Dinosaurs never go out of style—especially for curious young minds who love to roar, stomp, and explore. At StarABrilliance, we believe in the power of theme-based learning to spark imagination and build foundational skills. That’s why May is our Dinosaur Discovery Month—packed with sensory-rich, movement-driven, and literacy-boosting activities you can enjoy at home with your child.
From fossil digs to dino yoga, this month’s dinosaur theme blends fun with purposeful learning. Here’s how you can bring the Jurassic magic to life right in your own living room!
🦕 Week 1:Introduction to Dinosaurs
Dinosaurs capture the hearts and imaginations of young children—and for good reason! They’re big, bold, and full of mystery. That’s why at StarABrilliance, we’re kicking off May with a dino-mite week of learning and play designed to spark curiosity, build skills, and bring prehistoric creatures to life in your own home.
Here’s how you can make Week 1 a memorable one for your preschooler!
📚 Dinosaur Story Time: Fiction & Nonfiction Favorites
Reading about dinosaurs is the perfect way to combine fun and learning. Choose from these engaging titles to start your dino discussions:
Fiction Books:
- Dinosaurumpus by Tony Mitton – A rhythmic romp that’s fun to read aloud
- Dinosaur Rap! by John Foster – Great for music and rhyme lovers
- Tea Rex by Molly Idle – A silly, polite dinosaur tale
- If I Had a Triceratops by George O’Connor – Perfect for little dreamers
- How Do Dinosaurs Say I Love You? by Jane Yolen – Sweet and reassuring
- Dinosaurs Galore! by Giles Andreae – Full of delightful rhymes and facts
Nonfiction Books:
- Dinosaur Encyclopedia by DK – Visual and informative
- How Big Were Dinosaurs? by Lita Judge – Helps kids understand scale and size
🎶 Move Like a Dinosaur
Turn your living room into a prehistoric playground! These music and movement activities help boost gross motor skills and imagination:
- Pretend to be different types of dinosaurs—stomp like a T-Rex or glide like a Pteranodon.
- Make DIY dino feet from tissue boxes and let your child stomp around.
- Play upbeat dinosaur-themed songs and have a dino dance party.
🎨 Get Crafty with Dinosaur-Inspired Art
Encourage creativity and sensory exploration through dinosaur-themed art:
- Erupting Volcano Art: Paint a volcano and use a straw to blow red paint for lava—great for breath control and fine motor skills.
- Dino Track Prints: Dip toy dinosaur feet in paint and make colorful tracks.
- Nature Collages: Use leaves, string, or paper scraps to build a dinosaur collage.
- Crayon Melt Stencils: Use melted crayons and dinosaur stencils to make vibrant, textured artwork.
🧠 Hands-On Learning Through Play
Real-World Experience:
Take a trip to the American Museum of Natural History and explore the awe-inspiring dinosaur exhibits in person—an unforgettable way to connect home learning with real-world wonder.
Math Activity:
Encourage sorting and classification by having your child organize dinosaur toys by:
- Colors
- Body features (wings, spikes, tails, etc.)
Sensory Play:
Make “dinosaur eggs” using leftover plastic Easter eggs, kinetic sand, and small toy dinosaurs. Bury the toys in the sand eggs and let your child “hatch” them—perfect for tactile play and storytelling.
🌸 Week 2: Celebrating Mother’s Day Through Heartfelt Learning & Play
Mother’s Day is more than just a holiday—it’s a beautiful opportunity for children to express love, gratitude, and creativity. At StarABrilliance, we’ve created a week full of meaningful activities that celebrate moms, grandmas, and all the special women in a child’s life through literacy, crafts, connection, and more.
Let’s dive into how you can make Mother’s Day extra memorable for your little one—and for you, too!
