Dinosaurs are a high-interest topic for any time of year. So I wanted to make this month’s subscriber freebie and themed post about dinosaurs! Dinosaurs are a great way to get many reluctant learners interested in language and math. The printable pack focuses on both language and math, although the Montessori-inspired dinosaur activities I’m featuring today focus on language.
Here, I’m also sharing the links to free dinosaur printables for preschoolers through 1st graders (and sometimes older). To keep my list manageable, I don’t share coloring pages unless a page has a specific educational purpose related to dinosaurs.
At PreK + K Sharing, I tell how I used the printables to prepare Montessori-inspired dinosaur language activities. I also have links to other posts with additional ideas and presentations.
Dinosaur Language Activities for Preschoolers-First Graders Using Free Printables
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links (at no cost to you).
Letter D Object Basket and Writing Tray
Free Printables: Dinosaur Letters for Letter D Object Basket and Writing Tray (part of my subscriber freebie pack, so just sign up for my email to get the link and password … or check the bottom of your latest newsletter if you’re already a subscriber)
For the letter d basket, I used a basket with small objects beginning with the /d/ sound. I like introducing the cursive letter along with the manuscript one, so I included the cursive d card. I used a variety of objects starting with /d/. You could just say the phonetic sound as you or your child removes an item from the basket: for example, “/d/ dog, /d/ doll…” Some of the objects are ones I had at home (such as Safari Ltd. TOOB objects and a miniature wooden doll I had), although many are from Montessori Services (they have individual phonetic objects or a whole set available).
For the letter d sand tray, I used the wooden tray from the Melissa & Doug Lace and Trace Shapes. You can use whatever tray or container work best for you, though. For the sand, I sterilized sand from outdoors by baking it for 30 minutes at 200F. You can also buy sand on Amazon.
Tracing Sandpaper Letter D from the Letter D Object Basket
My almost-3-year-old granddaughter, Zoey, traces the sandpaper letter “d” while saying the sound.
Checking out the Objects from the Letter D Object Basket
Zoey has loved miniature objects for a long time. She also loves the letter object baskets and always looks forward to seeing what will be in the next one.
(Note: In case you’re wondering, Zoey’s outfit is from Gymboree. You’ll find some great sales there right now!)
Dinosaur Letter Tile Cards (Beginning Sounds)
Free Printable: Dinosaur Letter Tile Cards (Beginning Sounds) by Karen Cox from PreKinders at TeachersPayTeachers. There are 3 levels to this printable, so it’s very versatile. I’m showing the middle version with the missing initial sound.
Free Printable: Montessori Movable Alphabet (1 Inch Letter Tiles). You could purchase letter tiles if you prefer rather than printing them out. For this activity, I used a Multicraft tray and small Bambu condiment cup to hold the letters.
For our floor work, we always use a Montessori Services hemmed work rug.
Dinosaur Syllables
Free Printable: Dinos TOOB Key by Safari Ltd., hosted at Living Montessori Now. I just printed it out and cut it apart, using the 8 dinosaurs that were in both the Dinos TOOB and dinosaur syllable cards.
Free Printable: Dinosaur Syllables from Dinosaur Unit Language Printable Pack 1 by Renae at Every Star Is Different
For this activity, I used a Multicraft tray, Safari Ltd. Dinos TOOB (the ones that matched the printable cards), Montessori Services basket to hold the dinosaurs, dinosaur syllable cards, Bambu large condiment cup, small Bambu condiment cup, and miniature clothespins. You could use glass gems like Renae did at Every Star Is Different. I just used the miniature clothespins because my almost-3-year-old granddaughter has been especially excited about them lately.
You could place a small control dot on the back of the card where the clothespin should go for a control of error (instant self-check).
Dinosaur Sight Words (Puzzle Words) with Clothespin Letters
Free Printable: Sight Word Dinosaurs from Classy Kinders by Jamie Aguilar at Teachers Pay Teachers
For this activity, I used a Multicraft tray containing a Montessori Services basket with clothespins with the letters for the puzzle words written on them with a permanent marker.
When I first teach puzzle words, such as “the,” I say something like: “/t/, /h/, and /ĕ/ together say the word ‘the.’ You can’t sound out ‘the.’ You just have to remember it.”
Dinosaur CVC Word Families
Free Printable: Dinosaur CVC Word Mats from Royal Baloo
This activity was super simple to prepare. It just used a small Montessori Services basket and Multicraft tray to hold everything.
