Dinosaur ‘Fossil’ Hunting Sensory Activity

sensory, special educational needs, Tuff tray, Uncategorized

Dinosaur ‘Fossil’ Hunting Sensory Activity

January 10, 2018

Here’s a fun, Sensory Activity for children to play that also helps develops Fine motor control and hand strength…and a love of dinosaurs!

Dinosaur fossil hunting Sensory Play.. #sensorydinohunt

In terms of science…no it’s not very true to life, but for younger children it’s a great introduction to ‘ fossil’ hunting.

What do you need?

Tray
Cous cous/sand/ kinetic sand -we used to different sizes of cous cous for effect!
Toy dinosaurs (or pretend fossils!)
Paint brush

What do they do?

Have fun burying the dinosaurs in cous cous then discovering them by carefully brushing away the cous cous…then bury them again!!

What can children learn from this activity and how can they benefit?

Fine motor skills- holding and manipulating the paintbrush can help children develop the tiny muscles in their hands and fingers that are required for learning to write. This could also be used an activity to improve pencil grip.
Patience and attention to detail- children can practise both these skills, taking their time to find the dinosaur fossils.
Numeracy- children can describe the shapes they are discovering.
Sensory play benefits- many children find sensory play therapeutic and relaxing.

Like this? We’d love you to share via social media! Even better share your own #sensorydinohunt pictures!

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#ablogginggoodtime

Blissful Domestication

Georgina Durrant

dinosaur, fossil hunt, messy play, Sensory play, sensory play activity, tuff tray activity

57 responses to “Dinosaur ‘Fossil’ Hunting Sensory Activity ”

Sim @ Simslife.co.uk

January 10, 2018 at 2:00 pm

A great post with some great advice! Thanks, Sim x #PoCoLo

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1. cheshiresentutor
  
  January 10, 2018 at 2:32 pm
  
  Thank you, really appreciate your comment
  
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Jeanne Visser

January 10, 2018 at 5:18 pm

A fun and easy activity for toddlers. Thanks for sharing!

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1. cheshiresentutor
  
  January 10, 2018 at 5:39 pm
  
  Thank you, great fun!
  
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Kate Holmes

January 10, 2018 at 5:36 pm

Looks like a lot of fun today and anything to do with dinosaurs is always a hit. Found you via Wandering Wednesdays linky

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1. cheshiresentutor
  
  January 10, 2018 at 5:39 pm
  
  Thanks Kate! It really was, would recommend the activity (minus the vacuuming of cous cous afterwards!)
  
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millerinthecity

January 12, 2018 at 9:17 am

This is a fun activity for toddlers to develop not only sensory skills but the necessary motor skills as well.#Blogcrush

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1. cheshiresentutor
  
  January 12, 2018 at 9:21 am
  
  Thank you for the comment, really pleased you liked the activity
  
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Spectrum Mum (@SpectrumMum_)

January 12, 2018 at 10:36 am

I love this idea and will definitely share with my nursery colleague at school. Thanks for sharing on #ablogginggoodtime

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1. cheshiresentutor
  
  January 12, 2018 at 11:45 am
  
  Thank you, really pleased you like it- hope your colleague enjoys it- is love to hear how they get on 😊
  
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ADadsTale

January 12, 2018 at 2:22 pm

That is a great idea and looks like a lot of fun. Love how they use the brush to move away the sand which takes a lot of concentration.

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1. cheshiresentutor
  
  January 12, 2018 at 2:23 pm
  
  Thank you! The brushing was the best bit! Pleased you liked it! Thanks for the comment
  
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twinmumemily

January 12, 2018 at 7:29 pm

Love this idea! My girls would love this! Thanks for joining #ThatFridayLinky

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1. cheshiresentutor
  
  January 12, 2018 at 7:38 pm
  
  So pleased you like it, thanks for the comment
  
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thespooniemummy

January 12, 2018 at 9:49 pm

Such a great idea, my boys would love this! #blogcrushlinky

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1. cheshiresentutor
  
  January 13, 2018 at 7:13 am
  
  Thank you, I’ve also got ‘how to Make a dinosaur egg’ and ‘Construction site porridge oats’ that I bet they’d love too- have a look 😊
  
