Atlas Olson
Dinosaur Day Preschool Activities
For our preschool dinosaur day, I planned a variety of crafts and activities that were designed to be both engaging and developmentally appropriate for young learners. The goal of the day was not only to build excitement around a fun and popular theme, but also to support learning in multiple areas such as fine motor skills, problem-solving, early literacy, and cooperative play. The activities we completed included an I Spy worksheet, a dinosaur-themed scavenger hunt, a cut-and-paste worksheet, a maze, and several color-by-number pages that I was able to find and adapt for our classroom needs.
One of the most successful activities was the dinosaur I Spy sheet. This activity encouraged students to carefully observe pictures and identify specific dinosaurs or objects hidden within the page. The children were very enthusiastic about searching for each item, and it provided a great opportunity to practice focus, visual discrimination, and counting skills. Some students worked independently, while others collaborated with a partner, which helped build social skills such as turn-taking and communication. It was exciting to see how proud they felt when they were able to locate all of the hidden items.
The scavenger hunt was another favorite among the students. I hid dinosaur pictures and small plastic dinosaurs around the classroom and gave the children clues or visual prompts to help them search. This activity allowed students to move their bodies and explore the classroom in a structured way, which is especially important for preschoolers who benefit from hands-on and active learning experiences. The scavenger hunt also encouraged teamwork, as students often helped each other find the hidden items and celebrated together when they were successful.
The cut-and-paste worksheet focused on fine motor development and following directions. Students practiced using scissors safely to cut out dinosaur shapes and glue them into the correct spots on their paper. For many students, this activity was a great way to strengthen hand muscles and improve coordination. I was able to differentiate the activity by providing pre-cut pieces for students who needed extra support, while others enjoyed the challenge of cutting independently.
We also completed a dinosaur maze, which helped build problem-solving and early planning skills. Students worked to guide a dinosaur through the maze to reach its destination, often talking through their thinking as they went. This activity supported perseverance, as some students needed to try multiple paths before finding the correct one. It was rewarding to see them stay motivated and excited rather than frustrated.
Finally, the color-by-number sheets were a calming and creative way to wrap up the day. These worksheets reinforced number recognition and color identification while allowing students to express themselves artistically. Many students took their time carefully coloring, while others enjoyed showing their completed pictures to friends and teachers.
In addition to the hands-on activities, I was able to find a wide variety of dinosaur-themed books on EPIC. These books supported early literacy skills and helped extend learning beyond the crafts. We read both fiction and nonfiction stories, allowing students to learn dinosaur facts while also enjoying imaginative stories. Overall, dinosaur day was a huge success, and the students were highly engaged, excited, and eager to participate in every activity.
