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Ages 1–5Adventure
Jurassic Adventure Dinner
A dino-mite adventure that's bound to make your little ones roar with excitement!
Ready for a dino-mite adventure that's bound to make your little ones roar with excitement? Let's turn dinnertime into a Jurassic experience by combining the thrills of dinosaurs with fun meals that even the pickiest eaters will love! Whether you're watching Jurassic Park or The Good Dinosaur, this Jurassic Adventure Dinner will have your kids feeling like they're part of the action — minus the danger of a T-Rex chase, of course.
Take breaks when needed according to the attention span of your children and your own. When this endeavor becomes a chore, the positive aspects of learning are lost. The point is to bond and learn surprising things from, and with, your family.
Gather Your Supplies
The Provisions
Props
- Dinosaur footprints made from construction paper or chalk leading to the dining area
- Dinosaur cutouts and plastic dinosaur figurines for the table
- Green tablecloth for a jungle feel
- Dough or clay for making fossil imprints
- Green and yellow streamers for a jungle atmosphere
- Tropical-looking plants or green paper for jungle decor
- Dinosaur-themed table settings
Recipes & Food
- Dino Nuggets: Dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets with favorite dipping sauces
- 'Egg-cellent' Deviled Eggs: Deviled eggs called 'dinosaur eggs,' with green food coloring in the yolk
- 'Dinosaur Bones' (Chicken Wings): Crispy chicken wings served as dino bones
- Fossil cookies: Press toy dinosaurs into cookie dough before baking for 'fossil' imprints
- Chocolate 'dirt' pudding cups with gummy dinosaurs on top
- Green jungle-themed sides: broccoli 'trees,' celery 'logs,' and kiwi slices
Language & Music
- Learn dinosaur names together: T-Rex, Stegosaurus, Triceratops, Brachiosaurus
- Discuss what dinosaurs ate — herbivores vs. carnivores
- Talk about fossils and how scientists learn about dinosaurs from bones
- Roar like different dinosaurs during dinner
- Watch Jurassic Park or The Good Dinosaur as a family after dinner
Peripherals
- Dinosaur figurines for table decorations
- Dinosaur books or flashcards for learning
- Dinosaur movie for movie night (Jurassic Park or The Good Dinosaur)
- Fossil-making kit (dough/clay and toy dinosaurs)
Your Week of Wonder
The Five-Day Itinerary
1
Day 1
Enter the Jurassic Jungle
- Gather the family and talk about your favorite dinosaurs
- Choose which dino-themed foods to make: dino nuggets, deviled egg 'dino eggs,' chicken wing 'dino bones'
- Make a shopping list for ingredients and decorations
- Start making dinosaur footprints from construction paper leading to the dining area
- Prepare dinner and discuss what dinosaurs ate (herbivores vs. carnivores)
2
Day 2
Create Fossils & Set the Jungle Scene
- Create simple dino fossils by pressing a toy dinosaur into dough or clay and letting it dry
- Hang green and yellow streamers for a jungle atmosphere
- Place plastic dinosaur figurines on the table and around the room
- Use a green tablecloth to make it feel like eating in a lush jungle
- Prepare dinner and learn dinosaur names: T-Rex, Stegosaurus, Triceratops
3
Day 3
Make Dinosaur Eggs & Fossil Cookies
- Make deviled eggs and call them 'dinosaur eggs' — add green food coloring to the yolk mixture
- Press toy dinosaurs into cookie dough to make fossil imprints, then bake
- Make chocolate 'dirt' pudding cups and place gummy dinosaurs on top
- Prepare dinner and discuss how scientists learn about dinosaurs from fossils
- Practice roaring like different dinosaurs
4
Day 4
Dinosaur Crafts & Movie Prep
- Finish decorating the dining area with all the dinosaur footprints, figurines, and fossils
- Make green jungle-themed sides: broccoli 'trees,' celery 'logs,' kiwi slices
- Prepare dino nuggets and chicken wing 'dino bones' for practice
- Talk about the movie you'll watch tomorrow (Jurassic Park or The Good Dinosaur)
- During dinner, have each family member share their favorite dinosaur fact
5
Day 5
The Final Jurassic Adventure Dinner!
- Set the table with all dinosaur decorations, footprints, figurines, and fossils
- Serve dino nuggets with dipping sauces, 'dinosaur egg' deviled eggs, and 'dino bone' chicken wings
- Add green jungle sides: broccoli trees, celery logs, and kiwi slices
- Serve fossil cookies and chocolate 'dirt' pudding cups with gummy dinosaurs for dessert
- Watch Jurassic Park or The Good Dinosaur together as a family after dinner
