinosaur types to boost independence.
- Mix in learning: Count spikes, sort dinosaurs by size, or talk about herbivores vs. carnivores.
Final Roars of Encouragement
Planning dinosaur craft activities for preschoolers doesn’t have to be messy or stressful. With a few everyday supplies and a little imagination, you can turn your home or classroom into a prehistoric adventure zone. Pick one activity to start—and let the creativity stampede begin!