Dinosaur Games for Big Kids

Dinosaur Skeleton Match

• Kids are accustomed to seeing images of actual dinosaurs. This big kid game requires players to match dinosaur images with pictures of corresponding skeletons. Print pictures of both the dinosaur and its skeleton. Create cards from the pictures by gluing them to rectangles cut from card stock. The cards work well for a memory-style game in which the pictures are placed face down. The players take turns flipping over two cards in an attempt to match the dinosaur with its skeleton. Another option is to use the cards for a relay race. Place all of the picture cards in a pile. You'll need one set for each team. One player at a time runs to the pile of cards and searches through it until he finds a match. He runs back to the starting line and tags the next player, who repeats the process. The first team to get all of the skeletons and dinosaurs matched correctly wins.

Dinosaur Relay

• This relay race requires kids to wear dinosaur feet as they navigate a course. The Family Fun website suggests using empty cereal boxes as the dinosaur feet. Cut a hole in the front of each cereal box large enough for the kids to slip their feet into. Cut out a dinosaur foot shape from craft foam or felt. Cut a hole in the foot shape that lines up with the hole in the box. Glue the foot to the top of the box. Make a set of dinosaur feet for each team. The first player on each team slips on the dinosaur feet and walks around a cone at the opposite end of the playing field before returning to the starting line. Add obstacles such as boulders or hanging vines for more of a challenge. When the first player returns to the starting line, he takes off the dinosaur feet and passes them to the next player. The next player repeats the relay course. The first team to have everyone complete the relay wins.

Trivia

• A trivia game works well with a dinosaur theme. It makes an ideal review of dinosaur facts in the classroom because you can customize the questions. Create trivia questions based on the specific age of the kids and their knowledge of dinosaurs. Divide the kids into teams. Pose one question at a time to each team. A correct answer earns a point. You can also take a point away for an incorrect answer.

Bingo

• Dinosaur bingo gives kids a chance to identify pictures of different dinosaurs. Create your own bingo cards by putting a different dinosaur picture in each square on the card. Call out the name of a dinosaur. The kids will cover the corresponding picture on their bingo cards. You can hold up a picture of the dinosaurs to help the students or simply say the name to make it more of a challenge.