FREE Dinosaurs: Find Fossil Shapes Activity | EYFS & KS1 Printables

FREE Early Years (EYFS & KS1) Dinosaurs: Dino Dig - Find Fossil Shapes Activity Cards

Turn your sand pit into an exciting archaeological dig with our wonderful FREE Dinosaurs: Find Fossil Shapes Activity! This engaging printable is perfect for EYFS and KS1 children, providing a hands-on, sensory, and multi-faceted way to develop shape recognition, counting, and early problem-solving skills.

Ideal for Preschool, Nursery, School, or for Parents and Childminders at home, this activity transforms learning into a thrilling "Dino Dig" that will captivate little paleontologists.

This fantastic FREE pack features:

• Dino Dig - Find Fossil Shapes Activity Cards. The pack includes 4 sets of 6 different shapes, which are designed to be cut out and laminated.

• A variety of 2D shapes: The fossils feature a triangle, square, circle, rectangle/oblong, pentagon, and hexagon.

• Designed for Active Learning: The cards are intended to be buried in a sand pit or tray, where children can dig to find and identify the fossil shapes.

• Versatile for different learning objectives: Having 4 sets allows for both matching the same shape and counting up to 4 of the same shape, offering built-in differentiation. You can print as many or as few sets as appropriate for your learners.

(Note: Please use your own discretion and knowledge of your children to ensure appropriateness of each activity suggested on this page and safety concerning any materials given and activity undertaken.)

• 💡 How to use this resource in your classroom/setting

  Our FREE Dinosaurs: Find Fossil Shapes Activity is incredibly versatile and can be used in a multitude of ways across various early years and KS1 environments:

  • The Dino Dig:

    • Print and laminate the cards for durability. Cut them out and bury them just under the surface of the sand in a sand tray.

    • Provide children with digging tools (spoons, brushes, trowels) and a bucket or magnifying glass to add to the excitement.

    • As children "excavate" a fossil, they can identify the shape they have found.

  • Shape Recognition & Matching:

    • Challenge children to find all four of the same shape. For example, "Can you find all four of the square fossils?"

    • Create a reference sheet with the shapes on it for children to match their findings to.

  • Counting & Data Collection:

    • Encourage children to count how many of each shape they have found. You can add a simple chart where they can mark off each time they find a particular shape.

  • Fine Motor Development: The act of digging through the sand to unearth the fossils and handling the cards is excellent for fine motor skills, hand strength, and hand-eye coordination.

  • Sensory Play: Sand play is a wonderful sensory experience that is enhanced by the added element of the "dino dig" game.

  • Literacy & Vocabulary: Use the activity to introduce new vocabulary like 'fossil', 'excavate', 'paleontologist', and the names of the different shapes.

• 🎯 Learning objectives covered - 🐣 EYFS Framework

  EYFS Framework:

  • Mathematics (Shape, Space and Measure): Children explore and understand the properties of 2D shapes, specifically by recognising, naming, and matching them.

  • Mathematics (Number): Children count objects reliably up to 4 or more, if you print more sets. They can also use number language in context.

  • Physical Development (Fine Motor Skills): Digging, brushing, and handling the cards strengthens small hand muscles and enhances hand-eye coordination.

  • Communication and Language: Children can describe the shapes they find and use new vocabulary related to the theme.

  • Understanding the World (The World): Introduces children to dinosaurs and the concept of fossils and archaeology through play.

• 🎯 Learning objectives covered - 🐤 KS1 Curriculum

  KS1 Curriculum:

  • Mathematics (Properties of Shape): Children identify and name 2D shapes, including pentagons and hexagons.

  • Mathematics (Number and Place Value - indirectly): Counting the objects supports a deepening understanding of number.

  • History/Science (indirectly): A fun and engaging way to introduce the topic of dinosaurs and fossils.

Download our FREE Dinosaurs: Find Fossil Shapes Activity today and watch your learners embark on a thrilling, educational adventure!

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