Today on The Inspiration Edit we have a fun Dinosaur paper plate craft idea which you will love. Dinosaurs are really fun for both girls and boys. It's a fun theme to cover both at preschool, at home, or in the classroom and there is so much to teach and learn. A crafty activity like this can really help spark a child's interest in Dinosaurs and history. Enjoy!
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💖 Why You'll Love This Craft
- Dino Delight: This colorful craft brings together the fun of dinosaurs with a rainbow twist, making it a hit with kids who love both!
- Boosts Creativity: Kids get to choose their own colors for the rainbow, allowing them to let their imaginations run wild and create their own unique dino masterpiece.
- Perfect for Playtime: Once finished, the adorable rainbow dinosaur can become a fun toy for pretend play, sparking even more creativity and engagement with their new dino friend!
RELATED POST: 41 DINOSAUR ACTIVITIES AND CRAFTS FOR SUMMER
🖌️ How To Make Paper Plate Dinosaurs
- Step 1: Cut each paper plate in half. Set one half of each plate aside for the dinosaur bodies.
- Step 2: With the other halves, cut out a little tail and a head for each dinosaur.
- Step 3: With each of the 4 foam pieces, roll each one up so the edges overlap just a little and staple the edges together. You will now have 2 rolled blue tubes and 2 rolled green tubes. Stand the tubes up and on one end of each, cut two ¼” slits across from each other.
- Step 4: Using the blue half plate, glue the head on the back rim at the bottom near the cut edge. Glue the tail on the back rim at the bottom near the cut edge at the other side. Do the same thing with the green plate.
- Step 5: Put glue on the bottom half of the circle foam pieces and stick them to the back rim of the blue dinosaur along the round part of plate. Fit as many as you would like. Repeat the same with the green dinosaur using the triangle foam pieces.
- Step 6: Glue a googly eye on each dinosaur head and draw a little mouth on them.
- Step 7: Stick the cut edge of the blue dinosaur plate into the slits of the 2 blue foam legs you made. It should stand upright now. Repeat this step with the green one. You now have a big and little dinosaur!
So it's really easy and simple and fun to make. Enjoy.
Check Out More Fun Kids Craft Ideas Here
💡 Pro Tip: Set aside a folder or box just for finished paper plate crafts so they don’t get bent or lost. Keeping them flat helps preserve their shape for future use.
🧑🎨 Expert Tips
- Table Movement: Assign different areas of the table for each crafting step, such as shaping, decorating, and cleanup. This creates flow and keeps the workspace organized.
- Background Pairing: After crafting the dinosaur, let kids draw the ground or sky on a separate sheet to place behind it. This builds a more complete visual without changing the main craft.
- Timed Transitions: Set a timer for certain parts of the activity, like decorating or finishing touches. It adds light structure and keeps things moving smoothly.
- Quick Sketch First: Before starting the dinosaur, ask kids to draw a fast sketch of what they imagine. This helps them focus their idea before using any craft supplies.
- Group Gallery: Once all crafts are done, do a mini “walkthrough” where each child gets a turn to explain theirs. It promotes sharing in a calm, structured way.
- End-of-Day Tie-In: Close the session by asking what the dinosaur saw or did that day. This reflection helps kids carry the activity into other parts of their routine.
💭 FAQs
Finished dinosaurs can be propped on small stands to decorate tables at events or playdates, giving a pop-up effect without needing extra décor pieces.
Kids can place folded notes under each paper plate dino, and others can lift them to reveal a surprise message, creating a simple yet fun reveal game.
Lightweight and colorful, these dinos can be pre-made and handed out at booths during fairs or school events, giving kids a take-home souvenir they’ll enjoy.
Each dino can be labeled with a number and removed daily to mark days left until a special occasion, offering a hands-on way to track time.
Super Cute Rainbow Dinosaur Paper Plate Craft
Equipment
- Scissors
Materials
- 1 —9” Green Paper Plate
- 1 —7” Blue Paper Plate
- 2 Sheets Blue Foam 5”x 1” size
- 2 Sheets Green Foam 5”x 2” size
- 1 pkg. Foam Pieces triangle shapes
- 1 pkg. Foam Pieces circle shapes
- 2 Googly Eyes
- Glue Stick
- Stapler
- Black Marker
Instructions
- Cut each paper plate in half. Set one half of each plate aside for the dinosaur bodies.
- With the other halves, cut out a little tail and a head for each dinosaur.
- With each of the 4 foam pieces, roll each one up so the edges overlap just a little and staple the edges together.
- You will now have 2 rolled blue tubes and 2 rolled green tubes.
- Stand the tubes up and on one end of each, cut two ¼” slits across from each other.
- Using the blue half plate, glue the head on the back rim at the bottom near the cut edge.
- Glue the tail on the back rim at the bottom near the cut edge at the other side.
- Do the same thing with the green plate.
- Put glue on the bottom half of the circle foam pieces and stick them to the back rim of the blue dinosaur along the round part of plate.
- Fit as many as you would like.
- Repeat the same with the green dinosaur using the triangle foam pieces.
- Glue a googly eye on each dinosaur head and draw a little mouth on them.
- Stick the cut edge of the blue dinosaur plate into the slits of the 2 blue foam legs you made.
- It should stand upright now. Repeat this step with the green one.
- You now have a big and little dinosaur!
- So it's really easy and simple and fun to make. Enjoy.
🖌️ Related Crafts
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