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  1. thespooniemummy
    
    January 13, 2018 at 8:40 pm
    
    Will definitely look at the egg one…my youngest also loves kinder eggs! Thanks xx
    
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  2. cheshiresentutor
    
    January 13, 2018 at 8:46 pm
    
    Your welcome. Thank you 😊
    
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  3. cheshiresentutor
    
    January 13, 2018 at 9:00 pm
    
    Here’s the link to the Dinosaur Egg activity https://senresourcesblog.com/2017/07/30/how-to-make-a-dinosaur-egg/
    
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Zoe

January 13, 2018 at 1:46 pm

This is a fab idea, my girls would love this! Thanks so much for sharing with #Blogstravaganza xx

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1. cheshiresentutor
  
  January 13, 2018 at 2:37 pm
  
  Thank you! So pleased you like it, thanks for the comment
  
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Alice | Letters to my Daughter

January 13, 2018 at 5:01 pm

What a great idea, and so easy! Could I get away with dino cars do you think?!! #BlogCrush

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1. cheshiresentutor
  
  January 13, 2018 at 5:47 pm
  
  Hahah why not?! Thanks for the comment…love to see photos of your Dino car cous cous adventures!
  
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Mrs Mactivity (@MrsMactivity)

January 13, 2018 at 5:07 pm

I love anything creative like this – especially when it comes to fine motor skills and little ones. I chose your post from the #blogcrush linky ❤

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1. cheshiresentutor
  
  January 13, 2018 at 5:48 pm
  
  Thanks so much, pleased you liked it!
  
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Katy – Hot Pink Wellingtons

January 13, 2018 at 6:58 pm

What a lovely idea, I think my son would absolutely love this! I’d been thinking about doing something similar in his sand tray once the summer was here, but this means we could do it now, which is far better! Thanks for joining us again at #SharingtheBlogLove

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1. cheshiresentutor
  
  January 13, 2018 at 7:16 pm
  
  Your welcome, so pleased you liked it. The cous cous is also great on sensitive skin if sand irritates little hands too! We reviewed some kinetic sand a while back, need to try it with that too- imagine that would be fun! Thanks so much for the comment, would love to hear how you get on trying the activity with your son 😊
  
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diynige

January 14, 2018 at 9:51 am

A fab post with loads of fab advice and tips Thank you for linking to #Thatfridaylinky please come back next week

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1. cheshiresentutor
  
  January 14, 2018 at 10:32 am
  
  Thank you! Will do!
  
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The Queen of Collage

January 14, 2018 at 11:12 am

Having seen a little one enthuse over a certain dinosaur programme I think she would love doing this. #fortheloveofBLOG

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1. cheshiresentutor
  
  January 14, 2018 at 1:00 pm
  
  Please let me know if you do it and she likes it 😊 would love to know. Thanks for the comment
  
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Kelly Edwards

January 15, 2018 at 12:50 pm

Oooh I love this! May have to give this a whirl on my next day off 🙂 thanks for linking up to #fortheloveofBLOG

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1. cheshiresentutor
  
  January 15, 2018 at 12:59 pm
  
  Thanks so much! If you do end up doing it please let me know how it goes! Thanks for the lovely comment
  
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Mrs Mummy Harris

January 16, 2018 at 8:32 pm

Ben would love this! He’s all for sensory play and loves his dinosaurs thanks to George’s teddy in Peppa Pig!
Thank you for sharing this with us at #TriumphantTales. I hope to see you back next week!

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1. cheshiresentutor
  
  January 16, 2018 at 8:34 pm
  
  Brilliant, try it! I’d love to hear what your son thinks to it. Thank you for the lovely comment
  
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Kate on thin ice (@kateonthinice)

January 16, 2018 at 8:42 pm

Popping by from #TriumphantTales this time and thanks for the mess warning

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1. cheshiresentutor
  
  January 16, 2018 at 8:43 pm
  
  Haha-very welcome! It’s a ‘vacuum at the ready’ sort of activity
  
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Musings of a tired mummy…zzz…

