EXPLODING VOLCANO, DINOSAURS AND NEW WORDS

EXPLODING VOLCANO, DINOSAURS AND NEW WORDS

Experience the Ultimate Dinosaur Adventure: Mini Exploding Volcano Activity Included!

We’re going to attempt to learn the words of dinosaurs using TalkiPlay Dinosaur Explore and Hunt speech games. 

For some parents you might be wondering - Why should my child and I learn dinosaur names when my child struggles with articulating some basic words? 

Well, there are a couple of key reasons:

  • Attention is Key to Speech Development
Attention is the most important step in speech development - without it it's like throwing pebbles into an ocean and hoping to build a bridge... i.e. you might get there but it's going to take a lot of pebbles. If your child has an interest in dinosaurs give this a try instead. 

  • Learning Through Play Improves Understanding

When you're learning anything, you need to repeat the experience to get used to it and understand it. Neural brain pathways require repetition to remain permanent. This is partly why children will ask for the same book or song to be repeated over and over again in order to learn them. When you repeat it during play the human body requires less repetition to understand the concepts.
  • Dinosaur related words are different.
Dinosaur names are tricky, children have to move their mouth and tongue in ways they haven't tried before. This can be a more rewarding experience when they succeed. My daughter, along with many other kids in play clinics found these difficult dinosaur words easier to pronounce than basic ones.

Mini Exploding Volcano Activity: What you need:

  • Playdough base - see Make Playdough in 4 mins (Video)!

  • Small plastic cup

  • Vinegar in a small jug

  • Bicarbonate of soda

  • Liquid dishwasher detergent

  • 1 Spoon (a teaspoon will do perfectly)

  • Red food dye

  • Toy dinosaurs (OK to get a little dirty)

steps:

  1. Prep your space: First we’re going to use our plastic kids’ table (it's going to get wet!).

  2. Make your volcano shape: 

    1. Make your basic playdough and shape it into a volcano on the table ensuring you have a crater (this is where the fake lava is about to come out!).

    2. Optional extra: If you have a jello or plastic shot glass, pop it inside the volcano to help capture the liquid and ensure the lava bubbles up out of the crater.

    3. Don’t forget to position your dinosaur toys around the volcano!

  3. Prepare your lava: 

    1. In the small jug with vinegar, add a few drops of your red food dye. 

    2. Scoop a spoonful of bicarbonate of soda into the volcano’s crater and 2 squirts of detergent.

    3. GET READY FOR THE ACTION!

    4. Ask your little one to tip the vinegar in the volcano - use the word “in” 

  4. Enjoy the science! 

    1. Now watch what happens as the larva flows out. 

    2. Try to talk about what is happening with the volcano erupting. 

    3. Make the dinosaurs run away. Name the dinosaurs - e.g. say: “run away Triceratops”.

  5. Expand their learning:

    1. Pair this activity with our TalkiPlay Dinosaur Explore and Dinosaur Hunt games to help your little one discover the names of dinosaurs for themselves. 

    2. Tip: Don’t attempt all the dinosaurs in the first go. Start with one or two, perhaps the Apatosaurus and T-rex. If you don’t have these toys, you can also print off a photo or use a book. 

    3. When they’re ready for a few descriptive words, move to the Dinosaur Smart game -  e.g. T-Rex: “I eat meat”.

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