Dinosaur Valley: Fun Activity Ideas

In this activity, children create their own wearable kangaroo pouch to collect and store new 'big' words found within the story. Discussion Tip: Ask your child to describe the meaning of a word they found using only their own 'imagination' words before looking up the definition.

Instructions:

1. Cut a large piece of construction paper into a semi-circle or pocket shape.

2. Tape the sides and bottom of the paper pocket to the front of your child's shirt, leaving the top open like a kangaroo pouch.

3. Read the Rynnie Roo story together and identify five interesting or new words.

4. Write each word on a small slip of paper and have your child decorate the slip with a drawing of what that word means.

5. Place the word slips into the 'pouch' and have your child hop around the house, stopping to 'teach' a family member one of their new words.

You will need:

• Book 

• Read Along Video

• Construction paper

• Washable markers

• Clear tape

Rynnie Roo meets dinosaurs in her adventures, and now your child can find them too! This sensory activity encourages exploration and scientific thinking. Discussion Tip: Talk about the difference between things that are alive today, like kangaroos, and things that are extinct, like dinosaurs.

Instructions:

1. Fill a plastic bin or a section of the backyard with sand or loose soil.

2. Hide small household objects, smooth stones, or toy figures beneath the surface of the sand.

3. Give your child a small paintbrush to gently sweep away the sand, just like a real paleontologist uncovering a fossil.

4. As each item is discovered, ask your child to use their vocabulary to describe its texture, color, and shape.

5. Encourage your child to tell a short story about how Rynnie Roo might have found that specific 'relic' on her journey.

You will need:

• Book 

• Read Along Video

• Plastic storage bin

• Play sand

• Small paintbrushes

Create a visual guide of the world Rynnie Roo explores. This activity helps with spatial awareness and storytelling. Discussion Tip: Ask your child what kind of 'discovery' they would want to find at the very end of their map.

Instructions:

1. Roll out a long piece of paper across the floor or a large table.

2. Draw a starting point labeled 'Rynnie's Home' on one end of the paper.

3. Ask your child to draw different 'lands' based on the book, such as a dinosaur valley or a forest of friends.

4. Connect the lands with a hopping path made of dashed lines.

5. Add 'Vocabulary Signposts' along the path where your child writes down words that describe the scenery (e.g., 'vibrant', 'mysterious', 'ancient').

You will need:

• Book 

• Read Along Video

• Large roll of paper

• Crayons

• Safety scissors

Bring Rynnie Roo to life using simple household recyclables. This activity promotes creative expression and public speaking. Discussion Tip: Have the puppet 'interview' your child about their favorite part of the book to practice conversational skills.

Instructions:

1. Place a brown paper bag over your hand with the folded bottom acting as the face.

2. Cut out two long, pointy ear shapes from another piece of paper and glue them to the top of the 'head'.

3. Use yarn or markers to create a face for Rynnie Roo, giving her a friendly and curious expression.

4. Glue a small scrap of fabric or a smaller paper square to the bottom half of the bag to serve as her pouch.

5. Put on a 'mini-play' where Rynnie Roo meets a dinosaur made from a kitchen whisk or a wooden spoon.

You will need:

• Book 

• Read Along Video

• Brown paper lunch bags

• Glue sticks

• Yarn

Explore the world through touch, just like Rynnie Roo explores through her imagination. This tactile activity helps build descriptive vocabulary. Discussion Tip: Use adjectives like 'fuzzy', 'brittle', 'slick', or 'rough' to describe the items and see if your child can find those words in the book.

Instructions:

1. Gather 6-12 small items from around the house with different textures (e.g., a cotton ball, a piece of sandpaper, a dried leaf, a silk ribbon).

2. Place one item into each slot of an empty egg carton.

3. Blindfold your child (or have them close their eyes) and ask them to touch one item at a time.

4. Have them describe the 'feeling' using a big vocabulary word before they guess what the item is.

5. After exploring all items, discuss which item feels most like a kangaroo's fur or a dinosaur's skin.

You will need:

• Book 

• Read Along Video

• Empty egg carton

• Cotton balls

• Dry pasta