Inside: This Ten Little Dinosaurs circle time activity is a fun way to work on simple math skills with preschoolers. Free printable props included!
Do your toddlers and preschoolers love dinosaurs? If so, grab the free dinosaur printable provided towards the bottom of this page and use them while reading one of our favorite new books, Ten Little Dinosaurs!
Once you turn the printable into dinosaur stick puppets, you will have your students’ full attention as they are invited to help you count to ten, forwards and backwards.
A great way to get the children involved during circle time!
Ten Little Dinosaurs Circle Time Activity
I am often asked how to get children engaged during circle time.
In fact, it’s probably one of the most popular emails I get.
Circle time can be a challenge when you are trying to get – and then keep – each of your students’ attention.
That’s why I love using props such as these dinosaur stick puppets!
What you will need:
- A copy of the book Ten Little Dinosaurs
- Dinosaur circle time props (scroll down to find the free download)
- Popsicle sticks
- Scotch tape
Preparing your dinosaur stick puppets:
After downloading the free dinosaur printable, make a copy of each page and cut around the circles so that you have ten separate dinosaurs.
Tape one to the top of each popsicle stick so that you have dinosaur stick puppets.
Place everything near your circle time area so you are ready to go!
Ten Little Dinosaurs Circle Time Activity
After getting your students situated at circle time, tell them that you will be reading a book about ten dinosaurs.
Hold up all ten of the dinosaur stick puppets and invite the children to help you count them.
Put the sticks aside while you read the book.
When finished reading the book, bring out the dinosaur stick puppets again and this time invite the children to help count them backwards, from ten to one.
Adding a Pocket Chart
To add another visual to the counting part of this activity, place numbers in a pocket chart along with the dinosaurs (minus the popsicle sticks).
Invite a child to point to each number as everyone counts from one to ten.
This pocket chart could be used as an independent counting activity during centers time, too!
Place the the numbers and the dinosaurs in a container under the pocket chart.
Tell the children they can put the numbers on in the pockets of the chart from one to ten, and then add the dinosaurs.
To make this a bit easier, put the numbers in the pockets ahead of time and the children can add the dinosaurs.
More dinosaur activities:
20 Preschool Dinosaur Activities with Free Printable
Click on the photo below to get your free dinosaur printable:
Toddler and Preschool Dinosaur Lesson Plans
We’ve done the work for you!
We now have interactive thematic lesson plans for toddlers (16-35 months) AND preschoolers (3-5 years)!
Get ready for fun and learning with these dinosaur lesson plans. Explore a variety of themed hands-on activities! Easy to follow lesson plans include activity modifications and adaptations to meet the needs of all learners.
For more information, click on the graphics below:
