Dinosaurs Come Alive in the UTS iSandBOX

Learning sticks when kids can touch it. The Dinosaurs mode in the UTS iSandBOX turns ordinary sand into a “paleo-park” where young visitors sculpt terrain, trigger natural phenomena, and even unearth dinosaur skeletons. It’s a hands-on, age-appropriate way to explore what dinosaurs looked like, how they lived, and why they disappeared.

What children see and do

• Build a prehistoric world: pile up “mountains,” shape “valleys,” carve “rivers.” iSandBOX instantly projects a living scene onto the relief.

• Trigger events: launch a meteor shower, tornado, or rain cloud and observe how forces of nature reshape the landscape and affect its inhabitants.

• Real-time “dig”: by moving sand, children discover dinosaur skeletons—a perfect springboard to talk about paleontology and evidence from the past.

• Observe & infer: connect terrain to movement and safety, discuss cause–effect, and see how traces of life remain in layers.

Designed to be informative, exciting, and comprehensible for preschool and early-primary audiences.

Why it works for museums

1. Makes hard ideas visible
   Climate, catastrophes, and causality become clear through simple sand experiments.

2. Promotes inquiry
   Kids run mini-experiments: “What if the mountain is higher? What if it rains?”

3. Cross-curricular
   Natural science + geography (landforms), early ecology (habitats), history (Mesozoic), and ICT.

4. Builds soft skills
   Small-group collaboration at the sandbox with rotating roles—builder, observer, storyteller.

Operating scenarios

1) Open exhibit play

• Goal: attract family traffic; create a visible anchor.

• Tips: 3–4 pictogram prompts (“Build a hill,” “Make it rain,” “Find a skeleton”), a 3–5 minute turn timer, and gentle queueing.

2) Museum mini-class (15–20 min)

• Up to 6–8 kids, led by an educator:

  1. World of dinosaurs — shape terrain.

  2. Forces & disasters — run meteorites/tornado; discuss outcomes.

  3. Paleo-dig — read the “layers,” find skeletons.

  4. Reflection — what did we learn?

3) Themed days & events

• “Dinosaur Night,” “Paleontology Weekend,” or “Science Day” with quick challenges: “Build a safe valley,” “Save the herd,” “Find 3 fossils in 60 seconds.”

4) Inclusive formats

• Rich tactile medium; add step-stools, pictograms, and large-print prompt cards to support diverse needs.

A 20-minute lesson plan

1. Warm-up (2 min) — relief = map.

2. Investigation (8 min) — small teams shape landforms and test rain/wind/meteorites.

3. Paleo-dig (5 min) — layers, time, careful excavation.

4. Discussion (3 min) — hypotheses on extinction.

5. Wrap-up (2 min) — how scientists work with evidence.

Materials: iSandBOX, prompt cards, “Junior Paleontologist” stickers.

Exhibit integration tips

• Placement: visible from the aisle, with a semicircle of free space around the sandbox.

• On-stand prompts: concise pictograms (“Shape,” “Storm,” “Dig”).

• Flow: “3-minute play” sign + simple queue.

• Hygiene: sanitizer nearby; daily raking/sieving per venue policy.

• Accessibility: step-stool for small kids; clear approach for strollers/wheelchairs.

Partnership ideas

• Museum × Schools: bookable lessons “Dinosaurs & Disasters.”

• Museum × Clubs: weekend “Archeo-Labs.”

• Seasonal programs: “Summer of Dinosaurs” with a final “Findings Gallery.”

Talking to parents

• 15-sec teaser video: “Kids build the Mesozoic by hand.”

• Before/After carousel: terrain pre- and post-catastrophe.

• Post ‘5 discoveries’: relief, forces, traces, careful handling, teamwork.

What to measure

• Average dwell time and repeat family visits.

• Share of visitors joining a mini-class.

• School bookings tied to the exhibit.

• Qualitative feedback (“What surprised you most?”).

FAQ

From what age?
Preschoolers engage well; early primary students articulate conclusions best. For older groups, deepen the science: strata, extinction hypotheses, major impact events.

How many kids at once?
4–6 at the rim works best so everyone can build and dig; rotate every 3–5 minutes in open play.

Do we need a facilitator?
Open play can be self-guided. Scheduled 15–20 minute moderations significantly raise learning outcomes and satisfaction.

Ready to plan your dinosaur zone?

We’ll tailor session scripts to your audience size, ages, and traffic patterns. Contact UTS on the website—let’s co-design your next hands-on hit.

Learn more about iSandBox