Dinosaur Movie: Educational Activities and Games for 2 to 5 Year Olds

Let's face it, kids love movies, but it's been proven that they should watch no more than 2 hours of TV a day. So why not combine their love of a movie and activities that will help them learn and grow? Following are suggestions for the movie Dinosaur released in 2000. These activities would also work well for preschool classes and party games for this age group.

Watch the movie

Let your kids watch the show while you prepare the activities for the rest of the day or attend to other responsibilities.

Rhyme Activity

Teach your child this rhyme. They'll enjoy it and it will help them with counting.

Five enormous dinosaurs

Letting out a roar-

One went away, and

Then there were four.

Four enormous dinosaurs,

Crashing down a tree-

One went away and

Then there were three.

Three enormous dinosaurs,

Eating tiger stew-

One went away and

Then there were two.

Two enormous dinosaurs,

Trying to run-

One went away and

Then there was one.

One enormous dinosaur,

Afraid to be a hero-

He went away and

Then there was zero.

Read a Book

There are a lot of incredible books available to go along with the movie Dinosaur. Pick one you think your child would enjoy and involve them while you are reading. Ask them questions about the pictures and story. Following are a few suggestions of books to read.

• How Do Dinosaurs Play With Their Friends (How Do Dinosaurs) by Jane Yolen
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• Dinosaur Roar (Picture Puffins) by Paul Stickland and Henrietta Stickland
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• The Magic School Bus in the Time of the Dinosaurs by Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen
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• Dinosaurs, Dinosaurs by Byron Barton

Dinosaur Stomp

Talk to your child about how large dinosaurs were. Explain that because they were so big, their feet were much bigger than ours. Give your child a paper grocery sack that has been cut open. Help them draw and cut out large dinosaur prints. Tie them to your child's feet with yarn or ribbon, turn on some music and let them have fun dancing like a dinosaur.

Dinosaur Dig

Make salt dough. Recipes are readily available if you don't have one. Wrap a plastic dinosaur in the dough and let it dry overnight. Offer your child a toothpick, nail and hammer and let them dig out the dinosaur.

Dino Lunch

You and your child can create dinosaur scene for lunch. Get dinosaur shaped chicken nuggets, broccoli, applesauce and graham crackers. The broccoli can be used to make trees, the applesauce can be quicksand and the graham crackers are dirt. Your child will have a ton of fun. Who says you can't play with your food?