Dinosaur models and prehistoric animal figures play an important role in education. However, not all figures are suitable for learning. Accuracy matters, especially in classrooms and museums. Children absorb facts about prehistoric animals like a sponge absorbs water. We spend our lives being corrected by young dinosaur fans. Educational dinosaur models and prehistoric animal figures are important.

A Bullyworld ammonite model is used to help illustrate a display of ammonite fossils in a museum.  Educational prehistoric animal models are important. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The ammonite model (above) is part of the Bullyworld model series.  To view this range of prehistoric animal figures: Bullyland/Bullyworld Prehistoric Animal Models.

Educational Dinosaur Models and Prehistoric Animal Figures

In educational settings, models act as visual teaching tools. They help learners understand scale, anatomy, and posture. In addition, they provide a visual interpretation of the fossil record. Therefore, scientific accuracy is essential. Incorrect models can easily reinforce outdated ideas. In contrast, well-researched figures support modern palaeontology.

Museums face similar challenges. Displays must inform as well as inspire. For that reason, curators often choose models that reflect current research. Accurate reconstructions also help visitors visualise extinct animals more effectively than text alone. For example, we supplied a replica of a Steppe Mammoth (Mammuthus trogontherii) to a German museum for display next to prehistoric elephant teeth.

At Everything Dinosaur, many models are selected with education in mind. Teachers and museum staff frequently use them in lessons, workshops, and science communication events. As a result, these figures become practical learning resources, not just display pieces.

Moreover, tactile models benefit different learning styles. Younger learners, in particular, gain confidence through hands-on interaction. Consequently, engagement increases and understanding improves.

Sue from Everything Dinosaur states:

“Ultimately, scientifically accurate prehistoric animal models bridge a gap between the fossil record and imagination. When accuracy and education align, learning becomes clearer, deeper, and far more memorable.”

Visit the multi-award-winning Everything Dinosaur website: Educational Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Models.

What a busy time Sue and I have had.  As one of the main sponsors of the 2025 Lyme Regis Fossil Festival we spent the weekend in the picturesque Dorset town participating in this year’s event.  Over the last few days, we have been busy catching up with all our correspondence.  However, we want to say a very big thank you to everyone who helped make the Lyme Regis Fossil Festival such a huge success.

Mike and Sue from Everything Dinosaur thank the Lyme Regis Fossil Festival organisers and the amazing volunteers for helping to make the event such a huge success. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Thank You to All Involved in the Lyme Regis Fossil Festival

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the organisers and volunteers who made this year’s festival such an incredible success.  It was hard work.  Sue and I never stopped, we were inundated with visitors to our stand.  In addition, our presentation on Sunday morning was extremely popular. We could have filled the Driftwood Cafe twice over.

The weather was absolutely perfect, which set the stage for an unforgettable experience. We were thrilled to unveil our new T. rex dinosaur model, and the enthusiastic response from visitors truly overwhelmed us. In addition, our fellow sponsors and exhibitors were excited too.

To learn more about the new Everything Dinosaur Evolution brand: Learn More About Everything Dinosaur Evolution.

Our presentation on Sunday morning was another highlight.  It was a great way to launch the Everything Dinosaur Evolution product range.  After all, if you are going to change the way prehistoric animal models are made, Lyme Regis, with all its heritage is a wonderful location for a product launch.

The Hard Work and Dedication of Many People

Sue and I recognise that events like the Lyme Regis Fossil Festival do not happen without a lot of hard work. Thank you to the organisers for your meticulous planning and to the volunteers for your tireless support. Also, a special thank you to our fellow sponsors.  Without financial assistance events such as this would not take place.

Thank you once more for making this event such a resounding success.

Visit the Everything Dinosaur website: Visit the Everything Dinosaur Website.

Twenty years ago, Everything Dinosaur team members were asked whether it would be a good idea to hold an annual fossil festival in Lyme Regis.  The town is synonymous with the early days of palaeontology.  Remarkable fossil discoveries have been made.  In addition, Lyme Regis was home to Mary Anning (1799 to 1847).  Mary earned her living collecting and selling fossils.  She is now internationally recognised as one of the most important figures in the nascent science of palaeontology.  The twentieth Lyme Regis Fossil Festival starts this weekend.  Let’s make it really special!

We are attending this year’s event.  Indeed, Everything Dinosaur is one of the main sponsors.

Everything Dinosaur is a main sponsor of the Lyme Regis Fossil Festival 2025. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The Annual Lyme Regis Fossil Festival

Everything Dinosaur is a main sponsor of the Lyme Regis Fossil Festival.  Mike and Sue will be highlighting their new Everything Dinosaur Evolution range of prehistoric animal models. The team behind this remarkable project will be presenting at the Festival.  Join them on Sunday morning at the Driftwood Cafe (Baptist Church).  However, the venue is small, and we suspect this talk is going to be very popular.

Come and visit Mike and Sue at the Lister Gardens Marquee at the very heart of the Festival. Visitors to our stand will have the opportunity to vote on the next prehistoric animal figures for the Everything Dinosaur Evolution project.

