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8+ Super Fun Dinosaur STEM Activities for Kids

8+ Super Fun Dinosaur STEM Activities for Kids 1 Practical Help for Homeschool Parents and Teachers

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plastic dinosaurs being used for fun dinosaur stem activities for kids

If you have dino lovers who also love STEAM activities for kids, you are going to love these dinosaur STEM activities.

With a dash of paleontology, a sprinkle of engineering, and a pinch of creativity, your little explorers will dive into the captivating realm of the past. These activities are designed to stimulate young minds while fueling their passion for discovery.

But hold on to your triceratops hats, because these dinosaur activities aren’t just about learning – it’s about hands-on, minds-on FUN.

Whether your little ones are obsessed with T-Rexes, mesmerized by pterodactyls, or curious about the colossal long-necked giants, these dinosaur STEM Activities are perfect for families with children of all ages looking for STEAM activities.

Why Add Dinosaur STEM Activities To Your Child’s Day?

STEM activities are a wonderful way to get your child engaged with some core learning subjects, and dinosaurs lend themselves brilliantly to great STEM activities.

Dinosaurs are one of the most popular topics for kids, so it’s no surprise that dinosaur-themed STEM activities are a hit as well. Not only are they fun and engaging, but they also offer some great educational benefits.

STEM dinosaur activities help kids to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and they also promote creativity and imagination.

Dinosaur STEM activities are a great way to get kids excited about learning, and they can also help to spark an interest in science and technology.

So if you’re looking for a fun and educational way to add some dinosaur fun to your child’s day, dinosaur STEM activities are a great option!

You may not be able to bring live dinosaurs to your living room or classroom, but with dinosaur STEAM activities for kids, there are plenty of things you can do to help children engage with these prehistoric creatures.

Some great dinosaur STEM activities include Ice Age dinos, the dinosaur dig, and the build a dino. These simple yet fun activities all encourage good motor skills, while the dinosaur volcano activity offers a great chance to talk about chemical reactions.

Let’s take a look at some of the most popular dinosaur-themed STEM activities for kids on the internet!

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Top 8 Dinosaur-Themed STEM Activities

plastic dinosaurs being used for fun dinosaur stem activities for kids

Currently, we have 8 dinosaur-themed STEM activities that your kids are going to love. But check back soon because we plan to add to this list regularly with more science fun! And be sure to take a look at our other fun STEM activities for Elementary kids.

Ice Age Dinos

  1. Take a Tupperware or other plastic container and fill it two-thirds of the way with water.
  2. Place some toy dinosaurs inside it the container and put it the container in the freezer. The water will expand to cover the dinosaurs.
  3. After waiting roughly 12-24 hours (depending on the size of your container) take the container out of the freezer.
  4. Tip the ice out of the container and onto a tray. If you can’t get it out, run some hot water over the bottom of the container for a few minutes.
  5. Now it’s time to get the kids involved! They can then use spoons to dig the dinosaurs out, or wash warm water over the ice to help it melt. Consider having them test how salt reacts to ice too, and talk about the different reactions.
  6. Be sure to take lots of pictures!
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This is a fun activity for younger kids that you can enjoy again and again! Have some wintertime fun by putting snow in your container before you freeze it, or keep cool in the hot summer months with this ice-based dino STEM activity.

Dinosaur Volcano

  1. Again, you will want some toy dinosaurs for this activity. Place them on a tray or other container.
  2. Place a small cup in the center of your tray or container.
  3. Display the dinosaurs around the edges of this tray/container. Create a scenery of dinos who are eating and living happily.
  4. Now, sprinkle some bicarbonate of soda onto your scene. Be sure to get a lot into your cup!
  5. Mix a small amount of red food dye into some vinegar, and then get your child to help tip the vinegar into the bicarbonate of soda volcano. It will fizz up and spill over the edges, flowing down to meet the dinosaurs.

This is a fun and simple activity that, while a bit messy, gives kids a good look into chemical reactions. And all with a dino theme!

Dinosaur Dig

You’ll need some plastic dinosaur bones for this activity.

  1. Fill a large container, such as a plastic box, with sand.
  2. Bury the dinosaur bones in the sand.
  3. Add a few small, smooth pebbles or other items, and some twigs or leaves.
  4. If you have a toy digger, this makes a fun addition.
  5. Give your child a plastic spade or a spoon and ask them to rescue the dinosaurs from the ground. This can be treated like an archaeological dig. Provide an old toothbrush so your child can clean up the bones once they have been “excavated.”

This activity makes for some great outdoor fun, or if you don’t mind getting messy, enjoy this activity on your kitchen or bathroom floor. Turn it into a part of your science and history lessons, or just let your kids explore through play!

Dinosaur Footprints

You can use either colored cardstock or stiff foam for this activity.

  1. Draw two large dinosaur feet on the cardstock/foam (big enough for your child to stand on).
  2. Cut the feet out.
  3. Punch two holes in the sides of each foot, and thread string through.
  4. You can then help your child tie these to their feet, and they can enjoy walking around the home and feeling what “dinosaur feet” are like.

This is a fun activity for a rainy afternoon or for when Mom just needs some quiet time. After spending 5 minutes making the feet, your kids will be happy for hours!

Play-dough Footprints

For this activity, you need plastic dinosaur bones or reasonably large model dinosaurs, and some play-dough.

  1. Encourage your child to roll out and flatten the play-dough so that they have a surface to work on.
  2. They can then print either the bones or the footprints of the model dinosaurs into the play-dough.

This dino STEM activity encourages kids to think about shapes and how the ground might be imprinted.

For older kids, you can expand this activity by building up several layers of footprints, and then encouraging them to gently peel the layers apart and see how the prints have been affected.

Dinosaur Sorting

If you have a range of dinosaur figures, getting your child to categorize them can be a great activity that gets them thinking. Come up with a few simple categories, such as “meat eater” or “walks on two legs” or “has a long neck.”

Write these categories on cards, and then give your child the dinosaurs and encourage them to sort the dinosaurs into categories. Don’t do too many, or they may get overwhelmed. Ask them why the dinosaur might have evolved that way, and what advantage the characteristic gives them.

Build A Dino

Almost any craft supplies can be used for this, but lollipop sticks and straws are a good starting point. Get your child to build their own version of one of their model dinosaurs. Help them to stick together the sticks using tape or hot glue, and then let them decorate.

Pipe cleaners are also a good option for making your own dinosaur. This activity encourages your child to look at the shape, the number of legs, and the overall build of the dinosaur.

Dinosaur Visitation Activity

To get your child outside for a bit, consider creating a “dinosaur visitation site” outdoors. Break a few twigs, make a footprint or two, and perhaps scatter some evidence of food (torn up leaves or fake meat). Plastic dinosaur eggs could add to this.

Help your child examine the evidence and describe what kind of dinosaur they think has visited and how it behaved while there

Dinosaurs are a great way to get your child engaged with science, creative thinking, and critical thinking, and there are all sorts of fun activities you can do with them. Dinosaurs are almost universally loved by youngsters!

With a little creativity, there’s no limit to the fun you can have.


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