All about dinosaurs, fossils and prehistoric animals by Everything Dinosaur team members.
21 03, 2019

Exploring the Properties of Materials – Exploring Dinosaurs

By |2023-11-30T09:43:50+00:00March 21st, 2019|Early Years Foundation Reception, General Teaching|Comments Off on Exploring the Properties of Materials – Exploring Dinosaurs

Dinosaurs Helping to Encourage Tactile, Creative Play

Team members praised the teaching team for having such a well-organised and spacious dinosaur den. We spotted this simple but very effective play area whilst on a visit to a school to conduct a series of dinosaur and fossil themed workshops with Reception classes.  The teaching team had laid out a number of play areas related to the term topic of dinosaurs.  One play area involved the children building their own “dinosaur world”. A second play area was dedicated to digging for dinosaur bones.

Tactile Exploration and Developing Creative Play

A tidy dinosaur den.
A spacious and tidy dinosaur den spotted in a Reception classroom. Picture credit; Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

A Tidy Dinosaur Den

Such a play area encourages creative play, the concept of sharing and working together. We spotted some simple guidelines and instructions stating how many children can play at a station at any one time.  The children have the opportunity to explore a range of materials and different types of dinosaur model.  This is a great resource for children to help them learn about the properties of materials and of great assistance to kinaesthetic orientated learners.

For dinosaur toys, models and games: Prehistoric Animal Models, Toys and Games.

A simple play area with dinosaur models and other tactile objects helps children to explore the properties of materials.  This is a wonderful resource to help encourage creative, independent, imaginative play.

It is an example of dinosaurs and prehistoric animals helping to encourage creative play amongst Foundation Stage children.

Visit the award-winning Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

21 03, 2019

A Recipe for Dinosaur Shortbread Biscuits

By |2023-11-30T07:31:26+00:00March 21st, 2019|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur Fans, Educational Activities, Main Page, Press Releases, Teaching|0 Comments

Dinosaur Shortbread Biscuits Recipe

Here is a quick and simple recipe to make dinosaur shortbread biscuits.  Making biscuits such as these is a fun activity that young children can participate in.  These dinosaur shortbread biscuits make great treats or can be used to help with the catering for a dinosaur themed birthday party.

A Recipe for Dinosaur Shortbread Biscuits

Dinosaur shortbread biscuits recipe.
A recipe for dinosaur shortbread biscuits.  A simple biscuit recipe that is a great idea for a dinosaur themed birthday party – perfect for prehistoric party fun! Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Ingredients (Makes About Twenty Biscuits)

  • Butter or margarine 110 grammes (4oz)
  • Caster sugar 50 grammes (2oz)
  • Plain flour, sifted 175 grammes (6oz)
  • Extra caster sugar for dusting

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 150°C /300°F (Gas mark 2).  Lightly grease two baking sheets.
  2. Begin by first beating the butter (or margarine) with a wooden spoon to a soft consistency, and then beat in the sugar, followed by the sifted flour.
  3. Still using the wooden spoon, start to bring the mixture together, then finish off with your hands to form a paste.
  4. Transfer the mixture to a board lightly dusted with caster sugar, and then quickly and lightly roll it out to about 1/8 inch (3mm) thick (dusting the rolling pin with sugar if necessary).
  5. Cut the biscuits out using dinosaur biscuit cutters or, a dinosaur-shaped card that acts as a template and then arrange them on the baking sheet and bake on a highish shelf in the oven for 30 minutes.  Cool the biscuits on a wire rack, dust them with some caster sugar, and store in an airtight tin to keep them crisp.
  6. Once cooled, the biscuits can be iced and decorated to make a fun dinosaur themed snack or an ideal party food for a prehistoric animal themed party or other special occasion.

Dinosaur Biscuits – Just Out of the Oven

Dinosaur biscuits
Dinosaur biscuits cooling on a wire rack.  Once cooled, these biscuits can be decorated. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The Everything Dinosaur Weblog

The Everything Dinosaur weblog is crammed full of helpful articles aimed at the parents, grandparents and guardians of dinosaur enthusiasts and budding, young palaeontologists.  If you search our blog using terms such as “dinosaur party”, “cake” and “biscuit”, you will discover lots of helpful articles, ideas, recipes and suggestions to assist you with dinosaur themed party planning and other fun prehistoric animal orientated activities.  Have fun!

Everything Dinosaur is a UK-based supplier of dinosaur and prehistoric animal themed models, toys and merchandise, check-out our website: Visit Everything Dinosaur.

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