📚 Storytime with Love: Mother’s Day Book Picks
Reading about mothers and caregivers helps children recognize the many ways love is expressed. These books are perfect for storytime snuggles:
- Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman – A timeless classic
- My Mother is Mine by Marion Dane Bauer – Simple and poetic
- Grandma’s Purse by Vanessa Brantley-Newton – A heartwarming tribute to grandmothers
- The Best Mother by C.M. Surrisi – A fun tale about seeing Mom in a new light
- The Story I’ll Tell by Nancy Tupper Ling – A gentle adoption story
- Stellaluna by Janell Cannon – A sweet tale of family and differences
- My Mom Has X-Ray Vision by Angela McAllister – Because every mom is a superhero!
✏️ Literacy & Language: Stories from the Heart
- Nostalgic Reading: Share your favorite childhood book with your child—it’s a great way to build a connection and spark discussion.
- Create a Flip Book: Help your child write and illustrate a personalized book all about Mom. It’s a keepsake you’ll treasure for years.
🔬 Science in the Kitchen: Bake with Love
Turn your kitchen into a learning lab by baking a sweet treat together. Whether it’s cookies, cupcakes, or breakfast in bed, this activity blends:
- Measurement skills
- Fine motor coordination
- A tangible way to show appreciation!
🗣️ Building Communication Skills
This week is perfect for helping young children express emotions:
- Interview your child with questions like: “What does Mommy always say?” or “What makes Mommy happy?”
- Sing a favorite song together—music helps build language and emotional bonds.
🏃♀️ Real-World Connections
Spending quality time with loved ones builds emotional intelligence:
- Play a sport or go for a nature walk together.
- Set up a video call with a relative or long-distance friend. Encourage your child to ask questions or share something they love about Mom or Grandma.
🎨 Arts & Crafts: Handmade Gifts from the Heart
These crafts are full of love and perfect for keepsakes:
- Mother’s Day Cards: Let your child design a card with markers, stickers, or collage materials.
- Paper Flower Garden: Use recycled materials to make a bouquet of paper blooms.
- Handprint Keepsakes: Create “moment-in-time” gifts using handprints or footprints.
- Shrinky Dink Keychain: Capture tiny handprints in shrinky dink plastic for a portable piece of your child’s heart.
🦖 Week 3: Discovering Different Dinosaurs – Learning Through Movement, Math & More!
After a roaring introduction to dinosaurs, it’s time to dig deeper! Week 3 of our dinosaur theme at StarABrilliance explores the types of dinosaurs, from giant plant-eaters to fierce meat-eaters, and how kids can learn through classification, comparison, and hands-on discovery.
Here’s how you can bring this exciting learning journey home!
📚 Dino Book Picks: Fiction & Nonfiction Favorites
Dive into books that help kids understand the variety and features of different dinosaurs.
Fiction Selections:
- Fossil by Bill Thomson – A wordless picture book that sparks imagination
- Dinosaur A-Z by Roger Priddy – Great for early learners practicing alphabet recognition
- Stomp, Dinosaur, Stomp! by Margaret Mayo – Energetic and rhythmic read-aloud
- How Do Dinosaurs Count to 10? by Jane Yolen – Combines counting and fun
Nonfiction Titles:
- National Geographic Reader: Dinosaurs by Kathleen Zoehfeld – Great starter for dino facts
- First Big Book of Dinosaurs by Catherine D. Hughes – Perfect for preschool science
- Dinosaur Bones by Bob Barner – Simple explanations with colorful illustrations
🧘 Move Like a Dino: Yoga & Active Play
Get moving with Dinosaur Yoga! Stretch, roar, and balance as you mimic the shapes and motions of different species. This playful approach supports:
- Body awareness
- Focus and mindfulness
- Gross motor development
✋ Fine Motor & Creative Building
- Dino Shape Tracing: Help your child trace different types of dinosaur outlines to boost pencil control.
- Loose Parts Dino Tray: Offer beads, pasta, pom-poms, and pipe cleaners to “build a dinosaur.” (Supervise closely for safety.)
These activities strengthen dexterity, coordination, and imaginative design.
🔢 Math & Measurement: Footprint Comparison
Cut out a life-size dinosaur footprint from construction paper and place it beside your child’s foot. Talk about:
- How many of their feet fit inside?
