2015 | Everything Dinosaur Blog

26 01, 2015

Class Two Study Dinosaurs and Rare Fossils

By Mike|2024-05-04T21:47:16+01:00January 26th, 2015|Categories: Educational Activities, Teaching|0 Comments

Learning All About Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals with Class Two

Children in Class Two study dinosaurs with the help of Everything Dinosaur.

A very busy morning with the Year 2 class at St Malachy’s R.C. Primary who have been studying dinosaurs and prehistoric animals. The children had been learning all about when the dinosaurs lived, where they lived and how they became extinct. Miss Butterfield and Mrs Parker had been teaching the children all about continents and countries and a most impressive map had been created which showed where in the world some dinosaurs lived.

Class Two Study Dinosaurs

Mapping the Dinosaurs

Where did dinosaurs live? Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Can you spot a spelling mistake? We wonder if any of the children have spotted the mistake, we think this is the teacher’s very clever way of encouraging the children to be observant.

Making Dinosaur Posters

As part of the ICT element of the curriculum for the spring term, the children had been making some dinosaur posters and learning how to copy and paste material from the internet. Some lovely examples of posters were on display on the classroom wall and outside in the corridor. They certainly brightened up the corridor. Our dinosaur expert set the class some challenges, one of which was to come up with some science posters based on the information provided. In addition, the children demonstrated their use of adjectives and we had some wonderful examples, especially when it came to describing the fossil teeth.

To cater for the design/technology (DT) and art elements of the curriculum, teacher Miss Butterfield, aided by Mrs Parker (teaching assistant) had been helping the children to design and create different prehistoric animal models, including a super sculpture of a fearsome Velociraptor.

A Wonderful Sculpture of a Velociraptor

On guard in the classroom. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Thinking Carefully About Materials

The children had to think carefully about which materials to choose and they had been challenged to use different media to create their prehistoric animal pictures. We saw some lovely examples of artwork including a dinosaur called “Spike-0-saurus”, a very spiky dinosaur, hence his name.

Making Dinosaur Models and Artwork Using Different Resources

Lots of colourful prehistoric animals on display. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

So many different types of dinosaur model had been made that some had even been put on display outside in the corridor. It made our dinosaur expert feel very happy as he passed lots of models of stegosaurs on his way to the classroom. The children compared parts of their bodies to the bodies of dinosaurs, some of the bones and casts that the children saw helped them to appreciate just how big some dinosaurs were. It looks like Class 2 are having fun learning all about palaeontologists and life in the past.

To view the huge range of dinosaur themed toys and gifts available from Everything Dinosaur: Toy Dinosaurs and Gifts.

25 01, 2015

Quick Video Preview of New 2015 Papo Models

By Mike|2023-03-23T07:42:47+00:00January 25th, 2015|Categories: Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur Products, Everything Dinosaur videos|0 Comments

Papo Young Apatosaurus and the Papo Tupuxuara Models – Papo Prehistoric Animal Models

Everything Dinosaur team members have created a short video that highlights new for 2015, Papo prehistoric animal models.

Here is a quick video that showcases two of the new for 2015 prehistoric animal models from Papo. The video features the Young Apatosaurus replica, (dimensions confirmed as being 37 cm long, 13 cm high) and the excellent pterosaur figure – a Tupuxuara. In this short, (43 second video), we also compare these two models to the enormous Papo Brachiosaurus dinosaur model that was introduced in the autumn of 2012. The Tupuxuara pterosaur may be small but it is beautifully painted and the crest detail is superb.

Everything Dinosaur’s Video Preview of the Young Apatosaurus and the Tupuxuara Models (Papo)

Video credit: Everything Dinosaur

To view Everything Dinosaur’s range of Papo models: Papo Prehistoric Animal Models.

The Papo Brachiosaurus measures a whopping 40 cm in length, the head is some 32 cm high. We used this model to provide a scale to compare the two new additions to the Papo range. The Young Apatosaurus, in our view, represents a sub-adult, think of this replica as representing a teenage dinosaur.

Both the Papo Tupuxuara and the Papo Young Apatosaurus models are expected to be in stock at Everything Dinosaur early March, although they could arrive a little earlier. Check out this web log and Everything Dinosaur’s social media pages for updates.

