Reception and Key Stage 1 Study Dinosaurs

Children at Hanging Heaton CE (VC) Junior and Infant School (West Yorkshire), had an exciting and very special Friday morning.  Class 1 and Class 2 are starting a topic all about dinosaurs, fossils and life in the past and to help start the term topic, Everything Dinosaur was invited into the school to deliver two dinosaur and fossil themed workshops.  An early morning start, to avoid the worst of the weather and traffic, permitted the Everything Dinosaur team member the chance to admire the tidy classrooms with their display boards ready to be adorned with various prehistoric animal facts, examples of writing and dinosaur inspired artwork.

Class 1 (Reception and Year 1) Have a Palaeontology Lab!

The FS2/Year 1 class have a palaeontology lab.
The FS2/Year 1 class have a palaeontology laboratory.

Picture credit: Hanging Heaton CE (VC) J & I School/Everything Dinosaur

Spacious and Tidy Classrooms

The spacious and well-appointed classrooms have lots of display boards, so that the children’s topic work can be highlighted.  Class 1, which consists of a mixed group of Reception and Year 1 children even have a part of the large classroom designated as a palaeontology lab, just the place to showcase all their dinosaur discoveries.

A Display Board in Class 2 Ready for Dinosaur Facts and Figures

A Key Stage 1 dinosaurs term topic display board - Dinosaurs!
Year 1/2 classroom ready for the dinosaurs term topic.

Picture credit: Hanging Heaton CE (VC) J & I School/Everything Dinosaur

Class 2 have a display board all ready to post up their dinosaur themed work.  The inflatable pterosaur makes a lovely addition, perhaps the children will learn about flying reptiles as part of their studies.  Prior to the two workshops, our dinosaur and fossil expert briefed the enthusiastic teaching team on how to maximise the learning from the sessions.  In addition, a number of extension resources were provided.

Visit the Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

Over the course of the morning, there were lots of opportunities for the teaching team and the learning support assistants to take plenty of photographs, all very useful when it comes to recalling and recounting activities.

Once back in the office, the dinosaur expert sent over some additional teaching resources to help support the two classes with the scheme of work.  A challenge for the children was could they design their own dinosaur?  We look forward to seeing the results.

For further information on Everything Dinosaur’s work in schools: Contact Everything Dinosaur.