Preschool Science Activities - Dinosaurs and Birds

If you enjoy teaching science to preschoolers as much as I do, you will want to try these preschool science activities with your class.

The first one combines a favorite topic for all preschoolers--dinosaur--with another favorite interest which is eating and digestion. This was sent to me recently by one of my readers and is so much fun. Your kids will love this!

Use this activity also to show how dinosaurs digested their food the same way that birds digest theirs. This can be done in a circle time activity and also for gross motor skills and following directions when coupled with music.

Dinosaurs & Digestion
To demonstrate how plant eating dinosaurs digest their food (Same process can be used for a bird unit!) put one or two large lettuce leafs in a jar half filled with water. Place three or four 1-2 inch rocks in the jar and screw tightly shut. Pass around having the children shake the jar up and down and all around. This process will smash the lettuce to a pulp rather quickly "digesting it". Dinosaurs swallowed small rocks with their food (birds swallow sand and gravel).

To make it more fun, put on music such as Greg and Steve's "Freeze" song, or any other song you wish, to add dance to the process. Every time they say freeze or any time you stop the music, have the children pass the jar to a friend. Great movement and exercise and gets the job done quickly!

If you like these preschool science activities, check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

http://www.preschoolplanner.com/thefullstory.html


Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com


P.S. If you would like to receive my free newsletters for ideas for your preschool class, enter your name and address at the site below:

http://preschoolplanner.com/preschool-activities.html

Dinosaur Activities for Preschool - Hunts and Fossils

One of the more popular themes with preschoolers is the dinosaur. Give these dinosaur activities for preschool a try. These were sent to me by one of my readers. Keep the ideas coming!

The summer weather is perfect for an outside dinosaur hunt. Head outside before the children arrive and you'll have a fun activity for all. You can do this inside as well just hiding them in the sand table or around the classroom. You can teach spatial concepts such as giving clues using the words--over, under, next to, right, left, etc. Use the found treasures to count, sort, note differences and similarities. The possibilities for teaching opportunities are endless!


Dinosaur Hunt
Here is a way of going on a Dinosaur Hun--hide little plastic dinos outside in our play area, where there is grass and gravel. Then the children take out whatever they think they need to find a dino. (shovels, brushes, magnifying glasses, buckets). They really have fun with this activity.

Science: Clay Dough or Plaster of Pairs Fossils
Many fossils were created by an animal or vegetation making an imprint on damp soil. This soil then hardened over time. Using a clay type dough children press objects (use shells & rocks) firmly into the dough on a small paper plate. Or we fill fossil molds with a bit of damp sand, and then press clay into the mold. Carefully press out the fossil for our class displays.

If you like these dinosaur activities for preschool, you'll love the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

Check them out:

http://www.preschoolplanner.com/thefullstory.html

There are Two Editions now for the Preschool Planner: Basic or Platinum.

If you prefer lessons which have ideas for the Toddler Age, go here to the second volume of lessons. There is an entire bonus section devoted to TODDLERS.

http://www.preschoolwhiz.com/v2.html

Send me any ideas you would like to share and I will post them on my Blog.


PS: If you would like to receive my free newsletter for more ideas for your preschool class, enter your name and address at the site below:

http://preschoolplanner.com/preschool-activities.html