- How many steps would a dino need to cross the room?
This hands-on math boosts:
- Estimation
- Spatial awareness
- Early measurement skills
🔍 Scientific Thinking with Snacks
Use everyday foods to explore what dinosaurs ate:
- Carnivore Snack: Deli meats, cheese sticks
- Herbivore Snack: Carrots, lettuce, apple slices
Then open your fridge together and ask:
- “Would a T-Rex eat this?”
- “Would a Stegosaurus like this snack?”
This activity fosters curiosity and classification skills.
🧠 Logic & Problem Solving
Build your child’s cognitive skills with these logic-rich activities:
- DIY Dino Puzzles: Cut pictures into 2–3 pieces for your child to reassemble.
- Dino Tangrams with MagnaTiles: Create dino-shaped outlines and encourage kids to fill them in on the fridge or floor.
These games help with pattern recognition, matching, and visual-spatial reasoning.
🌋 Sensory Fossil Play
Make your own dinosaur fossils using playdough and toy dinos or uncooked pasta:
- Press dino feet or pasta shapes into dough
- Let them dry and then excavate them
It’s a hands-on way to introduce paleontology and build fine motor skills!
🏞️ Week 4: Explore Dinosaur Habitats — A World of Prehistoric Environments
Where did dinosaurs live? What kind of homes did they build, and how did their surroundings help them survive? In Week 4 of our Dino Discovery Month at StarABrilliance, we guide your little explorer through the fascinating world of dinosaur habitats and environments, blending dramatic play, science, sensory fun, and creative thinking.
Let’s take a closer look at how you can bring the world of dinosaurs home this week!
📚 Book Picks: Discovering Where Dinosaurs Lived
Help your child imagine ancient landscapes through these colorful and educational books:
Fiction Favorites:
- The Dinosaur Who Lived in My Backyard by B.G. Hennessy – A charming story that brings dinos to suburban life
- Dinosaur Farm by Frann Preston-Gannon – A quirky and imaginative blend of farm and prehistoric fun
- How Do Dinosaurs Say I’m Mad? by Jane Yolen – Great for emotional expression
- If You Happen to Have a Dinosaur by Linda Bailey – Whimsical and humorous
- Little Dinos Don’t Push by Michael Dahl – Simple and focused on behavior
Nonfiction Selections:
- My Big Dinosaur Book by Roger Priddy – Excellent for visual learners
- Hello, World! Dinosaurs by Jill McDonald – Engaging facts for preschoolers
- Dinosaur Kingdom by Alice Fewery – Full of prehistoric fun and illustrations
🔬 Science Exploration: Build and Observe Habitats
Learning about ecosystems helps kids understand how dinosaurs survived and thrived. Try these activities:
- Habitat Discussion: Look at pictures of deserts, forests, and swamps. Ask your child: “What would it be like to live here?”
- Build a Terrarium: Create a mini dinosaur habitat with soil, moss, rocks, and toy dinosaurs—an engaging hands-on science project!
🎭 Dramatic Play: Pretend in a Prehistoric World
Encourage imagination and storytelling with these home-friendly dramatic play ideas:
- Dinosaur Hunt: Hide toy dinos and go on a scavenger-style search around the house or yard.
- Build a Dino Fort: Create a cozy “cave” using blankets and chairs, then read dinosaur books or watch a dino movie inside. Let your child pretend to be a dinosaur too!
🧱 Building Skills: Construct Dino Homes
Use blocks, LEGO, or Magna Tiles to design and build homes for different types of dinosaurs:
- Tall walls for T-Rex
- Nesting spots for Triceratops
- Shelters near “rivers” made from blue fabric or paper
This supports spatial reasoning and creative problem-solving.
🎨 Arts & Crafts: Habitat Scenes
Have your child color and decorate their own dinosaur habitat using dino stickers and crayons. Encourage them to think about:
- What plants grow there?
- What colors are the sky, rocks, or trees?
- Which dinosaurs live in this environment?
This activity enhances fine motor skills and environmental awareness.
