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How to Make Dinosaur Eggs With Preschoolers

Dinosaurs are a common interest for preschool-aged children. Accompany a brief lesson on the nature of dinosaur eggs with a group activity that involves making dinosaur "eggs" with a toy buried inside. Explain to the children that dinosaur eggs came in a variety of sizes and shapes, but that the exact colorings of the eggs aren't known. Allow the children to decorate the eggs how they imagine the eggs of famous dinosaurs such as the brontosaurus and T. rex would have looked.

Things You'll Need

Brown paper lunch bags
Large bowl
Balloons, one per child
Small plastic dinosaur toys, one per child
1 cup flour
5 cups water
Small pot
Pin
Markers
Finger paints
Paper towels

Instructions

- 1
  Ask the children to rip the brown paper bags into small strips and chunks, placing the results into a large bowl. Help each child stuff a dinosaur toy into a not yet inflated balloon, allowing the child to choose their toy and balloon color. Blow up the balloons, tying off the ends securely.
- 2
  Ask another adult to entertain the children while you start making the paste mixture. Bring 4 cups of water to boil in a small pan. Combine 1 cup flour and 1 cup water in a small bowl, stirring until well combined. Pour the flour mixture into the boiling water. Remove from heat, stir and allow to cool.
- 3
  Assist the children in creating the layers of the dinosaur eggs by dipping the strips of paper bag into the cooled flour mixture and then pressing the strips to the exterior of the inflated balloons. Add strips until the balloon is fully covered. Sit the balloons aside in a safe place to let the paste dry for two to three days or until the exterior has hardened. Pop the balloons using a pin and pull the balloon out of the hardened shell.
- 4
  Sit the hardened balloons on work tables alongside markers and finger paints. Assist the children in decorating their balloons with colors and designs. Write the name of the child on the bottom of his balloon to ensure the right one ends up back with him. Sit the balloons somewhere to dry.
- 5
  Ask another adult to take the children out of the room. Hide the dinosaur eggs around the room in places that a young child could find it (meaning, don't hide them too well). Bring the children back inside and tell them to hunt for where their dinosaur hid their egg. Help each child make sure the egg she finds is hers, telling her to re-hide it if it isn't and keep looking.
- 6
  Gather the children together once all of the eggs are with the proper owners. Tell the children to break into the eggs to find the baby dinosaurs. Note that the hardened shell should crumble apart easily, but assist any child who needs help.
- 7
  Ask the children to help clean up the remnants of the shells and allow them to take home the dinosaurs that were "hatched."

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