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Dinosaur Worksheets for Preschool & Kindergarten – Free Printable PDF Activities
Dinosaurs are a fun way to get young children interested in early science and learning. These printable dinosaur worksheets give Pre-K and Kindergarten children simple ways to explore dinosaurs while practicing skills like identification, counting, sorting, matching, and pencil control.
Help kids recognize common dinosaurs while practicing early identification skills.
A simple way for young learners to explore basic dinosaur features.
Learn about two simple dinosaur food groups through an easy sorting activity.
Kids can explore dinosaur movement through a simple and playful sorting activity.
Practice counting and number recognition with fun dinosaur pictures.
Build visual matching skills by finding the shadow that belongs to each dinosaur.
Help the dinosaur find the right path through the prehistoric maze.
Connect the numbers in order and discover the dinosaur hidden in the dots.
What Are Dinosaurs?
Dinosaurs were a large and diverse group of animals that lived millions of years ago. They were reptiles, but they were not all alike. Dinosaurs came in many shapes and sizes, and different species had different diets, body structures, and ways of moving.
Some dinosaurs were small enough to be much shorter than an adult human, while others were enormous. Some had long necks and tails, some had horns or bony armor, and others had sharp teeth and claws.
It is also helpful to know that not every prehistoric animal was a dinosaur. Pterosaurs, for example, were flying reptiles rather than dinosaurs. Marine reptiles such as plesiosaurs were also separate groups of prehistoric animals.
When Did Dinosaurs Live?
Dinosaurs first appeared about 230 million years ago, during the Triassic Period. They went on to live for millions of years and became increasingly diverse.
The time when dinosaurs lived is generally divided into three periods:
Triassic Period
The Triassic was the first period of the Mesozoic Era. The earliest dinosaurs appeared during this time and were initially only one part of a much larger prehistoric world.
Jurassic Period
During the Jurassic Period, dinosaurs became more widespread and many different types evolved. This is the period associated with several famous long-necked dinosaurs.
Cretaceous Period
The Cretaceous was the final period of the age of dinosaurs. Many familiar dinosaurs lived during this time, including Tyrannosaurus Rex and Triceratops.
About 66 million years ago, non-avian dinosaurs disappeared in a mass extinction at the end of the Cretaceous Period.
There is one interesting detail that can make this topic especially fun for children: birds are considered living dinosaurs. Modern birds descended from theropod dinosaurs, so dinosaurs did not completely disappear from Earth.
Were All Dinosaurs Huge?
No. One of the easiest misconceptions for children to have is that every dinosaur was gigantic.
Dinosaurs ranged from relatively small animals to some of the largest land animals known to have existed. Their body sizes also differed greatly within different dinosaur groups.
A dinosaur’s size could be related to its species, diet, body structure, and way of life. Looking at different dinosaurs side by side can therefore be a great opportunity for children to practice comparing animals.
What Did Dinosaurs Eat?
Dinosaurs had different diets. Some mainly ate plants, while others ate other animals.
Herbivorous Dinosaurs
Herbivores were plant-eating dinosaurs. Depending on the species, they may have eaten leaves, ferns, seeds, fruits, or other vegetation available in their environment.
Some familiar plant-eating dinosaurs include:
- Triceratops
- Stegosaurus
- Brachiosaurus
- Ankylosaurus
Carnivorous Dinosaurs
Carnivorous dinosaurs ate other animals. Many theropods had features such as sharp teeth and claws that were useful for catching or eating prey.
Examples include:
- Tyrannosaurus Rex
- Velociraptor
- Spinosaurus
Scientists do not simply guess what dinosaurs ate. Fossil evidence, including teeth, jaws, bones, and other discoveries, provides clues about their diets.
This makes herbivore and carnivore a useful introductory science concept for young children because they can begin to understand that different animals have different food needs.
How Did Dinosaurs Move?
Dinosaurs did not all move in the same way.
Some dinosaurs were four-legged, while many theropod dinosaurs moved primarily on two legs. Their skeletons provide important clues about how they supported their bodies and moved.
Scientists can also study fossilized footprints to learn more about how prehistoric animals traveled.
For young children, movement is an easy feature to observe. They can compare dinosaur pictures and think about whether a dinosaur appears to walk on four legs or move on two.
What Did Dinosaurs Look Like?
There was no single dinosaur body shape. Different species developed different features suited to their lifestyles.