🧊 Sensory Play: Dino Ice Excavation
Turn a simple activity into an exciting fossil dig!
- Freeze small toy dinosaurs in ice using water balloons or containers.
- Use warm water, spoons, or child-safe tools to “excavate” the dinos.
Take this outside for a cool sensory adventure that builds patience, coordination, and scientific observation skills.
🌋 Week 5: Dive Deep into Dinosaur Interests – Science, Stories, and Slime!
As we wrap up Dino Discovery Month at StarABrilliance, Week 5 invites young learners to explore dinosaur interests in depth. From hands-on science experiments to creative sensory play, this week’s activities are designed to spark curiosity, encourage critical thinking, and inspire storytelling.
Here’s how you can make the most of this final week of dinosaur fun!
📚 Book Selections: Inspiring Dino Enthusiasts
Encourage your child’s love of learning with these engaging fiction and nonfiction books:
Fiction Favorites:
- Dinosaur’s Day by Ruth Thomson – A captivating day in the life of a dinosaur
- Meet the Dinosaurs by DK – Packed with colorful, informative illustrations
- Bones, Bones, Dinosaur Bones by Byron Barton – Simple and fun
- Harry and the Bucketful of Dinosaurs by Ian Whybrow – Full of adventure
- Five Little Dinosaurs by Michelle Courtney – A charming counting tale
- Dinosaur Dance by Sandra Boynton – Great for little movers
- We Don’t Eat Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins – Hilarious and heartfelt
Nonfiction Highlights:
- The Littlest Dinosaurs by Bernard Most – Perfect for preschool scientists
- Dinosaurs Big and Small by Kathleen Zoehfeld – Learning about scale
- How Big Were the Dinosaurs? by Bernard Most – Imaginative comparisons
- Pop-Up Dinosaurs by Roger Priddy – Interactive and engaging
🔬 Science Fun: Experiments and Exploration
Bring out your child’s inner paleontologist with these exciting science activities:
- Dinosaur Letter Eruptions: Line a tray with baking soda, toy dinos, and letter cutouts. Use droppers of colored vinegar to create fizzy eruptions and talk about letters—combining science with literacy!
- Dino Digging: Bury toy dinosaurs in dried mud and use tools to excavate them, fostering fine motor skills and patience.
🔢 Math Meets Dinosaurs
Reinforce early math skills with these hands-on activities:
- Sticker Sorting: Classify dinosaur stickers by color or type to build organizational skills.
- Counting Eggs: Use playdough mats and dinosaur “eggs” to practice counting and matching numbers.
✏️ Literacy Activities: Dino Stories and Games
Make literacy a roaring success:
- Retell Dino Stories: After reading a dinosaur book, ask your child to retell the story in their own words, building comprehension and narrative skills.
- Dino Bingo: Say a letter or number and have your child cover it with a toy dinosaur. For advanced learners, call out dinosaur names instead!
🌋 Sensory Play: Lava Slime Adventure
Create lava slime for a tactile, sensory-rich experience. It’s messy fun that strengthens fine motor skills and introduces scientific observation.
🍎 Teacher Appreciation Week: Celebrating the Educators Who Shape Young Minds
At StarABrilliance, we believe teachers are everyday superheroes. Their patience, creativity, and love lay the foundation for a lifetime of learning. This Teacher Appreciation Week, we invite families to help children recognize and celebrate the special people who guide, nurture, and inspire them every day.
Here are meaningful ways to honor teachers through reading, play, creativity, and connection.
📚 Book Picks: Stories That Celebrate Teachers
Share these heartwarming stories with your child to reflect on the joy of learning and the impact of teachers:
- Because I Had a Teacher by Kobi Yamada – A touching tribute
- Llama Llama Loves His Teacher by Anna Dewdney – A classroom favorite
- A Teacher is the Greatest Gift by E.B. Cobbler – Uplifting and poetic
- The Thank You Book by Mary Lyn Ray – A sweet reminder to show gratitude
- My Heart Fills With Happiness by Monique Gray Smith – A celebration of joy
- Pete the Cat and the Surprise Teacher by James Dean – Fun and playful
- How Rocket Learned to Read by Tad Hills – Perfect for early literacy
- Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes – A story about kindness and understanding
🖍️ Arts & Crafts: Creative Thank-Yous from the Heart
Let your child express appreciation through creativity:
- Cards & Crafts: Decorate a thank-you card or make a handmade craft together.
