Museum in a van incursion: Dinosaurs and Fossils

Dinosaurs have long been the subject of fascination for children. Through stories and activities, this program will introduce to children the ways in which palaeontologists have come to understand dinosaurs through finding and studying fossils.

Children will be able to talk about and touch real dinosaur fossils from the Museum Victoria collection, learn about ancient time periods, see life-size replicas of dinosaur skulls, feet and legs, and classify their favourite prehistoric creatures as herbivores or carnivores.

• Triceratops Toolkit Kindergarten Resource

Expressions of interest

Expressions of Interest for 2026 are now closed due to high demand. Expressions of Interest for 2027 Outreach kindergarten incursions will open on 1 December 2026.  

Gallery

A staff member loads a Tarbosaurus skull into the Outreach Van. / Source: Museums Victoria / Photo: Benjamin Healley

A child takes a closer look at the Dino Touch Table. / Source: Museums Victoria / Photo: Tim Carrafa

A young visitor uses a magnifying glass to inspect a dinosaur skull with lots of teeth. / Source: Museums Victoria / Photo: Tim Carrafa

Kindergarten children actively participating in an interactive story during Museum Victoria's Dinosaurs and Fossils kindergarten incursion program. / Source: Museums Victoria / Photo: Eugene Hyland

Bilingual Auslan-English presentations

Bilingual Auslan-English sessions are available for all kindergartens and schools for Deaf children subject to staff availability.

Bilingual presentations integrate Auslan signs into the learning program. The programs are delivered by an Auslan presenter in collaboration with an English speaking presenter. Through hands-on exploration, play and Auslan storytelling, children are encouraged to learn basic Auslan signs related to dinosaurs and fossils.

These sessions are available by request (pending availability of presenters) for all kindergartens including schools for Deaf children. Where possible, priority will be given to kindergartens or schools that have a child/children that require Auslan to access the program.

Print-outs of key signs:

• Auslan Flashcards|  1021.67 KB .pdf file

Visual story for Museum incursions

This visual story is a story-based resource that educators can use with their pre-school groups prior to the Museum incursion. It is a valuable tool that can be used to prepare all pre-school children to understand the social learning environment and behavioural expectations for when the Museum comes to visit. 

The resource may be used in a variety of ways to best suit your group’s needs. 

• Dinosaurs And Fossils Visual Story|  2.05 MB .pdf file

Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYLDF)

• Learning Outcome 1: Children have a strong sense of identity 

• Learning Outcome 4: Children are confident and involved learners 

• Learning Outcome 5: Children are effective Communicators