Children can easily begin learning about some of the basic features found on dinosaur illustrations:
- Head
- Eyes
- Teeth
- Legs
- Tail
Some dinosaurs also had distinctive features that made them easier to recognize. Triceratops had three facial horns and a large frill, Stegosaurus had large plates along its back, and Ankylosaurus had heavy armor and a tail club.
Dinosaur body coverings were also more varied than many children’s books and cartoons suggest. Fossil evidence shows that some dinosaurs had scales, while some dinosaur groups had feathers or feather-like structures.
How Do Scientists Know About Dinosaurs?
No human saw a living Tyrannosaurus Rex or Triceratops. Scientists learn about dinosaurs by studying fossils and other evidence preserved in rocks.
Fossils can include bones, teeth, footprints, and sometimes impressions or other traces left behind by prehistoric animals.
Scientists compare these discoveries to build an understanding of how dinosaurs looked, moved, lived, and interacted with their environments. As new fossils are discovered, our understanding of dinosaurs can also change and improve.
This is one reason dinosaur science is still so interesting: there is always more to discover.
Some Dinosaurs Children Often Recognize
Young children often become familiar with a few dinosaur names first. These dinosaurs are especially useful when introducing basic dinosaur vocabulary.
Tyrannosaurus Rex was a large theropod with a massive skull and powerful jaws.
Triceratops was a plant-eating dinosaur known for its three horns and large frill.
Stegosaurus was a plant-eating dinosaur recognized by the plates along its back and spikes on its tail.
Brachiosaurus was a large, long-necked plant-eating dinosaur with a distinctive body shape.
Velociraptor was a relatively small theropod dinosaur. Fossil evidence shows that it had feathers.
Ankylosaurus was a heavily built plant-eating dinosaur with protective armor and a large tail club.
These familiar examples give children an easy starting point for recognizing that dinosaurs were not all the same. They had different sizes, shapes, diets, and physical features.
Making Dinosaur Learning Hands-On
For preschool and kindergarten children, simply reading dinosaur facts may not be enough to keep their attention for long. Hands-on activities give children a chance to use what they see and learn.
A child who has just learned that dinosaurs had different body features can identify a dinosaur’s head, tail, legs, teeth, or eyes. After learning that dinosaurs had different diets, they can sort examples into herbivores and carnivores. Counting dinosaur pictures can turn the same theme into an early math activity.
That is where printable worksheets can fit naturally into a dinosaur-themed lesson. They give children a chance to practice one small concept at a time without making the activity feel like a long lesson.
Dinosaur activities can give young children a chance to practice early learning skills while exploring a topic they already find exciting. The worksheets in this collection are designed to keep each activity focused and simple, making them useful for Pre-K, Kindergarten, homeschool, or extra practice at home.
Dinosaur Name Identification Worksheet
Learning dinosaur names is a simple way to build vocabulary while helping children connect pictures with written words.
In the Dinosaur Name Identification worksheet, children look at each dinosaur and circle its correct name. They need to pay attention to the dinosaur shown and compare it with the name choices.
This activity can be useful when children are beginning to recognize familiar dinosaur names and practice following a simple written instruction.
Dinosaur Body Parts Worksheet
A dinosaur’s body has several features that children can learn to recognize. The Dinosaur Body Parts worksheet focuses on simple parts including the head, tail, legs, teeth, and eyes.
Children identify the different parts on the dinosaur illustration. This gives them an opportunity to practice basic vocabulary while looking closely at the picture.
For a classroom activity, this worksheet can work well after a short conversation about what children notice when they look at different dinosaurs.
Dinosaur Herbivore or Carnivore Worksheet
Once children have learned that dinosaurs had different diets, sorting them into simple groups can make the idea easier to understand.
The Dinosaur Herbivore or Carnivore worksheet asks children to sort dinosaurs according to what they commonly ate. They can think about whether a dinosaur was a plant eater or a meat eater and place it in the appropriate group.
This activity introduces a basic classification skill while reinforcing the difference between herbivores and carnivores.
Dinosaur Movement Worksheet
Dinosaurs had different body structures, and their movement varied too. The Dinosaur Movement worksheet gives children a simple way to explore this idea through walking and running.
Children sort the dinosaurs according to the movement shown by the activity. Rather than turning the worksheet into a complicated science lesson, it gives young learners a simple visual classification task.
It can also be a good opportunity for a teacher or parent to ask children how they think a particular dinosaur might have moved.
