January Unit Study – Dinosaurs

Posted by Lynn | 0 comments

Do you have a budding paleontologist in your home? Someone who likes to read about dinosaurs or go out in the backyard and dig up ‘fossils’.. This month’s hands on unit extender is on Dinosaurs. Activities you can do with any age range. All three of my children participated in all the activities and their ages ranged from 7-14 at the time. This will fit with any unit study that you are currently doing on Dinosaurs. Have fun this month..

Digging for Bones
Resource: http://www.homeschoolshare.com/dinosaurs.php

• Large bucket
• Dirt or potting soil
• Dog bones
• Old Paint Brush

Instructions:

• Place dirt inside large bucket
• Bury the dog bones in and around the soil covering them all completely
• Have child(ren) dig for the bones by using an old paint brush to brush away the dirt to locate the bones or you can have them use their hands
• Optional- for younger children you can have them sort the bones by color and for older children you can have them put together their dinosaur by what they think it will look like

Make Your Own Fossil
Resource:http://www.homeschoolshare.com/dinosaurs.php

Supplies:

• Plaster of Paris
• Sea Shells
• Disposable spoon and cup
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Oil

Instructions:

• Mix 1/2 cup plaster of paris with 2 1/2 tablespoons cold water for each fossil imprint.
• Wipe shell with oil.
• Place shell in plaster of paris and let dry for at least one hour.
• Peel away shell and compare the imprint to the original shell.

Digging For A Dinosaur-Being a Paleontologist
Resource:http://www.homeschoolshare.com/dinosaurs.php

Supplies:

• Large Bucket
• Dirt or Potting Soil
• Dinosaur Puzzle- we used Land Before Time Puzzle from the Dollar Store

Instructions:

• Break the puzzles into pieces and mix them up
• Bury them in the dirt
• Have your child(ren) search for all the pieces of the puzzle and have them put it together without using any pictures
• Hint- count the pieces of the puzzle before you bury them so you know if they got them all out or not.

Dinosaur Diorama
Resource: http://www.homeschoolshare.com/dinosaurs.php

Supplies:

• Shoe Box
• Construction Paper
• Play-doh or clay
• Twigs
• Glue
• Tape
• Markers and Crayons
• Scissors
• Aluminum Foil
• Small Rocks or
• Pipe Cleaners
• Puppets-
  http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/puppets/twofinger/Trextemplatebw.shtml
  http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/puppets/twofinger/Stegotemplatebw.shtml
  http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/puppets/twofinger/Brachiotemplatebw.shtml

Instructions:

• Design a shoebox diorama using the above materials or anything else you might have on hand that your child(ren) would like to use

Paper Mache Dinosaur Egg
Resource: http://www.homeschoolshare.com/dinosaurs.php

Supplies:

• Glue
• Water
• Newspaper Strips
• Round Balloons
• Plastic dinosaur

Instructions:

• Blow up balloon in an oval shape
• Before tying it off, place a plastic dinosaur inside
• Mix up your glue- 3/4 white glue to 1/4 water
• Place paper in glue. Make sure you get the entire piece wet
• Wipe off excess with your fingers
• Place each strip on the balloon
• Let dry a bit.
• Add two more layers allowing drying time between layers
• Pop balloon inside of egg once completely dry
• Optional- Decorate the egg with paint, or markers
• Crack egg open to allow your dinosaur to hatch

Additional Resources:

• Dinosaur Lapbook- http://www.homeschoolshare.com/dinosaurs.php
• Dinosaur Unit Studies- http://www.oklahomahomeschool.com/dinosaurUnit.html
  http://www.essortment.com/family/homeschoolingun_shts.htm

Dinosaur Museums:

• Best Dinosaur Museums in the USA- http://www.americasbestonline.com/Dinosaurs.html
• Montana Dinosaur Trail- http://mtdinotrail.org/
• USA Museums by State- http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/dinosaurs/fun/Museums.shtml

Books:

• Books on Dinosaurs- http://www.amazon.com/Books-on-Dinosaurs/lm/2RDL3VXEYXYVG
• If the Dinosaurs Came Back by Bernard Most
• Bones,Bones, Dinosaur Bones by Byron Barton
• What Really Happened to the Dinosaurs by John Morris and Ken Ham
• Raising Dragons by Jerdine Nolen
• Dinosaurumpus! by Tony Mitton
• Edwina, the Dinosaur Who Didn’t Know She Was Extinct by Mo Willems
• Dinosaur! by Peter Sis
• Dinosaur Train by John Steven Gurney
• Dinosaurs by Design by Duane T. Gish
• The Great Dinosaur Mystery and The Bible by Paul S. Taylor
• How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? by Jane Yolen
• Dinosaur Roar by Henrietta Stickland and Paul Stickland
• Oh My Oh My Oh Dinosaurs by Sandra Boynton
• That’s Not My Dinosaur by Fiona Watt

Lynn is a blessed wife to a wonderful husband of 12 years, a mom to three children, ranging from 15 to almost 8, and in the process of expanding their family through adoption. They are in their fifth year of homeschooling, using a hands on/eclectic approach to learning. You can find out more by visiting her blogs @ Learning By Living and Ladybug Chronicles.