🦖 Dinosaur Activities for EYFS & KS1 | Ideas, Printables & Planning

Travel back millions of years and discover a fascinating prehistoric world with our collection of Dinosaur activities for EYFS and KS1. From mighty Tyrannosaurus Rex and gentle herbivores to fossils, dinosaur eggs and exciting excavation sites, dinosaurs continue to capture children's imaginations and inspire learning through play.

Perfect for Nursery, Preschool, Childminders, Reception and Key Stage 1, these resources and ideas support communication, literacy, mathematics, scientific enquiry, creative development and outdoor learning.

Whether children are becoming palaeontologists, exploring fossils, creating dinosaur habitats or building their own Dinosaur Museum, you'll find printable resources, planning support and engaging learning opportunities to enrich your provision.

🦖 Free Dinosaur Resources

Explore our free Dinosaur-themed resources and discover exciting opportunities for prehistoric learning and exploration.

↑ Back to Top of Page

🦕 Dinosaur Printable Provision & Teaching Resources

Browse our collection of Dinosaur-themed resources designed to support learning across the curriculum.

💡 All resources include editable (DOCX) and PDF file versions for flexibility in your setting. More file format information here.

Core Dinosaur Provision | Cartoon Style

↑ Back to Top of Page

Core Dinosaur Provision | Realistic Style

↑ Back to Top of Page

Additional Core Dinosaur Provision | No Particular Style

↑ Back to Top of Page

Display Lettering

↑ Back to Top of Page

Dinosaur Themed Comprehension Packs | KS1 English

↑ Back to Top of Page

‘Dino Dig’ resources in ‘Outdoor Area - Sand Play’…

↑ Back to Top of Page

Phase 2 & 3 High Frequency Words

↑ Back to Top of Page

Organisational Tools

↑ Back to Top of Page

🧠 Dinosaur Planning & Pedagogy Support

Support meaningful prehistoric learning through our professional planning resources and curriculum guidance.

Premium Planning Ideas

Professional

💡 Explore our EYFS Curriculum & Pedagogy Suite for comprehensive planning and guidance (separate pathways for birth-18 months, 18-36 months, 3-4 years & 4-5 years).

Related Theme & Project Planning Support | EYFS Curriculum & Pedagogy

(Documents within this section are available with our Professional Tier Memberships)

↑ Back to Top of Page

🌿 EYFS Dinosaur Ideas (Continuous Provision & Enhancements)

These ideas are designed as open-ended invitations that can be adapted according to children's interests and fascinations.

🦴 Dinosaur Dig Investigation Area

Create a simple excavation site using sand, soil or loose materials.

Add:

• Fossils

• Dinosaur bones

• Brushes

• Magnifying glasses

• Measuring tools

Adult Role

Support children to make observations, ask questions and develop theories about what they discover.

🏛️ Dinosaur Museum Role Play

Create a museum environment with:

• Dinosaur models

• Information cards

• Tickets

• Clipboards

• Maps

Adult Role

Support communication, storytelling and information sharing through meaningful play.

🌋 Small World Dinosaur Habitats

• Volcanoes

• Forest environments

• Swamps

• Loose parts landscapes

Adult Role

Follow children's narratives and encourage them to explain their thinking.

🥚 Dinosaur Egg Investigation

Provide:

• Dinosaur eggs

• Fossils

• Natural materials

• Measuring resources

Adult Role

Encourage prediction, comparison and mathematical language.

✏️ Mark Making & Early Writing

• Museum tickets

• Dinosaur labels

• Fact cards

• Excavation records

• Discovery journals

Adult Role

Provide meaningful reasons for writing and recording within play.