Dinosaur Counting Worksheet
Dinosaur pictures can make early math practice more interesting. In the Dinosaur Counting worksheet, children count the dinosaurs in each group and write the correct number.
This provides practice with basic counting and number recognition while keeping the activity connected to a familiar theme.
Parents can use the worksheet for a short counting activity at home, while teachers can include it as part of a dinosaur-themed math center.
Dinosaur Shadow Match Worksheet
Children often enjoy matching activities because they have to look closely at the shapes in front of them. The Dinosaur Shadow Match worksheet asks children to match each dinosaur with its correct shadow.
Instead of relying on color, children need to pay attention to the dinosaur’s overall shape and recognizable features. This makes the activity useful for practicing visual matching and observation.
It can also be a nice change of pace between worksheets that focus more directly on words or numbers.
Dinosaur Maze Worksheet
A maze gives children a chance to solve a small problem while staying within the dinosaur theme.
In the Dinosaur Maze worksheet, children follow the paths and find the correct route. They need to look ahead, avoid the wrong paths, and reach the destination.
This type of activity can provide practice with visual tracking, concentration, and pencil control. For younger children, an adult can first explain that the goal is to find the correct path rather than simply drawing through the maze quickly.
Dinosaur Dot-to-Dot Worksheet
The Dinosaur Dot-to-Dot worksheet combines numbers with a picture-discovery activity. Children connect the numbered dots in order, gradually revealing the dinosaur.
Following the numbers gives children practice with number sequencing and pencil control. It also encourages them to follow a sequence carefully instead of drawing random lines between the dots.
Once all the dots have been connected, children can see the dinosaur they created from the numbered outline.
Simple Ways to Use These Worksheets
You do not need to complete all of the worksheets in one sitting. Young children often benefit more from short activities that match what they are currently learning.
For example, a parent might use the Dinosaur Counting worksheet during a short math practice session and save the Dinosaur Maze or Dot-to-Dot activity for another day.
In a Pre-K or Kindergarten classroom, individual worksheets can also be used as part of a dinosaur-themed learning center. Children can work independently when appropriate, while a teacher can provide help with instructions or unfamiliar dinosaur names.
Homeschool families can use the worksheets alongside a dinosaur book, a simple science lesson, or a conversation about prehistoric animals.
Skills Practiced Across the Dinosaur Worksheets
The activities cover several different early-learning skills without requiring every worksheet to teach the same thing.
Children can practice:
- Vocabulary and recognition with dinosaur names and body parts
- Classification with herbivore and carnivore sorting
- Observation with dinosaur features and movement
- Counting and number recognition with dinosaur counting
- Visual matching with dinosaur shadows
- Problem-solving and concentration with the maze
- Number sequencing and pencil control with dot-to-dot
Using a mixture of activities can help keep a dinosaur-themed learning session interesting while giving children different ways to practice.
Printing the Dinosaur Worksheets
These worksheets are prepared as printable PDF activities and can be used at home or in a classroom. The master worksheets are made in A4 size, and they can also be adjusted for US Letter paper, which is commonly used for home and classroom printing in the United States.
For regular practice, standard printer paper is usually sufficient. If you plan to reuse a worksheet more than once, you can also place a printed copy in a protective sleeve and use a dry-erase marker for suitable activities.
Before printing, check the printer settings so that the worksheet is not unnecessarily cropped or stretched.
A Simple Dinosaur Learning Activity for Home
You can also combine several worksheets into a short dinosaur learning session.
Start by talking about one or two dinosaurs the child already knows. Look at their features and discuss what they ate or how they moved. Then choose one worksheet that connects with the conversation.
For example, after talking about dinosaur diets, children can complete the Dinosaur Herbivore or Carnivore worksheet. On another day, they can practice counting with the Dinosaur Counting worksheet or work on number sequencing with the Dinosaur Dot-to-Dot activity.
This keeps the worksheets connected to learning rather than making them feel like a stack of pages that must all be finished at once.
Download the Dinosaur Worksheets
These dinosaur worksheets provide a simple mix of early-learning activities for children who enjoy prehistoric animals. With activities covering dinosaur names, body parts, diets, movement, counting, shadow matching, mazes, and dot-to-dot, parents and teachers can choose the activities that best fit their child’s age and current skills.
Download the printable PDF worksheets and use them for Pre-K, Kindergarten, homeschool, or dinosaur-themed learning at home.