Dinosaur Swap Sensory Play for a Bit of Summer Fun

Kids universally seem to love to play in water, and a water table or tub of water can be a great alternative to having a pool or sprinkler or larger area of water that kids can play in.

Having themes in the water table is a lot of fun and can draw kids to it. I love this idea of making the water table into a dinosaur swamp, from the Imagination Tree. (Because most kids love dinosaurs, too, right?)

This is actually pretty easy to set up and includes a lot of natural materials in addition to the toy dinosaurs (you could also use other kinds of animals if you prefer). Include some buckets, nets or scoops for collecting and observing.

Throw in a dino-themed story book, and check out some more fun dinosaur activities for kids from Brain Power Boy.

How do your kids play with and learn about dinosaurs?

[Photo: the Imagination Tree.]

Guy Fawkes Night, otherwise known as Bonfire Night or Fireworks Night, is celebrated on Nov. 5 in the UK to mark the occasion in 1605 when Fawkes and other Catholic dissenters attempted to blow up Parliament and kill Protestant King James I. The plot was uncovered and stopped, but the day is still remembered and used as an occasion for bonfires, fireworks and fun, celebrating the nation’s (and the king’s) deliverance from a potentially fatal event.

Learn more about Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot, plus grab some worksheets if you’re a member (for example, this word search), from Activity Village. You’ll learn that using the word “guy” to refer to a man comes from Guy Fawkes, among other interesting facts. Kids Konnect also has some Guy Fawkes facts and worksheets for you to use in the classroom or at home.

Get some fun Guy Fawkes Night coloring pages from Coloring Pages Only. Admittedly some of these are a little silly but the whole idea of celebrating this day is a little weird to me so I’ll allow it.

Print out a Guy Fawkes mask from Twinkl, or you can do a full body scene to cut and paste from DLTK Kids. Check out more resources and some oddly cute 3D Guy Fawkes paper crafts that are also from Twinkl.

This is a great time to bring out all your fireworks and bonfire crafts (for example, this pointillist fireworks craft or a pretend play campfire). Find a few ideas for fireworks themed crafts for Guy Fawkes Day at Mud Mates. I love the look of the fireworks toast, pictured here.

EParenting has some more good ideas for ways to celebrate Guy Fawkes Night with kids. They also have a word search and have gathered some cute snack ideas for you to check out.

Have you read?

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