January 17, 2018 at 6:03 pm

I love the idea of using couscous: brilliant! My children are obsessed with dinos at the moment and this activity looks great for them all to enjoy #sharingthebloglove

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1. cheshiresentutor
  
  January 17, 2018 at 9:15 pm
  
  Thank you so much, would love to hear if you try it and what they think. Thanks for such a lovely comment
  
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Helen

January 17, 2018 at 6:30 pm

What a great idea, simple but effective I know my son would love this activity. Thanks so much for linking up #BloggersBests

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1. cheshiresentutor
  
  January 17, 2018 at 9:15 pm
  
  Thank you Helen, would love to hear how you get on if you try it! Thanks for the lovely comment
  
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motherhoodtherealdeal

January 18, 2018 at 11:49 am

This is such a lovely activity I remember doing something similar with my daughter with sand and sea creatures before and she absolutely loved it! Thanks for linking up to #coolmumclub and welcome! x

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1. cheshiresentutor
  
  January 18, 2018 at 12:12 pm
  
  Thank you for the lovely comment, sand and sea creatures also sounds brilliant- will have to try that one out too. Thanks 😊
  
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Daydreamer mum

January 21, 2018 at 10:02 pm

My lot would have loved this idea as littler ones…as would I actually!! #DreamTeam

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1. cheshiresentutor
  
  January 22, 2018 at 7:26 am
  
  Thanks for the lovely comment- glad you liked it!
  
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Alice Letters to my Daughter

January 25, 2018 at 7:02 pm

Popping back this week because someone loved this post so much, they added it to the #BlogCrush linky! Feel free to collect your “I’ve been featured” blog badge 🙂

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1. cheshiresentutor
  
  January 25, 2018 at 7:30 pm
  
  Thanks Alice! That’s fab! Will do, my second badge from Blog Crush now- thanks so much 😊😊😊
  
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Top 10 Sensory Play Activities & Ideas | Early Years Resources Blog

February 15, 2018 at 12:00 pm

[…] Fill a large Tub with couscous and bury toy Dinosaurs inside it. Then ‘hunt’ for your dinosaurs using brushes in an exciting Fossil Hunt. […]

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ouramanahsourfutures

March 31, 2018 at 5:29 pm

This is fab and I bet they were kept occupied for a long time. I can’t waot until mine is old enough to try this.

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1. cheshiresentutor
  
  March 31, 2018 at 5:31 pm
  
  Thank you! It did! Was a bit messy to clean up, but well worth it. How olds your Little one? Hope you don’t have too long to wait to try it out!
  
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Kerry

April 11, 2018 at 5:31 pm

This is such a great idea for little ones, and would have been ideal when my little boy was younger. He’s dinosaur mad! Thank you so much for linking up with #KidsandKreativity with your second post, it would be lovely to see you again next week.

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1. cheshiresentutor
  
  April 12, 2018 at 9:57 am
  
  Thank you! Really pleased you liked it! We’ve got a dinosaur themed week coming up on our blog soon- so you’ll have to come back and have a look 😊
  
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sensationallearning

April 12, 2018 at 9:45 am

I love the idea of using paint brushes, to get that real archaeologist feel! x #KidsandKreativity

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1. cheshiresentutor
  
  April 12, 2018 at 9:55 am
  
  Thank you! Great to help teach kids how to be gentle and careful with the brush too/
  
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cheshiresentutor

May 2, 2018 at 7:23 am

Reblogged this on Special Educational Needs Resources Blog and commented:

Here’s a fun, sensory activity for kids to help them develop fine motor skills and a love of dinosaurs!

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Recommended Sensory Toys/Resources for Kids- SEN Resources Blog Sensory Christmas Gift Guide 2018 – Special Educational Needs Resources Blog

November 3, 2018 at 10:30 am

[…] sharing our ideas for sensory play such as dinosaur shadow drawing, Sensory alphabet activities, dinosaur fossil hunt […]

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Dinosaur Sensory Play #AutismAwareness | Ginger Mom & Company

April 24, 2019 at 8:45 am

[…] for Little Man and Little Lady. And oh my gosh, they loved it! I modeled this Sensory Bin after this fossil hunt one (and it inspired us to order some dinosaur fossil toys, as […]

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