All about dinosaurs, fossils and prehistoric animals by Everything Dinosaur team members.
22 04, 2019

New Prehistoric Times Issue 129 Reviewed

By |2023-12-05T09:00:49+00:00April 22nd, 2019|Dinosaur Fans, Magazine Reviews, Main Page|0 Comments

Prehistoric Times Magazine (Spring 2019) Reviewed

The latest issue of “Prehistoric Times” magazine has arrived at the Everything Dinosaur offices and once again this quarterly publication aimed at fans of prehistoric animal models and dinosaur enthusiasts is crammed full of fascinating articles and beautiful artwork.  Highlights include the latest instalment in the long running series discussing the artwork of Czech illustrator Zdeněk Burian by John Lavas.  In this issue, it is Burian’s prehistoric and not so prehistoric crocodilian illustrations that are reviewed.  In addition, look at for Tracy Lee Ford’s in-depth look at drawing Stegosaurus, throat ossicles and all.

“Prehistoric Times” Magazine

The front cover of issue 129 features Deinonychus, one of the prehistoric animals examined by Phil Hore in this edition.  Phil was quick to point out that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the ground-breaking scientific paper on this dromaeosaurid published by John Ostrom.  The paper depicted dinosaurs as active animals and examined their close relationship to modern Aves (birds).  The artwork for the front cover was created by commercial artist Kurt Miller.

Dynamic Deinonychus Features on the Front Cover of Prehistoric Times Issue 129

Prehistoric Times magazine (spring 2019).
Prehistoric Times magazine (issue 129).  Celebrating the 50th anniversary of a very important scientific paper (Ostrom, 1969).

Picture credit: Mike Fredericks/Prehistoric Times

Kurt commented:

“I am very honoured to see that my Deinonychus painting was selected for the cover of the spring 2019 issue.  I thought to paint some prehistoric birds flying by a Deinonychus who has feathers of its own.”

There are lots of reader submitted Deinonychus illustrations too, look out for wonderful pictures from Julie Kitzes, Mike Landry and Evan King.

The Land that Time Forgot

It is also a hundred years since the book “The Land that Time Forgot” by the American fantasy author Edgar Rice Burroughs went to press, one of a trilogy of stories about a prehistoric land populated with dinosaurs and strange tribes.  Scott Tracy Griffin, the Director of Special Projects at Edgar Rice Burroughs Inc.  provides an insight in how the story was written and explains how the book came to be published.

On the subject of books, in the “Mesozoic Media” section there are some excellent book reviews including a review of “The Palaeoartist’s Handbook” by Mark Witton.  Palaeontologist Steve Brusatte summarises the top dinosaur fossil news stories of 2018, a year in which there have been some amazing dinosaur discoveries, including the naming of several new types of armoured dinosaur.

2018 Was a Good Year for Armoured Dinosaur Discoveries

Invictarx life reconstruction.
A life reconstruction of Invictarx zephyri.  A newly described armoured dinosaur (nodosaurid), one of several named in 2018.

Picture credit: Kara Kelley/Western Science Centre

Chalicotheres

Chalicotheres might be rare in the fossil record, but issue 129 is packed full of pictures of them and Phil Hore expands on this most bizarre of prehistoric mammals.  The report on these strange beasts concludes with stories of the “Nandi Bear”, a cryptid that is thought to lurk in the dark forests of eastern Africa.

Moropus – An Example of a Chalicothere

Moropus model.
Lots of Chalicotheres feature in the spring issue of “Prehistoric Times” magazine.

Visit the Everything Dinosaur CollectA Deluxe section: CollectA Deluxe Models.

“Prehistoric Times” is published quarterly and it has built up a fantastic reputation for its superb articles, illustrations and reader submitted artwork.  It is highly regarded by many model collectors and dinosaur fans from all over the world.

To learn more about the magazine and to subscribe: Prehistoric Times Magazine.

Visit the Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

22 04, 2019

Preparing and Extension Activity for Key Stage 1

By |2023-12-05T08:53:04+00:00April 22nd, 2019|General Teaching, Key Stage 1/2|Comments Off on Preparing and Extension Activity for Key Stage 1

Dinosaur Themed Extension Activity for Key Stage 1

Everything Dinosaur team members are getting ready for the start of the summer term (UK).  Staff have a lot of dinosaur and fossil themed workshops and other activities to prepare.  For example, in a few days, a team member is visiting a school to conduct some dinosaur workshops with Year 2 classes and once the workshops have been concluded they have been invited to a question and answer session with two classes of Year 2.

As part of our extension activities to help support the teaching team’s scheme of work, we have developed a lesson plan based around answering the question how did dinosaurs keep themselves clean?

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

A Helpful PDF – Dinosaur Extension Activity for Key Stage 1

To assist the teaching team, we have developed a lesson plan outlining the learning aims and objectives.  Fossil bones and teeth help scientists to work out what extinct animals looked like, what they ate and how they moved, but evidence from fossils can’t tell palaeontologists much about the way that prehistoric animals behaved.

Trace fossils such as trackways and burrows can provide some evidence, but in order to answer questions about Dinosauria hygiene, scientists have to study animals alive today in order to get some clues.  By studying living creatures palaeontologists can make educated assumptions about how extinct animals kept themselves clean.

Did Some Dinosaurs Roll Around in the Dust to Help Keep Themselves Clean?

Dinosaur extension activity for schools.
An extension activity for schools. How did dinosaurs keep clean? Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“When we visit schools, we like to provide additional resources to help support the topic area.   We are happy to provide lots of free information including prepared lesson plans and lesson guides.  It is all part of our extensive programme of dinosaur and fossil themed workshops in schools.”

For further information about the range of science outreach offered by Everything Dinosaur: Email Everything Dinosaur.

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