I cannot wait to show you these easy Lego builds for kids. Also, grab more ideas on my page Dinosaur Unit Study.
I start with a roundup of adorable things I found and finish with a T-Rex and Stegosaurus LEGO tutorial.
Too, we do have more than one set of the creative boxes in our LEGO collection.
However, I did use only the bricks and studs that are available inside of these most basic boxes.
Your dinosaurs may look a little different if you are limited on pieces and you may have more of a mix of colors.
Too, while your child is crafting grab a book or two to read aloud.
It’s the best way to learn while doing easy Lego builds for kids.
I prefer living books when I can find them.
BOOKS ABOUT DINOSAURS FOR KIDS
15 Books for Kids Crazy About Fossils and Dinosaurs
Your dinosaur loving kids will love some of these books and resources for a fun dinosaur unit study.
What is a fossil? Sometimes it's the imprint of an ancient leaf in a rock. Or it could be the skeleton of a dinosaur that has turned to stone. With clear prose and beautifully detailed illustrations, award-winning author and illustrator Aliki describes the different ways fossils are formed and what they tell us about life on Earth long ago.
This is a clear and appealing science book for early elementary age kids, both at home and in the classroom. It includes a find out more section with a glossary and activity guide so kids can create their own fossils for someone to find a million years from now.
Gail Gibbons presents the most recent and up-to-date theories about the history of dinosaurs and dinosaur discoveries. She discusses the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods and the non-bird dinosaurs that lived during each time. Each dinosaur is explored in just the right amount of detail for young paleontologists, as this book brings these magnificent creatures to life again
How did those enormous dinosaur skeletons get inside the museum? Beloved author-illustrator Aliki’s simple, engaging text and colorful artwork bring the long-extinct creatures to life for young dinosaur enthusiasts.
Long ago, dinosaurs ruled the Earth. Then, suddenly, they died out. For thousands of years, no one knew these giant creatures had ever existed. Then people began finding fossils—bones and teeth and footprints that had turned to stone. Today, teams of experts work together to dig dinosaur fossils out of the ground, bone by fragile bone
A playful peek into the homes of dinosaur babies and their parents at bedtime!How do dinosaurs say good night?Brimming with humor and familiar good-night antics, here is a playful peek into the homes of dinosaur children and their parents at bedtime. Perfect for sharing and reading aloud, this is one nighttime book your own little dinosaur will want to read again and again.
A celebratory edition of this much loved classic picture book, now twenty-five years old. This rollicking rhyming text is a joy to read aloud, and the charming and colourful pictures will appeal to the very youngest dinosaur fans. Originally published in 1994, Dinosaur Roar! by Henrietta and Paul Stickland is now seen as a modern classic, a book that every preschool child should have.In the back of the book is a wonderful pull-out poster showing the dinosaur characters.The book carries the endorsement of the Earth Sciences Department at the Natural History Museum.
With a lively rhyming text and vibrant paper collage illustrations, author-artist Bob Barner shakes the dust off the dinosaur bones found in museums and reminds us that they once belonged to
living, breathing creatures. Filled with fun dinosaur facts (a T. Rex skull can weigh up to 750 pounds!) and an informational "Dinometer," Dinosaur Bones is sure to make young dinosaur enthusiasts roar with delight.
A long time ago there were dinosaurs. Big dinosaurs and small dinosaurs. Dinosaurs with horns on their heads or spikes down their backs. Dinosaurs with long, long necks and long, long tails. Imaginatively and with a masterful use of color, shape and composition, Bryon Barton brings to life a unique and endearing vision of what the world may have looked like once upon a time.
A long time ago there was dinosaurs. Big dinosaurs and small dinosaurs. Dinosaurs with horns on their heads or spikes down their backs. Dinosaurs with long, long necks and long, long tails.Imaginatively and with a masterful use of color, shape and composition, Byron Barton brings to life unique and endearing vision of what the world may have looked like once up ona time.
This STEM-friendly musical fossil dig will have dinosaur lovers singing along as they learn the science behind paleontology.
If you could be a dinosaur, which would you be? Would you roar like the ferocious T-Rex? Or soar overhead like the pterodactyl? In this playful early-learning book, Stella Blackstone s lyrical, rhyming text takes readers on an unforgettable Jurassic journey, while fabric artist Clare Beaton recreates the prehistoric world of dinosaurs using a colorful array of felt, sequins, beads and buttons.
I am Tyrannosaurus Rex.
I am a dinosaur,
otherwise known as
a terrible lizard.
Tyrannosaurus rex is a terrible dinosaur; of this, everyone is certain. But is this dinosaur really so terrible? He IS very big and very hungry. True, he might even eat his neighbors for lunch. But from his point of view, he can't help it. After all, he's not a vegetarian . . .
Meet George. He's strong, as a giant dinosaur should be, strong enough to wreck a plane! (Of course he thinks it's his old enemy, the flying Pteranodon.) He's loyal. He'll do anything to help Joan and Joey save their mother's ranch at Cricket Creek, even chase a bank robber. He's shy. He's so shy he gets Joan and Joey into hilarious, dinosaur sized trouble!
The classroom is decorated as Dinosaur Land, but Ms. Frizzle-inspired by an archeological dig-craves a more authentic experience. The Magic School Bus turns into a time machine and transports the class back millions of years to an adventure where they learn about dinosaurs, their habitats and diets, and even a Maiasaura nesting ground.
Fossils are one of the most important tools we have for learning about long-extinct wildlife.
A True Book: Earth Science series presents fascinating facts and fun activities that will engage the budding earth scientist, while exploring the fields of geology, meteorology, ecology, and more. This series includes an age appropriate (grades 3-5) introduction to curriculum-relevant subjects and a robust resource section that encourages independent study. In the 4.6 billion years since Earth was formed, many plant and animal species have come and gone. Readers will discover how fossils are formed, how paleontologists search for them, and what kinds of information they can provide.