The Papo Tupuxuara Pterosaur Model

Watch out, a pterosaur is coming this way. New additions to the range of Papo prehistoric animal models.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Papo Prehistoric Animal Models

The range of Papo prehistoric animal models has increased substantially in recent years. The Papo “Les Dinosaures” series features, dinosaurs, marine reptiles, pterosaurs and prehistoric mammals.

Hide and seek in the back yard. Papo prehistoric animal models are great for creative, imaginative play.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

24 01, 2015

Casting Doubts on Global Firestorms

By Mike|2023-03-23T07:41:16+00:00January 24th, 2015|Categories: Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Geology, Main Page, Palaeontological articles|0 Comments

Extraterrestrial Impact May Not Have Caused Global Firestorms

The debate over the consequences of the extraterrestrial impact that took place around sixty-six million years ago continues with the publication of pioneering new research that investigates whether or not the Yucatan impact caused extensive firestorms on a global scale. It is now widely believed that at least one huge object from outer space crashed into Earth which very probably contributed to the mass extinction event that marks the end of the Cretaceous. This is perhaps the most famous of all the mass extinction events recorded in the Phanerozoic fossil record, as no significant quantities of dinosaur fossils are found in younger strata.

Mass Extinction Event

The end Cretaceous mass extinction event saw the demise of the Dinosauria, the pterosaurs, most of the marine reptiles and a number of other significant casualties. It had been thought that a consequence of the impact was a series of huge fires that ravaged the Earth, destroying much of the plant-life on the planet. Plenty of evidence for this catastrophic event has been cited, for example, large amounts of carbon preserved in strata at the K-T boundary, believed to be the preserved remains of such conflagrations.

In 2013, for example Everything Dinosaur published an article on this blog citing research which suggested that intense heat in the atmosphere did indeed cause huge fires: Cretaceous Mass Extinction Study Provides Evidence of Global Firestorm.

A “Fern Spike”

Scientists have also recorded evidence of a “fern spike” that occurred immediately after the extinction event. Large numbers of fossilised fern spores have been recorded (microfossils), in contrast to a very low level of other plant remains such as pollen from flowering plants being recorded. Ferns are quick to re-colonise an area after a devastating volcanic eruption. The “fern spike” data was taken as supporting evidence for the massive destruction of much of the planet’s green matter.

To read more about the “fern spike” research: Humble Ferns – Evidence to Support the Impact Theory.

Did the Extraterrestrial Impact Cause Global Firestorms?

Cataclysmic impact event, but was there a global firestorm?

Picture credit: Don Davis commissioned by NASA

Global Firestorms

However, a team of UK based researchers (University of Exeter, Imperial College London and the University of Edinburgh), have challenged the idea of world-wide fires. The scientists recreated the massive energy released from the impact event and they found that the blistering heat near the impact site was too short-lived to ignite living plants. The scientists conducted a series of experiments using pulses of heat and writing in the Journal of the Geological Society, the team conclude that close to the actual impact, the heat wave would have lasted less than a minute, too short a time to set fire to living plants.

However, using computer models they discovered that the effects of the blast would have been felt as far away as New Zealand, some 12,000 kilometres from the site of the explosion. The further away from the blast centre, the less intent the heat wave, but it would have been longer lasting. In New Zealand, the heat blast would have lasted for around seven minutes, long enough to ignite living plant material.

Living Plants Not Ignited

Experiments conducted suggest that dry and dead plant matter could be set alight, but live plants such as conifer needles were not ignited.

Having a Blast with Heat Wave Experiments

Global firestorm study.

Picture credit: University of Exeter

The picture above shows the fire propagation apparatus recreating the impact induced thermal pulse at the Cretaceous/Palaeogene (K-T boundary). Halogen lamps are delivering the intense, thermal radiation.

Commenting on the study, Dr Claire Belcher (Earth System Science group in Geography at the University of Exeter) stated:

“By combining computer simulations of the impact with methods from engineering we have been able to recreate the enormous heat of the impact in the laboratory. This has shown us that the heat was more likely to severely affect ecosystems a long distance away, such that forests in New Zealand would have had more chance of suffering major wildfires than forests in North America that were close to the impact. This flips our understanding of the effects of the impact on its head and means that palaeontologists may need to look for new clues from fossils found a long way from the impact to better understand the mass extinction event.”

