HomeDraw and Compare Two Dinosaurs: Preschool Worksheet Plan Free original lessons
Draw and Compare Two Dinosaurs: Preschool Worksheet Plan
Plan a preschool worksheet where children draw two dinosaurs side by side, then compare their shapes and features using a simple table and checkable drawing conventions.
Free lesson
Four exercises
Worked answers
Object Drawing Lessons
This plan describes a printable worksheet for preschool children to draw two different dinosaurs and compare them. The worksheet will show two silhouette references, provide a side-by-side comparison table for shape and feature differences, and include blank drawing boxes. Children draw each dinosaur in its box, then mark or describe one difference in shape and one difference in features. The drawing convention is explicit: a dinosaur drawing is valid when it has a body outline, at least one leg shape, a head shape, and a tail shape, all inside the drawing box. Letter styles and handwriting vary, so written labels are optional; comparison can be shown by drawing, pointing, or adult scribing. All resources are free but planned, not yet built. Numerical values below are hypothetical examples for planning, not printer tolerances or manufacturing standards.
Practice materials: Printable downloads are not available for this lesson yet. Use the instructions and four exercises below.
What the worksheet teaches
The task teaches two connected skills: drawing a recognizable dinosaur shape and comparing two drawings by shape and features. It does not teach dinosaur anatomy, species taxonomy, or single-dinosaur drawing in isolation. Each child draws two dinosaurs, one in each blank box, using the silhouette references as guides.
Comparison is kept concrete. Children look at body outline, leg shape, head shape, and tail shape. They then mark one shape difference and one feature difference in the comparison table. A feature difference can be a horn, a crest, a long neck, or a plate shape, but the worksheet does not require correct species names.
- Show the two silhouette references side by side.
- Ask the child to draw dinosaur one in the left box and dinosaur two in the right box.
- Point to the comparison table and help the child mark one shape difference and one feature difference.
- Check that each drawing meets the four-part convention: body outline, leg shape, head shape, tail shape.
Drawing convention and comparison table
The convention is deliberately simple so valid alternatives are allowed. A drawing counts as a dinosaur when it has a body outline, at least one leg shape, a head shape, and a tail shape inside the box. Written labels are optional and are not scored for handwriting style; letter styles and sizes vary. A child may use a circle body, an oval body, or a rounded rectangle body; all are valid if the four parts are present.
The comparison table has two columns, one for each dinosaur, and five rows: body outline, leg shape, head shape, tail shape, and features. The features row is where a horn, crest, long neck, or plate shape is recorded. Children can mark same or different with a drawn tick, a cross, or a short adult-scribed word. The table is a comparison tool, not a taxonomy test.
- Draw the table with two columns and five rows: body outline, leg shape, head shape, tail shape, features.
- In each row, ask the child to look at both drawings and mark same or different.
- Ask for one shape difference (from the body outline, leg shape, head shape, or tail shape rows) and one feature difference (from the features row) aloud or by pointing.
- Record the child's response in the table if the child does not write.
Checking a completed worksheet
Checking is quick and arithmetic-free. First, confirm both drawing boxes contain a drawing with the four required parts. Second, confirm the comparison table has at least one shape difference marked in a shape row and one feature difference marked in the features row. Third, confirm the child can point to the difference when asked. A drawing that uses a different body outline but still has the four parts is valid.
If a child draws only a head and tail, the drawing is incomplete under the convention. If the table shows only one difference, ask the child to look again at leg shape or tail shape. These checks keep the task fair for different drawing styles and handwriting levels.
- Check left box: body outline, leg shape, head shape, tail shape.
- Check right box: body outline, leg shape, head shape, tail shape.
- Check table: one shape difference in a shape row and one feature difference in the features row.
- Ask the child to point to each difference.
Worked example
A child draws dinosaur one with a round body, two short legs, a small head, and a short tail. Dinosaur two has a long oval body, one long leg shape, a large head, a long tail, and a small horn on its head. The child marks body outline as different and horn as different in the table. Check the worksheet.
Worked answer
The worksheet is valid. Both drawings have body outline, leg shape, head shape, and tail shape. The table marks one shape difference (body outline) and one feature difference (horn, in the features row). The child can point to the horn on dinosaur two.
Four practice exercises
Exercise 1
A child draws dinosaur one with an oval body, two legs, a round head, and a short tail. Dinosaur two has an oval body, two legs, a square head, and a long tail. In the comparison table, the child marks body outline as same and leg shape as same, and leaves the head shape and tail shape rows blank. Is the worksheet complete?
