Dinosaur Habitat Diorama

Materials

• manila drawing paper cut into 12-inch squares
• scissors
• glue sticks
• crayons
• small plastic dinosaurs

Background Information

Dinosaurs were like animals today. In order to survive they needed the habitat requirements: food, water, shelter, and space.

To make the diorama

Each child will need a 12-inch square piece of manila paper. Help the children fold their paper corner to corner diagonally (picture 1). Without opening, fold the paper in half again (picture 2 & 3).

Show the children how to open their paper to the big square and then cut along one fold to the middle to make two triangles (picture 4). The children use a glue stick to outline one of the triangles and then place the other on top. They should have a stand up diorama.

Making the habitat

Talk with the children about the things they themselves need to survive. Ask what they think dinosaurs needed. Elicit water and have the children draw some water; food – draw plants or small dinosaurs (lay the diorama on its side to add tall plants)

The shelter can be tall grasses, a cave, or trees. Space can be grasslands, a forest, or a wetland.

Encourage the children to draw a sun. Some dinosaurs were ectotherms and needed to warm themselves in the sun like snakes and turtles do today.