The Impact on Flora and Fauna

Fauna and flora populations are generally resistant to localised fire events, animals can hide or hibernate/enter aestivation and the seeds of plants can survive the intense heat of forest fires. Some plants even rely on seasonal fires to help them spread. Based on these assumptions, it can be suggested that wildfires on their own are unlikely to be directly responsible for extinctions. However, large dinosaurs which were unable to run very far, or shelter may have suffered terribly from such fires.

Dr Rory Hadden from the University of Edinburgh added:

“This is a truly exciting piece of inter-disciplinary research. By working together engineers and geoscientists have tackled a complex, long-standing problem in a novel way. This has allowed a step forward in the debate surrounding the end Cretaceous impact and will help geoscientists interpret the fossil record and evaluate potential future impacts. In addition, the methods we developed in the laboratory for this research have driven new developments in our current understanding of how materials behave in fires particularly at the wildland-urban-interface, meaning that we have been able to answer questions relating to both ancient mass extinctions at the same time as developing understanding of the impact of wildfires in urban areas today.”

Everything Dinosaur would like to thank Exeter University for the use of a press release that enabled this article to be compiled.

Visit Everything Dinosaur’s website: Visit Everything Dinosaur.

23 01, 2015

Video Preview of the Schleich Kentrosaurus and Anhanguera Models

By Mike|2023-03-23T07:35:13+00:00January 23rd, 2015|Categories: Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur Products, Everything Dinosaur videos|0 Comments

New from Schleich for 2015 (Video Preview) – Schleich Anhanguera and the Schleich Kentrosaurus

We have created a short video preview of the Schleich Anhanguera and the Schleich Kentrosaurus models.

As team members from Everything Dinosaur eagerly await the arrival of the first batch of new prehistoric animal products from Schleich, we took time out to shoot a quick video preview of the new Anhanguera and Kentrosaurus models. These two replicas, part of the World of History model range will be part of the first set of new replicas to be released by Schleich this year. We are expecting to have stocks by February, possibly even earlier. Both models are beautifully painted and the pterosaur has an articulated lower jaw.

Short Video Preview of New Schleich Models (2015)

Video credit: Everything Dinosaur

Schleich Anhanguera and Kentrosaurus

Team members at Everything Dinosaur took the opportunity to shoot some footage of the new prehistoric animal models whilst at a recent trade show. The short video provides collectors and model fans with a preview of the latest Schleich World of History model introductions.

To view Everything Dinosaur’s current range of World of History prehistoric animal models: Schleich Prehistoric Animal Models and Figures.

Significant Company Investment

Schleich have invested heavily in the development of their dinosaur model range. The company sees these new additions as part of a three-cornered strategy to continue to grow the Schleich brand in 2015, Schleich refer to this strategy as the 3-Ds (one of the Ds stands for dinosaurs). Just for the record, the other two Ds stand for dragons (big increase in fantasy dragon figures in 2015) and for D.C. Comics (Schleich will be marketing a set of figures inspired by characters created by the comic strip company (Justice League). Two further dinosaur models, a Giganotosaurus and a Spinosaurus will be added to the World of History model range in July.

To read a blog post about the Schleich Giganotosaurus and the Schleich Spinosaurus figures: Schleich Giganotosaurus and Spinosaurus Previewed.

The blog post link (above) also provides access to a short video we created highlighting these two, new theropod figures.

22 01, 2015

Preparing for the New Nasutoceratops Models

By Mike|2024-05-04T21:50:19+01:00January 22nd, 2015|Categories: Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Everything Dinosaur Products|0 Comments

Scale Drawing of Nasutoceratops

With both CollectA and Safari Ltd producing replicas of the basal centrosaurine dinosaur known as Nasutoceratops (N. titusi) in 2015, team members at Everything Dinosaur have been busy preparing a fact sheet all about this horned dinosaur. The discovery of the fossils of this large, herbivorous dinosaur has thrown the world of centrosaurine phylogeny into confusion. The large brow horns, bigger in both absolute and relative terms than the brow horns of any other known centrosaurine dinosaur along with a number of other anatomical traits seen in Nasutoceratops, has led many palaeontologists to question the division of the Ceratopsidae into two distinct clades. Is the sub-division of the Ceraptosidae into Chasmosaurinae and Centrosaurinae clades too simplistic?

To view Everything Dinosaur’s blog post from 2013 about the discovery of Nasutoceratops: “Large Nose, Horn Face” – Nasutoceratops.

