We’re back again this week with our post for the Summer Readathon with MeMeTales and PBS and this week’s theme is Imagination. J is at the age where there is a fine line that is easily crossed between reality and his imagination and this theme covers some of our favourite activities and posts.
Of the 3 books this week – One caught my eye instantly and was also appropriate for J’s age as well as one of his favourite topics – in fact the topic of last Sunday’s Newsletter as well. There’s a Dinosaur in the Park is really great it gave us an opportunity to get crafty as well as talk about an environmental issue.
As we read through the book one of the things that caught J’s eye was on the last page and in the illustration – a dinosaur trash can – now at our local zoo they have penguin shapped trash cans so he instantly hit on it – which then gave me an opportunity to talk through the words in the story and explain about “feeding the trash can” the different items. It also meant that J decided we had to make our own dinosaur and if it had a mouth to put trash in all the better.
What you need to make our trash eating dinosaur
A cardboard box
Some thick Cardboard to make spikes with
Tissue
Sticky Tape
Tissue Paper in various colours
White Glue
Water
Black Pen
How you make our trash eating dinosaur
To start with because of J’s age I cut out a mouth on a cardboard box with sharp teeth at the top and then a flat bottom so his hand could go in and out but we could pretend to avoid the dinosaur eating our trash as we put it in. Then I cut out some spikes for the top of the dinosaur. We made balls out of tissue paper to be the eyes and stuck them on the front with sticky tape.
Together J and I tore up some tissue paper in different colours – we discussed what colours a dinosaur was and what colour his trash can should be – the verdict – all dinosaurs are green however, according to J’s logic if a trash can was green then some people would only put green stuff in it – so our dinosaur had to be all different colours which meant raiding our tissue paper stash and having fun tearing it up.
Next J and mixed up some white (PVA) glue with water to use to stick the tissue paper on with. Then J set about decorating his dinosaur. I had to say that this was probably his favourite part – he loved putting the glue on and adding the tissue paper – when it’s a large project like this cardboard box is he often gets bored and we come back to it but I had to remove this one to dry so we could work on the last side without moving all of the wet tissue paper off the body.
Returning to complete the face J was so enthusiastic to finish it – he loved seeing his dinosaur become colourful and ready to eat the trash that he wanted to feed it. He had decided that it would only be for recycling so he could put it in the BLUE bin outside and not just the kitchen bin.
If like us you are hooked on dinosaurs – then check out the ideas for dinosaur fun from some of my favourite blogs
Reading practice with some dinosaur foot prints
Dinosaur Adventure with LIFE size dinosaurs
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I love this!! We almost picked that book up at the library the other day. Next time, I will. (We don’t have an e-reading device). This dinosaur rocks!
Jen Fischer recently posted..Ten for Tuesday: Summertime Sandy Play
That is truly a magnificent craft and thanks so much for the link! xx
Multiple Mummy recently posted..Food Glorious Food!
What a wonderful project! The dinosaur is so cute!
JDaniel4′s Mom recently posted..Help! This Duck Has Low Self Esteem!
This is adorable! What a fabulous recycling bin
And I thought that book was super cute.
maryanne @ mama smiles recently posted..Build a Simple Cardboard House
Love how colorful your dinosaur is! My son loved the book, too.
Trisha @ Inspiration Laboratories recently posted..Stars Inspire Imaginations #readforgood
Thanks foro sharing! We made an alligator very simliar to this once, so cute! I love how all children are drawn to dinosaurs in childhood and build their imaginations.
A great project, I’m glad J didn’t just do green colours. You could do a similar idea for a small toy bin.
This is fabulous! That Dinosaur is SOOO great! What fun
Robyn recently posted..Hunting Night Crawlers
I can’t believe that I missed this post last week. I LOVE it. What a cute, great idea!
Bethany @ No Twiddle Twaddle recently posted..Kindle for Kids Free Ebook Daily
An eco dinosaur – perfect!
The fairy and the frog recently posted..Gaudi Snails
I LOVE this, what a great idea! My 3 would think it was amazing!
Thanks for linking to Science sparks xx
Emma @sciencesparks recently posted..Learning Resources – Magnet Set
Fantastic, it looks like so much fun and useful too!
Thanks for linking to the footprints also. xx
Emma @mummymummymum recently posted..Rousseau – Kids get Arty!
your trash eating dinosaur is brilliant.
amber recently posted..Napping With Potato Head Wordless Wednesday & LINKY
THAT is one BRILLIANT dinosaur!
The Zoo recently posted..Cooking with Kids: Chocolate Brownies
How adorable is that dinosaur? Love love love.
maggy, red ted art recently posted..Kids Get Arty – Exploring David Hockney & Photo Montage
What a fantastic dinosaur. It turned out great. Love this idea
So much fun, my oldest would love this. FSPDT
WOW!!! That is too cool! Thank you for writing out the steps. We will have to make something similar.
Allison recently posted..Oh Baby! Water Beads and Pool Play
Best.trash.can.everrrr!
Kristin @ Sense of Wonder recently posted..Camp Wonderland Presents: Yarn Day!
I love this!! So creative on both your parts
crystal@growingajeweledrose recently posted..150 Summer Play Ideas
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