A box of ten fossils: A box of this paleontological fossil sample contains ten of fossils, including sea clam fossils, trilobites, ichthyodonts, porphyrites, copal amber, graptolites, nematodes, phylloceras, corals, and spirals. Fossil specimen of algae.
Step into Prehistory: This Toob contains 10 expertly hand-painted mini figurines of ancient fossils, including a Dinosaur Footprint, Giant Crab, Ammonite, Raptor Claw, Fossilized Frog, Trilobite, T-Rex Tooth, Fossilized Fish, Dinosaur Skin, and a Sea Scorpion.
First let’s learn a bit about the real-life counterparts of our little brick buddies.
T.REX & STEGOSAURUS DINOSAURS FACTS
T. Rex
Name: Comes from Greek and Latin words meaning ‘Tyrant Lizard King’.
Eating Habit: Carnivore
Size: 20 ft tall to almost 40’ long.
Believed to have been in the Cretaceous Period 65 million years ago, in what’s now the USA and Canada. Fun Fact: T. Rex are thought to have had a brain twice as big as those of the other big carnivorous dinosaurs.
Stegosaurus
Name: Stegosaurus is from the Greek for “roof lizard”, named so after its bony plates.
Eating Habit:Herbivore
Size: 21-30 feet long.
Stegosaurus was thought to have lived about 145 million years ago during the Jurassic period in what’s now known as Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming.
Fun Fact: Stegosaurus is the official state dinosaur for Colorado
And then look at these other dinosaur activities.
MORE DINOSAUR FUN
- Fun Facts About Mold Fossils & 4 Types of Fossil Activities For Kids
- Make Fun Edible Fossils and Free Magic School Bus Fossils Worksheet
- Make your own easy Cardboard Dinosaur Feet for some fun dramatic play time.
- Geronimo Stilton The Journey Through Time Fun Easy No Sew Dinosaur Mat
- Science Fiction for Middle School Fun Jurassic Park Quick Unit Study (DIY Insect in Amber)
- For a great sensory activity while you teach your child about various hypotheses for extinction this Erupting Dinosaur Extinction Slime looks like fun.
I also have a few must-have Lego pieces I want to share with you to start your LEGO collection.
First off this LEGO Creative Box is a must have for boys or girls.
They can be used for so much more than just building although that alone is worth the investment.
Next, if you don’t already have one a LEGO Baseplate for your builds is needed to create a foundation that is also moveable.
Once you begin to grow past one or two standard boxes you will want to grab something like these LEGO Organizers to help keep everything together and sorted a bit.
We are building this ferocious T.Rex
And a cute little Stegosaurus
Finally, look at how to make this T.Rex and Stegosaurus dinosaurs.
HOW TO MAKE LEGO T.REX AND STEGOSAURUS DINOSAURS
When building your dinosaurs do not get stuck so much on the exact size of the bricks.
For instance, if it calls for one 2×4 you can use two 2x2s instead just getting the same width and length out of any combination of bricks or plates.
Also sloped pieces can be rounded or sharp edged to help you create your masterpiece.
T.Rex:
- 2 1×8 plates
- 1-1 x 6 plate
- 1-2 x 6 brick
- 2-2×4 bricks
- 2-2×3 bricks
- 2-1×2 plates
- 2-2×2 sloped
- 2-2×4 bricks
- 2-2×3 sloped
- 3-1×2 sloped
- 2 -knob studs
- 4-nose cones
- 2 studs
- 2 eyes
- 2-2×2 roof tile
First, begin by placing a 2×6 stud on top of the 2×6 sloped pieces to create the base of the body.
This will work with either the rounded ones or the sharp angle ones.
Next, center the 2-1×8 plates on the body to create the tail. Place 1×2 plates on either side.
Put a 2×4 brick on the tail closest to the body and round it off with a sloped 2×2 brick.
This will make it heavier on the back end but by the time we are done building it will be leveled off.
Center a 2×2 on the body and place 1×6 plates on either side, these are the arms.
EASY LEGO BUILDS FOR KIDS
Add 1×2 sloped bricks to the top of each plate for hands.
Place a 2×6 on the center to build up the body and create a neck.
Finally, it is time to build the ferocious head.
Use 2 of the sloped roof tiles as a base, these are the ones that look halfway upside down. Place 4 nose cones on one, and a 2×2 brick on the other.
Put a sloped 2×2 over the ‘teeth’ with knob studs directly behind it for the eyes, which you can then pop into place.
Finish the head with 3 sloped 1×3’s to round it off a bit.
Press the head into place on top of the body.
Stegosaurus:
- 2-2×8 plates
- 1-2×2 plate
- 2-1×2 bricks
- 1-2 x 3 bricks
- 4-2×2 bricks
- 6-2×4 bricks
- 4-2×2 sloped studs
- 1-knob stud
- 2 sloped studs
- 2 eye studs
- Assorted slope studs
Take 2-2×8 plates and place them end to end. Top with a 1×2 at one end and then continue as follows- 4-2×4’s placed horizontally over the bricks and any combination of bricks vertically to create a tail that is 2×8 studs long.
Bottom view
top view
To create the spikes along the back and tail we used various heights and sizes of sloped bricks like so.
Place 2×2 sloped bricks on 2×2 bricks to make legs and feet.
Now, quick and easy build a head starting by placing eyes on the knob studs.
Put them on top of a 2×4 brick, adding a sloped piece for the nose, and a flat tile to finish off the head.
Pop the head onto the front of your stegosaurus.