The debate is likely to continue and it will be further complicated by new fossil discoveries from North America. Perhaps, a revision similar to the changes seen in the Theropoda with the virtual abandonment of terms such as carnosaur which was originally applied to meat-eating dinosaurs of a certain size. However, this point has been set aside as we focus on creating a fact sheet for these new dinosaur models. Every named prehistoric animal model that Everything Dinosaur supplies is sent out with its own fact sheet. As part of our research, we commission a scale drawing so that our customers can see the approximate size of the animal represented by the fossil material.

The Scale Drawing of Nasutoceratops

A scale drawing of the Late Campanian horned dinosaur called Nasutoceratops.

Picture credit: Mike Fredericks/Everything Dinosaur

Safari Ltd have created a large range of dinosaur and prehistoric animal figures. To view this range of models in stock at Everything Dinosaur: Wild Safari Prehistoric World Figures.

Preparing for Nasutoceratops

We are looking forward to the arrival of the two models of Nasutoceratops, we wonder which one will prove to be the most popular amongst dinosaur fans and model collectors?

To view the range of CollectA horned dinosaurs available from Everything Dinosaur: CollectA Prehistoric Life/Prehistoric World Models.

21 01, 2015

Quick Preview Video – Schleich Spinosaurus and Giganotosaurus

By Mike|2023-03-23T07:29:39+00:00January 21st, 2015|Categories: Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Everything Dinosaur Products, Everything Dinosaur videos|0 Comments

World of History Schleich Spinosaurus and Giganotosaurus (new for 2015)

Here is a quick preview of the new World of History dinosaur models that are coming out from Schleich in July 2015. Joining the World of History series will be a Giganotosaurus dinosaur and a Spinosaurus. We are looking forward to stocking these new, meat-eating dinosaur models, both of which have articulated jaws.

Quick Video Preview of the Schleich World of History Spinosaurus and Giganotosaurus

Video credit: Everything Dinosaur

Schleich Spinosaurus and Giganotosaurus Dinosaur Models

Whilst visiting a trade show, Everything Dinosaur team members were able to take some footage of the new Schleich theropod figures. The video features the new Schleich Giganotosaurus and Spinosaurus, models which are due to be in stock at Everything Dinosaur later this year.

To view our current range of Schleich World of History prehistoric animal models: Schleich Prehistoric Animal Figures.

20 01, 2015

CollectA Guidraco a Beautiful Pterosaur Picture

By Mike|2024-05-04T18:58:59+01:00January 20th, 2015|Categories: Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur Products, Photos of Everything Dinosaur Products|0 Comments

Colourful Guidraco (Pterosaur)

Everything Dinosaur praises the recently introduced CollectA Deluxe/Supreme Guidraco model.

The “Supreme Deluxe” Guidraco pterosaur model (1:4 scale model of a flying reptile), has certainly caused a stir around Everything Dinosaur’s offices. The Atlantic Puffin inspired colours are certainly very eye-catching on this new CollectA replica. I see CollectA themselves are equally inspired by this feisty pterosaur, as it features on the front cover of the company’s 2015 brochure.

CollectA Guidraco Pterosaur

A Pair of Guidraco Pterosaurs

A colourful pair of Guidraco pterosaurs. This picture can be found on the front cover of the new for 2015 CollectA product brochure.

Picture credit: CollectA/Everything Dinosaur

This feisty flying reptile was officially named and described in 2012. The binomial name is Guidraco venator, the name is a combination of Chinese and Latin, it translates as “malicious ghost dragon hunter”. With that rosette of pointy teeth this was very probably an agile predator that swooped down to snatch fish and other soft bodied creatures from the water. A flock of these reptiles feeding would have been an awesome sight.

To view Everything Dinosaur’s range of CollectA scale models: CollectA Deluxe/Supreme Prehistoric Animal Models.

19 01, 2015

Schleich World of History Prehistoric Animals (2015)

By Mike|2023-03-22T08:49:21+00:00January 19th, 2015|Categories: Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Everything Dinosaur Products|0 Comments

Schleich World of History Models (2015)

Everything Dinosaur comments on a change of strategy for the Schleich World of History models.

This year sees a change in strategy for the German based model and figure manufacturer. Across their range, the company is introducing a number of play sets and accessories helping to encourage imaginative, creative play. Everything Dinosaur team members have been fortunate to have had the chance to see the new items to be included in the 2015 “World of History” prehistoric animal range. A number of prehistoric animal species are included as part of a new cave “dino set”.