↑ Back to Top of Page

🔬 KS1 Dinosaur Activities & Learning Ideas

🧪 Scientific Enquiry

• Compare herbivores and carnivores

• Explore fossil evidence

• Investigate extinction theories

• Classify dinosaurs

✍️ English Activities

• Dinosaur fact files

• Museum guides

• Adventure stories

• Information reports

➗ Maths Opportunities

• Dinosaur data handling

• Measuring dinosaur lengths

• Size comparison investigations

• Dinosaur surveys and pictograms

🌍 History & Geography Connections

• Understanding prehistoric times

• Comparing past and present

• Locating fossil discoveries

• Exploring ancient environments

↑ Back to Top of Page

🌍 Curriculum Links (EYFS & KS1)

🟢 EYFS Areas of Learning

Communication & Language

• Topic vocabulary

• Discussion and questioning

• Storytelling and explanation

Physical Development

• Digging and excavation play

• Fine motor fossil investigations

• Outdoor exploration

Personal, Social & Emotional Development

• Collaborative investigations

• Confidence in sharing ideas

Understanding the World

• The natural world

• Similarities and differences

• Exploring the past

Expressive Arts & Design

• Imaginative worlds

• Creative construction

• Role play

🔵 KS1 National Curriculum Links

Science

• Animals including humans

• Working scientifically

• Classification

History

• Understanding the past

• Evidence and interpretation

English

• Information texts

• Narrative writing

• Speaking and listening

Maths

• Number

• Statistics

• Measurement

↑ Back to Top of Page

🦴 Fossils, Excavations & Discovery

One of the most engaging aspects of a Dinosaur topic is helping children become explorers and investigators.

Explore opportunities to:

Discover Fossils

• Fossil matching

• Fossil identification

• Shape investigations

Become Palaeontologists

• Dig for dinosaur bones

• Record discoveries

• Measure findings

Ask Scientific Questions

• What do fossils tell us?

• How do we know dinosaurs existed?

• What can evidence reveal?

These experiences encourage curiosity, critical thinking and scientific enquiry.

↑ Back to Top of Page

🏛️ Dinosaur Museums & Role Play

Many children become fascinated by museums and dinosaur exhibitions.

Create opportunities to:

Become Museum Curators

• Label exhibits

• Create information cards

• Organise collections

Become Tour Guides

• Share facts

• Answer questions

• Lead visitors around displays

Become Dinosaur Experts

• Research species

• Create fact books

• Present discoveries

This role play supports communication, literacy and confidence.

↑ Back to Top of Page

📚 Books & Story Inspirations

Popular dinosaur-themed stories can provide rich opportunities for language development and imaginative play.

Consider linking activities to:

• Harry and the Bucketful of Dinosaurs

• Ten Little Dinosaurs

• That's Not My Dinosaur

Stories often provide excellent starting points for investigations, role play and creative projects.

↑ Back to Top of Page

📅 Dinosaur Special Events

The following blog pages provide information and inspiration:

↑ Back to Top of Page

🌻 Related Topics & Themes

🐾 Animals & Living Things

• Animals

• Reptiles

• Wildlife

• Habitats

🌿 Outdoor Learning

• Forest School

• Beach School

• Outdoor Area

🔬 Discovery & Investigation

• Minibeasts

• Life Cycles

• Science Investigation

🌍 The Natural World

• The Environment

• Woodland

• Wetlands

↑ Back to Top of Page

❓ Dinosaur FAQs

What are good Dinosaur activities for EYFS?

Dinosaur digs, fossil investigations, role play museums, small world habitats and dinosaur storytelling all provide engaging learning opportunities.

What can children learn through a Dinosaur topic?

Children can develop scientific thinking, vocabulary, mathematical skills, creativity and an understanding of the past through meaningful play and investigation.

How do you create a Dinosaur role play area?

A Dinosaur Museum, excavation site or palaeontologist laboratory provides rich opportunities for communication, enquiry and imaginative play.

What are good KS1 Dinosaur activities?

Fact files, fossil investigations, classification activities, museum projects and dinosaur-themed writing all work well.

Why are dinosaurs so popular in EYFS?

Dinosaurs inspire curiosity, wonder and questioning, making them ideal for child-led enquiry and sustained shared thinking.

↑ Back to Top of Page

🌟 Explore More

• Discover our EYFS Curriculum & Pedagogy Suite

• Find out more about membership options

Search ‘Little Owls Resources’ using the following menu buttons…