- “One in a Melon” Keepsake: Create a sweet handprint gift to honor their unique teacher.
- Photo Collage: Use class pictures to create a memory board or drawing.
- Draw Your Teacher: Have your child draw themselves with their teacher and share what they love most.
🗣️ Communication & Connection
Help your child reflect on their teacher’s impact:
- Record a Video Message: A short clip saying “thank you” can make a big impact—send it via email to their teacher.
- Create a Book: Work together to make an “All About My Teacher” mini book with drawings and memories.
🎭 Pretend & Play: Be the Teacher!
Role reversal can be fun and educational:
- Dramatic Play: Set up a mini classroom at home and let your child “teach” you a lesson.
- Read-Aloud Time: Encourage your child to choose a favorite book and read it aloud, just like their teacher does at school.
🎶 Music & Movement: Sing and Celebrate
Bring back the classics with school-time favorites:
- Sing songs like the Alphabet Song, Itsy Bitsy Spider, and Where Is Thumbkin?
- Add hand motions and fingerplays to reinforce rhythm, memory, and movement.
🌍 Real-World Appreciation
- Visit or Write to Past Teachers: Say thank you to those who’ve made a difference. A note or visit reminds them how appreciated they are.
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo: A Colorful Cultural Experience for Little Learners
Cinco de Mayo is a wonderful opportunity to teach children about culture, geography, music, and traditions through hands-on learning and joyful celebration. At StarABrilliance, we believe in introducing global awareness from an early age. This week, we dive into the vibrant world of Mexican culture with engaging activities that bring history and heritage to life, perfect for preschoolers and their families.
📚 Book Picks: Stories to Spark Cultural Curiosity
These read-aloud favorites are a great way to introduce the meaning and spirit of Cinco de Mayo:
- Cinco de Mayo by Emma Carlson Berne
- Cinco de Mouse-O by Judy Cox – A fun, food-filled adventure
- Celebrating Cinco de Mayo: Fiesta Time! by Sandi Hill
- Marco’s Cinco de Mayo by Lisa Bullard – A child’s perspective
- Our World: Mexico by Cynthia Harmony – Explore geography and traditions
- Cinco de Mayo by Alexa Suljya
- What is Cinco de Mayo? by Raphael Jimener
- Let’s Visit Mexico by Renee Malone – Great for exploring culture through photos
Reading together helps children understand new ideas, vocabulary, and traditions in an age-appropriate way.
🌍 Real-World Learning: Explore Mexico Together
Take a virtual trip by:
- Looking at Mexico on a map or globe. Point out mountains, cities, and beaches.
- Showing photos of landmarks or traditional foods like corn, avocados, or peppers.
- Making tacos together or visiting a local Mexican restaurant. This real-world connection turns mealtime into a learning moment!
🎨 Arts & Crafts: Colorful Cultural Creations
These crafts promote fine motor skills and creativity while introducing symbolic colors and traditions:
- Maraca Craft: Use recycled materials to create musical instruments.
- Mexican Streamers: Tie red, white, and green ribbons to toilet paper rolls to wave during music time.
- Paper Chains: Create red, white, and green chains to decorate your home and reinforce patterning skills.
🎶 Music & Movement: Dance into Culture
Music is a powerful way to connect children to new cultures:
- Wave handmade streamers while dancing to traditional Cinco de Mayo music.
- Learn a Mexican folk dance like La Bamba—encourages rhythm, balance, and joy!
🔢 Math with a Cultural Twist
Explore patterns and colors while reinforcing early math skills:
- Go on a color hunt around the house or neighborhood for red, white, and green.
