Stegosaurus Apples

Stegosaurus is the dinosaur with the big plates along its back, and today we build one out of apples. Half an apple makes the body, thin slices make the plates, and your little one gets to eat their dinosaur when they're done.

What you need

• 1 or 2 apples

• A cucumber or pear, for the head and tail

• A few raisins or blueberries for eyes (cut small)

• Optional: peanut butter, sunflower butter or cream cheese as "glue"

How to make it

1. Make the body. A grown-up cuts an apple in half and lays one half flat side down on the plate.

2. Cut the plates. Cut thin apple slices. A grown-up cuts a few shallow slits along the top of the body.

3. Add the plates. Your child tucks the slices into the slits, standing up, like the plates on a stegosaurus's back.

4. Head and tail. Add a cucumber round for the head and a cucumber stick for the tail. Stick on raisin eyes.

5. Count the plates. How many plates does your stegosaurus have? Can you give it five?

Why we love it

Building food into a shape turns snack time into play, and kids are more likely to try fruit and veggies they made themselves. It's also a fun way to talk about what made stegosaurus special.

Make it your own

• Spikes on the tail: Stegosaurus had spikes at the end of its tail. Add a few pretzel sticks.

• No-cut version: Lay apple slices in a row on a plate to make a flat stegosaurus.

A quick safety note: Grown-ups do all the cutting. For kids under 4, cut apple into thin slices, quarter blueberries and chop raisins. Skip nut butters if your family avoids nuts. Always have your child sit while eating.

Shop these items

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• Shop everything for Week 5: Dinosaurs

• Starter supplies: the basics we use most weeks

• See every week in our Amazon storefront

More for this week: see all our Dinosaur activities, Letter E activities and Number 5 activities.

Every child is different. Please use your own judgment about what's safe and right for your family. Always supervise children during activities and while eating, and adjust foods for allergies, dietary needs and your child's age and chewing ability. Sprocket & Sprout shares these ideas for fun and learning only. We are not responsible for any injury, allergic reaction, damage or mess that may result from trying them. This post may contain affiliate links; if you buy through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.