There are a number of word families in the printable pack. I would generally put out one word family (such as the “at” family), letting the child make and read each of the words before putting out another word family.
Dinosaur Bones Punctuation Game
Free Printable: Dinosaur Bones Punctuation Game from 123 Homeschool 4 Me
For this activity, I used a Multicraft tray and small Bambu condiment cup to hold the markers (for up to 4 players).
I think this would make a nice cooperative game if everyone took turns moving the same piece. Of course, it works well as a traditional game, too. This is a fun way to reinforce punctuation skills.
More of My Resources That Include Dinosaur Activities
You’ll find lots of Montessori-inspired dinosaur activities and ideas in these Living Montessori Now posts:
Montessori-Inspired Dinosaur Unit
Montessori-Inspired Dinosaur Fun with Printables, Water Beads, and Glass Gems
Montessori-Inspired Dinosaur Activities Using Dinosaur Replicas
Make Fossils from Montessori at Home!
Free Dinosaur Printables and Montessori-Inspired Dinosaur Math Activities
Dinosaur Ice Melt Science Experiment for Toddlers and Preschoolers
Dinosaur Unit Study Pinterest Board
Free Dinosaur Printables for Preschoolers-First Graders
Montessori-Inspired Dinosaur Pack for DIY Cards and Counters, Number or Letter Matching, Number or Letter Basket, Number or Letter Salt/Sand Writing Tray, Letter Tracing, and DIY Movable Alphabet (subscriber freebie, so just sign up for my email to get the link and password – or check your inbox if you’re already a subscriber)
- Dinosaur Unit with Free Printables from Every Star Is Different
- Dinosaur Unit 2 with Free Printables from Every Star Is Different
- Dinosaur Unit 3 with Free Printables from Every Star Is Different
- Montessori-Inspired Time Line of Life Activities with Free Printables from Every Star Is Different
- Dinosaur Unit for Tots with Free Printables from Every Star Is Different
- Dinosaur Fact Cards and Worksheet from The Pinay Homeschooler
- Feathered Dinosaur Cards from The Pinay Homeschooler
- Dinosaur Kindergarten Pack from Royal Baloo
- Dinosaur Printables from Royal Baloo
- Dinosaur Pack from 3 Dinosaurs
- Dinosaur Dot Markers from 3 Dinosaurs
- Dinosaur Gross Motor Dice from 3 Dinosaurs (plus many more free dinosaur printables!)
- Jump into Summer Learning: Dinosaurs from3 Dinosaurs and Royal Baloo
- Dinosaur Free Printable Sight Word Game from Brain Power Boy
- Dinosaur Early Learning Pack from 123 Homeschool 4 Me
- Dinosaur Bones Punctuation Game from 123 Homeschool 4 Me
- Dinosaur Fact Cards and Writing Prompts from 123 Homeschool 4 Me
- Dinosaur Printables from Making Learning Fun
- Dinosaurs Printables from Kids-Dinosaurs
- Dinosaur Printables from Preschool Mom
- Dinosaur Printables from Busy Bee Kids Printables
- Dinosaur Printables from ABC Teach
- Dinosaur Themed Logic Puzzles from Relentlessly Fun, Deceptively Educational
- “If I Had a Pet Dinosaur” Printable from Relentlessly Fun, Deceptively Educational
- Dinosaur Pre-K Pack from Over the Big Moon
- D is for Dinosaur from First School
- Dinosaur Printables from DLTK
- Free Dinosaur Emergent Readers (funny) from The Measured Mom
- Dinosaur Double Addition Game from The Measured Moom
- Dinosaur Train Tot Pack from 1+1+1=1
- Dinosaur Train Printables from PBS Kids
- Printable for My Visit to the Dinosaurs by Aliki from Wise Owl Factory
- Dinosaur Printables from PreK-8
- Dinosaur Printables from Itsy Bitsy Fun
- PreK Letter D from Confessions of a Homeschooler
- Dinosaur Printables from Pre-K Pages
- Dinosaur Printables from PreKinders
- Dinosaur Maze from Print Activities
- Boy, Were We Wrong About Dinosaurs! from Pitner’s Potpourri
- Dinosaur Themed Party from Place of My Taste
- Dinosaur Printables from Teachers Pay Teachers
Helpful Post with Animal Classification
Montessori Animal Classification
At PreK + K Sharing, I have lots of themed activities and presentation ideas. Please join me at PreK + K Sharing to see all my posts there over the years: Deb Chitwood at PreK + K Sharing.
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