ColorNest
Stegosaurus lived about 155 to 150 million years ago during the Late Jurassic period in what is now the western United States. Its two alternating rows of large bony plates ran from its neck to near the tip of its tail, and scientists believe the plates may have helped the dinosaur regulate its body temperature or attract a mate, not just defend itself.
Coloring ideas: try making the plates two different shades — perhaps orange and red — to show the alternating pattern. Color the body a warm olive green or sandy brown, and use a darker green for the fern fronds. The thagomizer spikes look fierce in bright yellow with dark tips.
Younger kids can use wide crayons to fill the big body shape and plates first. Older kids can add texture by coloring the small dotted scales on the body in a slightly darker shade than the base color, creating realistic-looking skin.