Schleich Models

The Carnotaurus and Schleich Quetzalcoatlus figures that come with this dinosaur themed play set might be familiar to model collectors, but in addition, the set features a colourful Archaeopteryx, a baby pterosaur (young Quetzalcoatlus) and an agile Microraptor. The dinosaur set with cave measures 25 cm x 16 cm x 31 cm and includes model plants, eggs and one or two handy hiding places should a hungry theropod go by.

Schleich World of History Range Extended

A new strategy which involves the provision of play sets and accessories.

Picture credit: Schleich

Prehistoric Animal Models and Figures

To view Everything Dinosaur’s World of History model range: Schleich World of History Models.

Things were still being finalised by Schleich when Everything Dinosaur was sent the images, if you look at the bottom left segment of the picture, plants that fit together are illustrated, there are no palisade walls to be seen.

The play set includes a replica of the theropod Carnotaurus, to read more about the new Carnotaurus model being added to the Schleich World of History model range: Schleich Carnotaurus Model Reviewed.

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“We see Schleich extending its range of products to include accessories and play sets in 2015, although it is also pleasing to see a number of new prehistoric animal figures being introduced too.”

Looks like 2015 is going to be an exciting year for model collectors and dinosaur fans alike.

19 01, 2015

Year 1 Children Write About Dinosaurs

By Mike|2023-03-22T08:46:22+00:00January 19th, 2015|Categories: Key Stage 1/2|Comments Off on Year 1 Children Write About Dinosaurs

College Town Infant and Nursery School Children Write About Dinosaurs

To help inspire children in Year 1 at College Town Infant and Nursery School, the teaching team invited a team member from Everything Dinosaur to conduct dinosaur themed workshops as part of a term topic. The children were certainly very excited to receive a visit in support of their term topic (dinosaurs). However, one of the learning objectives was to help enthuse and motivate the children with their writing. As part of an agreed set of extension activities, one of the teachers (Miss Tuck), asked her class to write thank you letters. Just before leaving, we received a wonderful set of letters from the class.

One of the Thank You Letters Received by Everything Dinosaur

Thank you letter from pupil received by Everything Dinosaur.

Vinzen’s fantastic dinosaur themed letter.

Picture credit: College Town Infant and Nursery School/Everything Dinosaur

Our teaching team enjoyed reading all the letters that the children had written. They had obviously absorbed a lot of information in the dinosaur workshop and they were very keen to write a thank you note to our dinosaur expert. The Year 1 class had thought carefully about what they were going to say and there were lots of excellent examples of sounding words out before attempting to spell them. Some fantastic adjectives were used and it was pleasing to hear from the teaching team how enthusiastic the children were when it came to this task.

To view the extensive range of prehistoric animal themed merchandise including dinosaur themed clothing, models, toys and games, take a look at Everything Dinosaur’s award-winning website: Visit Everything Dinosaur.

18 01, 2015

Thank You Card from an Everything Dinosaur Customer

By Mike|2023-03-22T08:45:00+00:00January 18th, 2015|Categories: General Teaching|Comments Off on Thank You Card from an Everything Dinosaur Customer

Teachers and Customers say Thank You

It is always a pleasure to hear from teachers, home educators and customers. Our team members try their best to help, whether it is sorting out some lesson plan ideas linked to prehistoric animals or helping to answer questions sent in by schoolchildren. It is great to know that the long hours that we work are appreciated, we do receive lots of thank you notes and cards.

Everything Dinosaur Customer

Thank You Card Sent to Everything Dinosaur

Customer’s send in thank you cards to Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

To read an article about receiving feedback from a teacher after Everything Dinosaur team members worked with school staff: Everything Dinosaur Received Feedback from Teachers.

Every card, letter and email is read by our team members and we do our best to respond promptly to all those that require a reply. We especially appreciate the thank you cards that we receive, these are posted up around the office. It is nice to know that Everything Dinosaur’s customer service is appreciated.

Everything Dinosaur Says Thank You

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“We would like to say a very big thank you to all those teachers, teaching assistants and customers who sent into our offices thank you cards. These cards really cheered us all up and we are grateful for these kind gestures.”

Everything Dinosaur is a UK-based, global supplier of dinosaur and prehistoric animal themed merchandise including clothing, models, toys and games.

To view the huge range of products the company stocks, take a look at Everything Dinosaur’s award-winning, user-friendly website: Visit Everything Dinosaur.