Fun Dinosaur Sensory Bin with Kinetic Sand

Learning Through Sensory Activities For Preschoolers

Preschool sensory activities

SENSORY PLAY IS IMPORTANT FOR ALL CHILDREN TO ENGAGE THEIR SENSES AND LEARN FROM THEIR SURROUNDINGS

Preschool sensory bin ideas can be never ending. Fun dinosaur activities can include eggs, toy dinosaurs, fossils, and bones.

This dinosaur preschool activity is a great hands-on way to explore fun facts about dinosaurs and how they lived. Children can also explore fossils and hypothesize how they think dinos became extinct.

I like to use the dinosaur sensory activity at the beginning of a unit to get students excited and asking questions. You can pose questions like:

• What is the difference between carnivores and herbivores?
• Why do you think dinosaurs are no longer around?
• What type of habitat did the dino live in?
• What would you do if you saw a real dinosaur?

What Can Preschoolers Learn While Playing With Sensory Dinosaur Activities For Kids

dinosaur themed activities for preschoolers

LEARNING ABOUT DINOSAURS IS A GREAT TIME TO INTRODUCE SCIENTIFIC VOCABULARY THAT SOMETIMES TRANSFERS TO OTHER TOPICS.

You can use vocabulary and the preschool dinosaur activity to compare/contrast with other animals, plants, or insects.

• Extinct
• Carnivore/Herbivore/Omnivore
• Grow/change
• Fossils

Why Is It Important For Kids To Learn Through Sensory Play?

Children are naturally curious about everything around them. Learning about animals and plants help them understand the world a little bit better.

Exploring Senses

Sensory play is a great way to help children learn to use their senses and develop new ideas. What does the sand feel like? Can you tell me something else that might feel like sand?

Building Friendships

Let’s play in the kinetic sand together! Social play is so important for early learning. Children will learn how to take turns, social communication skills, and basic friendship norms.

How To Use The Dinosaur Sensory Bin

Dinosaur Sensory Bin Materials:

• Sensory table or bin
• Sand
• Small dinosaur toys
• Rocks
• Small plastic plants
• Scoops

Step One:

Find a bin, shoe box, or sand/water table. Fill the bin with sand.

Step Two:

Create the landscaping for the sensory bin. Add in different sized and colored rocks. You can also add in small plastic vegetation like trees or bushes.

Step Three:

Add in small plastic dinosaurs. This can also include dinosaurs that fly and swim.

Step Four:

Let your children explore. While they are playing make sure to ask questions and provide information on the historic creatures. You can also add in dinosaur eggs, fossils, and dinosaur bones.

Extend the Dinosaur Sensory Bin Activities:

Dinosaur Crafts

Dinosaur crafts are a colorful way to display how different the huge lizards were. Use paper plates, paint, markers, googly eyes, and crayons to create your dinos.

Create a Book

Make a dinosaur book with half sheets of paper and child illustrations or magazine cut outs. Have them tell you what each page says and write down their words.

Counting Grid

Use the dinosaur counting grid along with the plastic toy dinosaurs to practice counting, adding, and subtracting.

More Dinosaur Activities You’ll Love:

• Dinosaur Lesson Plans For Preschool
• Dinosaur Shape Posters & I Spy Shape Hunt
• Dinosaur Counting Grid Game

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