Show answer and check
No. The table needs at least one shape difference and one feature difference, but only same marks are shown and no difference is marked.
Why: The convention requires one shape difference and one feature difference. The drawings themselves are valid because each has the four parts, and the same marks for body outline and leg shape are accurate because both dinosaurs share an oval body and two legs. However, the head shape and tail shape rows are blank, so no shape difference is recorded and the comparison is incomplete.
Check: Count the marked differences in the table. Confirm at least one shape row and the features row are marked different. Here every marked row says same and the remaining shape rows are blank, so the check fails. Ask the child to compare head shape (round vs square) and tail shape (short vs long) and mark one as different.
Exercise 2
A child draws dinosaur one with a body outline, two leg shapes, a head shape, and a tail shape. Dinosaur two has a body outline, a head shape, and a tail shape but no leg shape. The table marks leg shape as different. Is the right drawing valid?
Show answer and check
No. The right drawing is missing a leg shape, so it does not meet the four-part convention.
Why: Every dinosaur drawing must have body outline, at least one leg shape, head shape, and tail shape. The comparison mark does not replace the missing part.
Check: Check the right box for all four parts. If any part is missing, ask the child to add it.
Exercise 3
A child draws two dinosaurs that look identical. The table marks body outline as same and tail shape as same. What should the adult do next?
Show answer and check
Prompt the child to change one shape or feature using the silhouette references, then mark a difference.
Why: The task requires comparing two dinosaurs, so at least one shape difference and one feature difference must be shown. Identical drawings cannot support that comparison.
Check: Look for one changed part in either drawing and one corresponding different mark in the table.
Exercise 4
A child draws two dinosaurs, each with a body outline, at least one leg shape, a head shape, and a tail shape. In the comparison table, the child writes the label long neck in the features row and marks the features row as different. The letters are uneven and small. Is the worksheet complete?
Show answer and check
No. The drawings are valid and the feature difference (long neck) is correctly recorded, but the table still needs at least one shape difference marked in a shape row (body outline, leg shape, head shape, or tail shape). The uneven letters do not affect validity.
Why: Handwriting style is not scored, and labels are optional, so the uneven letters are fine. Both drawings meet the four-part convention, and the long neck is a valid feature difference recorded in the features row. However, the completion rule requires at least one shape difference as well, and no shape row is marked different, so the comparison is incomplete.
Check: Check both boxes for the four drawing parts, then confirm the features row is marked different with a feature note such as long neck. Next, look for at least one shape row (body outline, leg shape, head shape, or tail shape) marked different. If no shape row is marked, ask the child to compare one shape part and mark it. Do not penalize uneven letter size or style.
Common mistakes
- The child draws only a head and tail, omitting the body outline or leg shape. Point to the four-part convention and ask the child to add a body outline and at least one leg shape inside the box.
- The comparison table is filled with species names instead of shape and feature differences. Redirect to the table rows: body outline, leg shape, head shape, tail shape, and features. Accept pointing or adult scribing.
- The child copies the same dinosaur twice, so no comparison is possible. Use the two silhouette references to prompt one change in body outline or one change in a feature such as a horn or neck length.
- Written labels are judged by handwriting style rather than content. Use the stated convention: letter styles vary and labels are optional. Score the drawing parts and the comparison marks, not handwriting.
Self-check rubric
- Left drawing contains body outline, leg shape, head shape, and tail shape inside the box.
- Right drawing contains body outline, leg shape, head shape, and tail shape inside the box.
- Comparison table marks at least one shape difference in a shape row (body outline, leg shape, head shape, or tail shape).
- Comparison table marks at least one feature difference in the features row (horn, crest, long neck, or plate shape).
- Child can point to or describe each marked difference.
- Written labels, if used, are accepted regardless of handwriting style or letter size.
Questions and answers
Does the worksheet require correct dinosaur species names?
No. The task compares shapes and features, not taxonomy. Children may use descriptive words such as long neck or horn.
Can a child use a circle for the body?
Yes. Any body outline is valid if the drawing also has at least one leg shape, a head shape, and a tail shape inside the box.
How many differences must be marked?
At least one shape difference and one feature difference. More are welcome but not required.
Are the numerical values on the worksheet fixed?
No. Any numbers used in planning are hypothetical examples. Measure the actual paper and equipment before printing.