Dinosaur Planter Craft for Kids – DIY Gardening Fun at Home
What’s the Problem?
In today’s fast-paced, screen-heavy world, parents and teachers face a common dilemma:
How can we engage children in meaningful, hands-on activities that nurture curiosity, responsibility, and learning—without relying on expensive kits or constant supervision?
Many crafting ideas either:
- Require expensive tools or specialty materials,
- Lack educational value,
- Or simply don’t hold a child’s interest for more than 15 minutes.
Enter dinosaur planters—a playful, low-cost craft that combines art, science, and sustainability. Kids create their own prehistoric-themed mini garden using toy dinosaurs, a bit of soil, and loads of imagination.
This project solves multiple challenges at once:
- It’s screen-free
- Affordable and accessible
- Educational across multiple domains (STEM, sustainability, design thinking)
- Fun and visually engaging
The Learning Framework
Creating DIY dinosaur planters isn’t just about having fun with dirt and toys. It aligns perfectly with cross-curricular educational goals:
STEM Integration
- Biology: Teaches plant life cycles, root systems, and photosynthesis.
- Earth Science: Understand soil, water, and light needs for living organisms.
- Engineering: Kids plan how to cut, fill, and drain the toy body safely.
For more hands-on science, explore our Kids Crafts Station project.
Arts & Design
- Encourages creative expression through painting, decorating, and custom naming of their “dino gardens.”
Social-Emotional Learning
- Promotes responsibility through plant care.
- Encourages patience, observation, and delayed gratification.
- Builds ownership and pride in nurturing something they’ve created.
Sustainability Awareness
- Teaches upcycling (using old toys)
- Introduces basic ecological thinking (mini-ecosystems)
- Opens conversations about climate and habitat loss
Hands-On Instructions
Age Range: 4–12 (adult support needed for cutting or hot glue)
Duration: 45–60 minutes for setup, ongoing care throughout weeks
Resource List
| Item | Use |
|---|---|
| Large plastic dinosaur toy | Main planter body (reuse old toys!) |
| Craft knife or small drill | To cut open a planting hole (adults only) |
| Acrylic paints + brushes | For decorating the dinosaur |
| Googly eyes, glitter, moss | Optional decorations |
| Pebbles or shells | Base drainage layer |
| Potting soil | Planting medium |
| Seeds or small plants | Basil, succulents, mint, spider plant, etc. |
| Spoon or mini shovel | To fill soil cleanly |
| Popsicle stick + tape | DIY plant label or garden sign |
| Watering dropper or spray | To hydrate gently without overwatering |
Instructions
Step 1: Pick Your Dinosaur
Choose a large hollow plastic dinosaur—like a Stegosaurus or Triceratops. Ensure the body has space for a soil cavity.
Step 2: Cut the Planting Hole (Adults Only)
Cut a square or oval opening on the dinosaur’s back. Smooth edges with sandpaper or tape for safety. Drill small holes underneath for drainage.
Step 3: Decorate Your Dino
Let kids go wild with paints, glitter, stickers, and googly eyes. Encourage personalisation with colour patterns and nicknames.
Step 4: Layer Pebbles + Soil
Add a thin layer of pebbles to aid drainage, followed by soil (around ¾ full). Press gently.
Step 5: Plant & Water
Add the plant or seeds. Water lightly using a spray bottle or dropper. Teach kids to feel the soil for moisture.
Step 6: Create a Dino Sign
Write a fun name or plant type on a popsicle stick. E.g. “Spikey the Sageosaurus” or “Minty the Veggie-Rex.”
Alternative Project Versions
- Recycled Dino Bottle
Use plastic soda bottles cut and shaped like dinosaurs. Decorate and plant as usual. - Glow-in-the-Dark Jurassic Garden
Add glow-in-the-dark paint, mini LED lights, or glow pebbles for nighttime magic. - Herbivore Herb Set
Grow different edible herbs in multiple dino planters—basil, coriander, oregano—and match them to herbivorous species. - Terrarium Twist
Place finished dinosaur planter into a glass container filled with gravel, moss, and shells to create a self-contained habitat. - Fossil Paint Textures
Glue pasta or pressed leaves to the dinosaur’s body before painting to simulate fossils or dino skin textures.
What Kids and Parents Are Saying
“My daughter named hers ‘Leafy Rex’ and checks on it daily like it’s a pet.” – Megan, NSW
“We’ve made three different dino gardens now. The basil in ‘Spike’ is growing better than in our real pots!” – Jason, VIC
“I used this in my Year 2 class and tied it to our ‘Living Things’ science unit. Huge hit!” – Miss Turner, QLD
Deepening the Activity
- Science Log: Track daily plant growth, water levels, and sunlight exposure.
- Creative Writing Prompt: “A Day in the Life of My Dino Garden”
Pair with writing challenges like those in Starry Nights with Kids for extended imagination. - Plant Venn Diagram: Compare dinosaur needs (food, water, shelter) to plant needs.
- Math Graphs: Record how many cm the plant grows each week, chart the results.
- Dino Ecology Discussion: What kind of plants existed in the Mesozoic era?
Seasonal Tips & Regional Variants
Want year-round fun? Try seasonal plant swaps:
- Spring: marigolds, thyme, mint
- Summer: cherry tomatoes, parsley
- Autumn: wheatgrass, chives
- Winter (indoors): spider plants, rosemary cuttings
Bonus tip: In warm climates like Australia, this project works outdoors most of the year. For colder zones, place planters near windows with good sunlight.
Sustainability Tie-In
Talk with kids about:
- Why dinosaurs went extinct
- What humans can do to prevent today’s species from disappearing
- How small actions like gardening, composting, and upcycling help our Earth
Let them suggest how to reuse containers or collect rainwater to help their dino gardens thrive sustainably.
Learn how kids can become eco-guardians in our Earth Day Skills Lab.
Sensory-Friendly Tips
This activity supports neurodivergent learners by engaging:
- Visual processing (paint, colour, shape)
- Fine motor skills (scooping, watering)
- Predictability (routine watering, visible growth)
Adaptations:
- Use bigger toys and fewer decorations for simpler handling
- Let kids observe instead of touch if preferred
- Pair up in teams for peer-supported planting
Free Printable Resource Pack (PDF Download)
Download the matching Dinosaur Planter Activity Kit, which includes:
- Dino Plant Tracker Journal (draw + write)
- DIY Name Tag Templates
- Weekly Growth Graph Sheet
- Printable Venn Diagram for Dino vs. Plant Needs
- Bonus Dino Colouring Page
Click to Download: [Dinosaur Planter Activity Kit.pdf]
Use it at home, in class, or for holiday workshops!
Wrap-Up Message
Dinosaur planters are more than just a cute craft—they’re a full learning journey disguised as prehistoric fun. Kids not only get to design, decorate, and dig in the dirt, but they also gain real-life knowledge about nature, responsibility, and creativity.
It’s a budget-friendly, brain-boosting activity that works for:
- Home learning
- Classrooms
- Camps or clubs
- Birthday parties
Ready to dig into learning?
Tag your creations with us and share them at kids-activities.net!
