Paleontologists learn more about how dinosaurs looked when they discover fossilized skeletons of dinosaurs. You can create your own model dinosaur fossil on paper. Sketch an outline of your favorite dinosaur and then use q-tips as model dinosaur bones to build a dino skeleton.

Suggested Materials:
– Non-white paper
– Marker, pencil or white colored pencil
– Q tips (about 15 – 20)
– Glue (elmers or a glue stick)
– Scissors
– Picture of your favorite dinosaur skeleton
– Optional: Add texture to your fossil by surrounding it with leaves, twigs or other natural materials

Tips and Thoughts
– Remember to trace out either the outline of your dinosaur, or the skeleton before starting to glue down your pieces
– Use the scissors to cut the q tips into smaller pieces, you can also bend them to create bent parts of bones!
– How can you make your fossils look more realistic?

Potential Resources
– Video for Younger Students
– Video for Older Students
– Pick out your favorite dinosaur skeleton!

Create simple model dinosaurs using recycled materials such as cardboard boxes, toilet paper tubes, and paper. Challenge yourself to make a 3D model of a dinosaur that can stand up on its own — and reenact your favorite Jurassic moments.

Suggested Materials:
– Large Cardboard sheets
– Paper plates
– Toilet paper tubes
– Scissors
– Ruler and sharpened pencil
– Tape
– Markers, crayons, collared pencils or paint
– Optional: Extra construction paper or other recycled objects for adding decorative features.

Tips and Thoughts
– Use the slot and connect technique to make your model more 3D. It looks like this.
– Think about what features and shapes your dinosaur has? How can you represent those features using cardboard?
– Having trouble cutting your cardboard? Try scoring it with a pencil first! Scoring is when you cut through one layer of the cardboard in order to better bend or cut it. It looks like this!

Potential Resources:
– Video for Younger Students
– Video for Older Students
– Written Instructions

Take this challenge to the next level.

Active and inactive volcanoes can be found all over our planet, and some of them date back to the time of the dinosaurs. A volcanic eruption may have even contributed to the extinction of the last dinosaurs. Create your own Jurassic era landscape by building and testing a model volcano using simple household items.

Suggested Materials:
– Pan or tray
– Lemons
– Cutting knife
– Butter knife
– Spoon
– Measuring cup
– Baking soda
– Food coloring

Tips and thoughts:
– What happens when you pour in the baking soda? How long does the reaction last? – – Write down your observations and make predictions about why this reaction occurs.
– Try out different ways of making holes in the lemon and see if this affects what kind of eruption you get. Remember to write down your observations!
– Want to know more about volcanoes on our planet? Learn more about the real live discovery of Jurassic Era Volcanoes in Australia.

Potential Resources:
– How to make a Lemon Volcano.
– Written Instructions

Take this challenge to the next level: Make a Paper Mache Model of a Jurassic Era Volcano.

Ever wanted to be a dinosaur? Make your own wearable triceratops costume using paper, scissors and tape! Make a mask, a triceratops headband, or even dino claws, using simple materials. Get creative and learn about the possibilities of paper craft using these fun, easy costume tutorials.

Suggested Materials:
– Paper plates
– Cardboard
– Scissors
– Colorful paper
– Ruler
– Pencil
– Staples or tape
– Markers or paint for decorating

Tips and Thoughts
– Most of our evidence about dinosaur existence comes from fossils. The thing is, fossil don’t tell us much about what dinosaurs looked like on the outside! What color do you think the dinosaurs were?
– Remember to always sketch out your pattern before you cut!
– Make your costume more individual by choosing different shapes and sizes to yous triceratops scales!

Potential Resources:
– Video for Younger Students
– Video for Older Students
– Written Instructions

Take this challenge to the next level.

This one is a Jurassic KID Classic. Use cardboard or popsicle sticks to make a criss-cross extendable grabber, and then make it your own by adding paper dino jaws to the end. You will create a one-of-a-kind toy, while also learning about simple machines and cardboard engineering!

Suggested Materials:
– Cardboard or thick popsicle sticks
– Pipecleaner, metal brads or paper clips
– Hole puncher or sharp pencil for making holes in cardboard
– Ruler
– Scissors
– Tape
– Construction paper or paper plates
– Markers or colored pencils.

Tips and Thoughts
– Remember, this project has two parts: the mechanical grabber, and the dino head. You can do each individually, or put them together!
– If you are using cardboard, try scoring it first because cutting it into strips. This will make it easier to cut and avoid getting wrinkles in the cardboard, which make it weaker
– The video below used string to control the mechanical grabber Feel free to add this feature or leave it out! You can create a cool grabber mechanism with simply criss-crossing cardboard strips.

Potential Resources:
– Video for Younger Students
– Video for Older Students
– Written Instructions

Take this challenge to the next level: Make a dino-themed robotic arm!