Dinosaur Fossil Play Dough Sensory Activity
Have a little dinosaur lover on your hands? This Dinosaur Fossil Playdough Activity is the perfect mix of sensory play, science fun, and imaginative exploration that will make any future paleontologist roar with excitement!
There are affiliate links in this post – please read my full disclosure policy. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Dinosaurs, fossils, and Play Doh – oh my! This easy, hands-on activity brings a prehistoric twist to your typical playdough time, giving kids the chance to press, squish, and explore while learning all about how fossils are made.
With just a handful of toy dinosaurs and some dough, your little ones can spend hours making fossil impressions, creating dino tracks, and pretending they’re uncovering ancient discoveries right in your living room or classroom. It’s messy (in the best way), educational, and guaranteed to keep those busy hands and curious minds entertained.
When it comes to sensory play, we also have our homemade playdough recipe, glow in the dark slime, and fluffy cloud dough that you can do so many things with!
🌟Don’t Leave Before You Check Out These Fun Ideas!🌟
📌What You’ll Need
Play dough – Any color works, but earthy tones like brown, tan, or green add a fun, realistic fossil vibe. You can also use our DIY cloud dough recipe or homemade playdoh recipe.
Toy Dinosaurs – Small plastic dinosaurs with textured details work best to create interesting fossil imprints (think tails, spikes, claws, and scales!).
Rolling Pin (optional) – Great for flattening the playdough into a smooth “dig site.”
Plastic Knife or Playdough Tools (optional) – For kids who want to carve around their fossils or add extra details.
Magnifying Glass (optional) – For little paleontologists who want to examine their fossil details up close.
Round Bin or Sensory Trays – these are perfect for playing, but if you wanted to store for later, I recommend getting sensory bin boxes.
✨Ways to Use the Dinosaur Fossil Activity
There’s no right or wrong way to play with this sensory bin—just endless fun. Here are some fun ways little ones can engage with the materials:
Flatten the Playdough – Give each child a ball of playdough and let them flatten it into a smooth surface.
Make Fossil Imprints – Have kids press toy dinosaurs into the playdough to create detailed fossil impressions. They can experiment with different parts of the dinosaur—body, head, tail, or even spikes!
Dinosaur Footprints – Let kids walk the toy dinosaurs across the playdough to create footprint trails.
Observe & Explore – Encourage kids to examine the imprints, noticing details like skin texture and claw marks, just like real paleontologists!
Repeat & Create More – They can roll the playdough back up and try different dinosaurs or patterns.
💡Benefits of a Play Dough Sensory Table
Not only is this activity adorable and fun, but it’s also packed with developmental benefits.
Encourages sensory exploration and fine motor skills.
Introduces basic science concepts about fossils and dinosaurs.
Sparks creativity and imaginative play by pretending to be paleontologists discovering fossils.
Builds observation skills as kids notice imprint details.
💡Helpful Tips
- You could also add in kinetic sand or make your own play dough.
- Using the boxes makes clean up a breeze and you can easily store and get it back out when toddlers are ready to play again.
If you’re looking for a low-prep activity that feels like a real adventure, this Dinosaur Fossil Playdough Activity totally delivers. It’s messy, creative, and just the right amount of educational—plus, it gives your little dino fans the perfect excuse to stomp, squish, and explore all afternoon long!
