Set up

1. Place a few dinosaur figures in your plastic container and cover them with just enough water so they are submerged. Now place the container in your freezer for a few hours.
2. When your ice is somewhat frozen, add some more dinosaurs on top of the frozen layer and add more water on top until the dinosaurs are submerged and leave it overnight.
3. When the water has completely frozen over, you are ready to play.

How to play

1. Set yourself up outside. Take your frozen dinosaur container and tip it out onto your large tray. If it doesn’t come out straight away, you may need to give it a gentle tap or wait for it to thaw a little first.
2. Now, encourage your child to feel the ice brick. What does it feel like? Is it cold or hot? Ask your child to think of ways to free the dinosaurs e.g. You could say “oh no the dinosaurs have been frozen; how will we get them out? Using open-ended questions that don’t have a direct yes or no answer encourage your children to formulate their own answers in their own words.
3. Let your child explore, problem solve and try different strategies to free the dinosaurs. I set the experience up with a cup of water and a pipette some salt and a spoon to start him off. These items were not quicker enough for him though and he quickly began exploring other tools and ideas that worked for him. Its always good to follow the child’s lead, even if you know it wont work, let your child make discoveries and understandings themselves. Kids are practical hands on learners after all!

Follow up ideas:

• Dinosaurs are one of those topics that have a lot of depth to them. You could use this opportunity to read a story about dinosaurs, learn some facts about dinosaurs or even set up a play space to engage in imaginative play. See our DIY dinosaur terrain on our webpage for another dinosaur play idea.
• This experience is an open experience that can be revisited and adapted in so many different ways. You could try freezing different objects; we’ve since tried freezing matchbox cars, paw patrol figures, nature items (its clearly a favourite activity of ours!); you could try adding food dye to your ice to add a colour element or simply provide a range of different tools for your children to try to break the ice with, for example, spray bottles, medicine droppers with water,
• Why not try some other ice experiences such as painting on ice, or make your own ice painters?