DIY Dinosaur Excavation Sensory Bin Perfect For Palaeontologists To Be!

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DIY Dinosaur Excavation Sensory Bin Perfect For Palaeontologists To Be!

Do you have a dinosaur loving kiddo in your midst? Today’s project is super fun for kiddos to help assemble AND will keep them occupied for hours once the project is completed. Never fear if your child isn’t dinosaur crazy, try this project with plastic bugs, plastic animals or even little cars and trucks.

I LOVE doing crafts with my kids BUT sometimes mama just needs a little time for herself. This is one of those projects that I love because you get to assemble the bin together, but then the following afternoon they can play with it solo. Together time plus keeping kids occupied solo??? This is a winning project! 

What You Need For Your DIY Dinosaur Excavation Sensory Bin:

  • Plastic Container (We used a clear plastic 15L/15.8QT stackable Omni Box storage bin) 
  • Play sand
  • Plaster of Paris
  • Measuring Cups
  • Plastic Dinosaurs
  • Water
  • Something to stir with (a wooden spoon, a hand trowel or a hand spade work great)
  • Paint brushes to “uncover” the dinosaurs

Make your own dinosaur excavation sensory bin. Perfect for palaeontologists to be

Read on to find out how to assemble this awesome kids craft project! 

The Formula:

4 parts sand, to half part plaster, to half part water

So for example…

4 cups sand, 1/2 cup plaster, 1/2 cup water

8 cups sand, 1 cup plaster, 1 cup water

12 cups sand, 1.5 cups plaster, 1.5 cups water

16 cups sand, 2 cups plaster, 2 cups water

20 cups sand, 2.5 cups plaster, 2.5 cups water

24 cups sand, 3 cups plaster, 3 cups water

You get the idea! 

Directions:

 Make your own dinosaur excavation sensory bin. Perfect for palaeontologists to be

1. Measure your sand and pour it into your plastic container. 

Make your own dinosaur excavation sensory bin. Perfect for palaeontologists to be

2. Measure your plaster and pour it into your plastic container. 

Make your own dinosaur excavation sensory bin. Perfect for palaeontologists to be

3. Add in your water. 

Make your own dinosaur excavation sensory bin. Perfect for palaeontologists to be

4. Stir, stir and stir some more! 

Make your own dinosaur excavation sensory bin. Perfect for palaeontologists to be

5. Push half the sand to the side and lay your dinosaurs in the sand. Cover them with the rest of the sand and pat down. 

Make your own dinosaur excavation sensory bin. Perfect for palaeontologists to be

6. Leave bin to dry overnight. 

Make your own dinosaur excavation sensory bin. Perfect for palaeontologists to be

7. Set your little ones loose with some paint brushes to unearth the buried dinosaurs! 

Tell me… Would you put dinosaurs in your kiddos excavation bin or would you put in some kind of other animals? What’s your favorite project to keep your kiddos occupied so mama can have some solo time?

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11 Comments

  1. Anne Taylor says:

    This is such an excellent idea! I love it and will remember this when my two new grandkids are old enough to enjoy it! Thanks!

  2. What a fun activity for little kids. My oldest daughter did an excavation class at our local museum one summer and loved it. Thanks for sharing on Merry Monday. Pinned.

  3. I love sensory bins and creating new ones for the kids. What a great idea for dinosaur fans. Thanks for sharing at #HomeMattersParty

  4. My grandson is 4.He lives and breathes dinasaurs. Knows everyone of their names but seems to forget his when its bedtime lol. Hes going to love these 2 dinasaur ideas. Im excited to share these ideas with him.
    Thank you so much for this.
    Grammy fron NJ