- Practice creating color patterns using art supplies or small objects like blocks, buttons, or beads.
Memorial Day: Helping Preschoolers Understand Gratitude and Heroism
Memorial Day isn’t just a long weekend—it’s a meaningful opportunity to teach young children about honor, service, and remembrance. While these can be complex concepts, even preschoolers can begin to understand bravery, kindness, and gratitude through books, simple conversations, and creative activities.
At StarABrilliance, we believe in empowering families with gentle, age-appropriate ways to talk about tough topics and celebrate important national traditions.
📚 Book Picks: Honoring Heroes Through Storytime
Introduce the meaning of Memorial Day through these engaging and sensitive books:
- Memorial Day (Holidays in Rhythm and Rhyme) by Emma Carlson Berne
- Memorial Day Surprise by Theresa Martin Golding
- Memorial Day by Karen Latchana Kenney
- Rolling Thunder by Kate Messner – A powerful tribute
- My 1st Book of Military Superheroes by Sara Kale
- Hero Dad by Melinda Hardin – Celebrating military parents
- H is for Honor by Devin Scillian – A patriotic alphabet book
These books spark discussions about bravery, family, and gratitude in a preschool-friendly way.
✏️ Literacy Activity: Say “Thank You” with Words and Art
Help your child write or draw thank-you notes for veterans or active-duty service members. This builds empathy and communication skills while creating something meaningful.
🧍 Real-World Experiences: Show Respect and Gratitude
Take part in local community traditions together:
- Attend a Memorial Day parade and talk about what you see and hear.
- Visit a military cemetery or memorial and leave notes or flowers.
- Wave a small flag and say thank you to community members who’ve served.
Even a simple gesture can help young children grasp the spirit of the day.
🎨 Arts & Crafts: Red, White, and Blue Creations
Get creative with hands-on patriotic crafts:
- Coffee Filter Poppies – A classic Memorial Day symbol
- USA Windsock – Recycle cardboard tubes and decorate with stars and stripes
- Star Wreaths – Use paper plates and red, white, and blue embellishments
These projects promote fine motor skills and allow for meaningful conversation while crafting.
🧁 Food Fun: Tasty and Themed
Turn snack time into a celebration:
- Decorate a flag-themed cake with whipped cream and fresh berries
- Make red, white, and blue strawberries dipped in frosting and sprinkles
A festive treat brings fun to your family’s day of remembrance.
🔢 Math & Patterns: Learning Through Colors
Use colored blocks, beads, or buttons to create red, white, and blue patterns. This playful math activity helps reinforce sequencing and sorting while tying in the holiday theme.
🔬 Science in Bloom: Patriotic Flower Experiment
Try a simple science activity at home:
- Place white flowers in cups of water with red or blue food coloring.
- Watch as the petals gradually absorb the color—a gentle lesson in absorption and patience!
🌟 Why This Month of Dinosaur & Theme Learning Matters
Each week in this carefully curated learning series offers more than just fun—it delivers developmental value rooted in early childhood education. From movement and fine motor practice to emotional development, early literacy, science, and cultural awareness, every activity is designed to nurture the whole child.
Through books, songs, sensory play, real-world exploration, and family engagement, your preschooler:
- Strengthens cognitive skills through hands-on learning
- Gains language, math, and science readiness
- Learns empathy, gratitude, and global awareness
- Builds a deeper connection with caregivers through shared experiences
At StarABrilliance, we know young children thrive when learning is joyful, intentional, and rooted in real life. This month is a celebration of that philosophy in action!
🎉 Ready to Help Your Child Thrive? Join the StarABrilliance Family!
Whether you’re stomping like a dinosaur, painting with purpose, or honoring everyday heroes, StarABrilliance brings meaning to every moment. Our curriculum blends creativity, structure, and warmth to support every stage of your child’s growth.
👉 Want to experience this for yourself?
Visit StarABrilliance to schedule a tour and see how our themed, play-based learning environment empowers children to grow with confidence and curiosity.
