In this BLOG post I will share our recipe for DIY Dinosaur eggs, the benefits of exploring with them and extension ideas.
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XO Gina
My four kids LOVE any kind of activity where they have to dig, chip, smash or poke something out of an egg. They used to ask me to buy them ALL of the time, so I got to work creating a recipe that we could make together at home. I wanted it to be fun, simple and engaging!
The recipe that we created is perfect to make with your kids. They can help measure and mix the ingredients and form the eggs. Not only is it a great way to spend time together, but it also reinforces important academic and social skills. For instance, following a recipe, measuring and patience.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup coffee grounds
1 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1/4-1/2 cup or water
If you want to make a bigger batch, simply double or triple the recipe. If you do not have coffee grounds you can omit them, use cinnamon or use sand from outside! It really just adds color and texture to the Dino Eggs.
I used the same sensory bucket to mix the ingredients, form the eggs, let them dry and then play! You can use any sensory tray, bowl or bucket that you have.
Add all of the dry ingredients first. Slowly add in the water until it forms the above texture. You want it to be a thick consistency, you do not want it to be "soupy" like Oobleck. It will be almost like a dough or mud texture.
If it is too wet, simply add a bit more cornstarch.
If it is too thick, simply add a bit more water.
What to put inside the eggs:
Small plastic dinosaurs
Gems
Plastic animals
Rocks
Pom Poms
Basically anything that is small enough to fit and withstand the banging!
To make the eggs:
Put a small amount of mixture into your hand and flatten in. Push a dinosaur into the middle of the mixture. Then, top it off with more mixture and roll it around to form a ball. This doesn't have to be precise; you just want it to have a circle/oval shape and cover the dinosaur that is hidden in the middle.
Getting kids involved with this part is a great way to strengthening their finger and hand muscles. It is also a fun sensory experience, exploring the smell, texture and sight of the mixture!
Place the eggs back in the same sensory tray or bowl and let them sit for at least 24 hours. You want them to completely harden before playing with them.
Waiting 24 hours for them to harden can be hard. It can also be an excellent lesson in practicing patience. It also provides amazing opportunities to make observations.
What do the eggs look like when they are wet?
What color are they? What shape are they?
What do the eggs look like now that they are dry?
Do they feel differently? They were soft when they were wet and now that they are dry they are hard!
Tools you can use to excavate the eggs:
These are all GREAT for strengthening fine motor skills. They can also be reused over and over for learning and play.
Small wooden mallet
Paintbrush
Tongs or Tweezers
Self Regulation:
Did you know that banging, hitting or smashing an object (safely) can be a big stress-reliever for children? Activities like this can be a safe and supportive way to release big energy or big emotions.
Want to extend your learning and play?
Once all of the eggs have been opened, the mixture will resemble rocks or dirt. Have the kids continuing playing in the sensory bin. They can stomp the dinosaurs around or dig through with trucks. They can smoosh it with their hands or scoop it with a shovel!
Slowly add more water and turn the mixture into Oobleck. This will offer a whole new sensory experience for them to explore!
Introduce new language and vocabulary opportunities for early learners.
See them in action HERE!