When we pulled out this dinosaur small world, my kids squealed. There’s something magical about a tiny world to play in.
It’s a great way to talk about everything you’ve been learning: what dinosaurs ate, where they lived and what makes each one special.
How to Build a Dinosaur Small World
Dinosaur STEM Challenge Cards
Get the printableLarge under-bed storage bin with a lid
Play sand (or taste safe moon sand)
Blue aquarium gravel
Small rocks and moss
Plastic plants and trees
Toy dinosaurs
A little water
Add sand
Pour sand into the bin and add just enough water to make it moldable, not muddy.
Make a river
Clear a path through the middle for a river.
Fill the river
Layer blue gravel in the river and line the edges with small rocks.
Add plants
Add moss, plants, trees and sticks. Build a nest with eggs if you like.
Add water
Pour a little water in the river.
Add dinosaurs
Add the dinosaurs and let the play begin.
Safety note
Gravel and small rocks are choking hazards. For little ones who still mouth things, skip them and use moon sand and bigger toys.
Things to Talk About
- Diet: Which dinosaurs ate plants and which ate meat?
- Habitat: Where did they live?
- Features: Sharp teeth, horns, long necks, three toes.
- No dinosaur toys? Make cardboard dinosaurs.
More dinosaur activities
See all →
Keep building with our dinosaur building brick mats.
The STEM cards include
- Dinosaur STEM challenge cards
- Instant PDF download, nothing is shipped
Perfect for
- Dinosaur units
- Preschool through 2nd grade
- STEM centers
Dinosaur Small World FAQ
A mini pretend play scene, like a tiny habitat, where kids act out stories with toys.
Fill a bin with damp sand, add a gravel river, plants and rocks, then add toy dinosaurs.
About 3 and up.
Use a bin with a lid and let it dry out between plays.
More Dinosaur Activities
See all →
From families like yours
Did you try it? Tell us how it went!
We love seeing these activities out in the wild: the lumpy letters, the snack breaks, the proud “I made a B!” moments. Leave a star rating, tell other parents what worked (and what totally didn’t), and add a photo of your setup if you’d like.
No stories yet. Be the first family to share how it went!