To learn more about the Everything Dinosaur Evolution project and to sign up for more details: Everything Dinosaur Evolution.

A huge thank you to everyone who played a key role in organising the Festival.  Your dedication and hard work have made this wonderful event possible.  Sue and I wish all the volunteers, sponsors and participants a successful event.  Let’s make the Lyme Regis Fossil Festival a celebration of the UK’s natural heritage.

Visit the award-winning Everything Dinosaur website: Dinosaur Toys and Gifts.

Ammonites were keystone taxa associated with Palaeozoic and Mesozoic marine environments.  They were both geographically and temporally diverse.  Ammonites and their ancestors inhabited the Earth’s oceans for over three hundred and fifty million years.  Ammonite fossils are easy to recognise, and a scientifically accurate toy ammonite model can bring their story to life.

Models of ammonites are often used in museum displays to help visitors to understand more about these cephalopods.

The Bullyland ammonite model is often used in museum displays to depict the living animal next to fossil material. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The model in the image above is the Bullyland ammonite.  This figure has received praise from science communicators.  It helps to provide an idea of the life appearance of these animals.

To view the range of Bullyland models and figures in stock: Bullyland Prehistoric Animal Models.

Accurate Toy Ammonite Models

These figures spark interest and curiosity. Adults and children ask, “What was this creature?” It’s the first step towards learning about these remarkable prehistoric animals.  When holding a model you connect with deep time. A plastic model is a portal to prehistoric marine environments.  An accurate toy ammonite model reflects the fossil record.  Ammonite soft tissue preservation is rare.  These figures provide information on the creature that inhabited the shell.

A selection of ammonite fossils to be used in an exercise exploring the role of index fossils with science students. Fossil ammonites are familiar, however, what was the creature actually like? Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Helping to Educate

Ammonite and other prehistoric animal models are helpful science education tools.  Ammonites died out along with the non-avian dinosaurs around 66 million years ago.  However, some taxa did survive into the early Cenozoic according to some researchers.

To read a blog post from 2014 which references ammonite survival into the Palaeocene Epoch: Unravelling an Ammonite Mystery.

 Illustrating extinct animals opens conversations about climate change, extinction and conservation.

Mike from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“Home educators, palaeontologists, researchers, schools and museums are supplied with these figures.  They help provide a tangible impression of what ammonites looked like.  Ammonite toys add context to lessons about ancient life, fossils and geology. Moreover, they help the wider public to make a connection between the rocks and a living animal.”

Many toy ammonite figures are designed in collaboration with invertebrate palaeontologists.  They help to inform and educate. A toy ammonite model is more than a replica. It is a pathway to understanding science.

In a child’s hand or on a collector’s shelf, it keeps the ammonite story alive. And that’s powerful.

The award-winning Everything Dinosaur website: Prehistoric Animal Models and Toys.

Fancy a personalised tour of some of the most significant Jurassic fossil sites in England?  Thanks to Ancient Odysseys, a company that specialises in amazing palaeontology themed experiences you can get privileged access to some remarkable fossil locations.  As well as an incredible experience you will be helping to fund paleontological research!  Multi-award-winning palaeontologist, author and presenter Dr Dean Lomax will take a lucky few on a fantastic Jurassic journey.   A week-long exploration of England’s major Jurassic hotspots.  An opportunity to explore iconic fossil locations with experts and to get behind the scenes access to amazing fossil discoveries and world-renowned museum collections.

Ancient Odysseys and Dr Dean Lomax have teamed up to offer an incredible and exclusive travel experience. A Jurassic journey!

A Jurassic Journey with Dr Dean Lomax

Ancient Odysseys have teamed up with Dr Dean Lomax to create a week-long Jurassic adventure.  Running from July 6th to the 12th (2025), participants will be able to explore Yorkshire’s breath-taking Whitby Coast.  Hunting for ammonites, marine reptiles and the famous, rare, semi-precious organic gemstone Whitby Jet.  From the beautiful North Yorkshire coast, the tour party will encounter the enormous “Rutland Sea Dragon” the largest most complete ichthyosaur ever found in the UK.  Dr Lomax will be your guide providing exclusive access to this astonishing fossil discovery.

To read more about the amazing “Rutland Sea Dragon”: The Incredible Rutland Ichthyosaur Discovery.

Visit some of the most important Jurassic fossil locations in England. Your very own personalised tour.

The following day, the VIP tour party have the opportunity to visit the dreaming spires of Oxford and receive a personal tour of the stunning Oxford University Museum of Natural History.  A chance to view the iconic Megalosaurus jaw.  This type specimen could be considered one of the fossils that kick-started the dinosaur global phenomenon.  In addition, the newly discovered “Dinosaur Highway” trackway site is on the itinerary.  Your opportunity to go “Walking with Dinosaurs” accompanied by Dr Emma Nicholls, (Collections Manager, Vertebrate Palaeontology at the Oxford Museum).

To read Everything Dinosaur’s blog post about this amazing trackway site: Remarkable Dinosaur Trackways Unearthed in Oxfordshire.

The tour concludes with a visit to picturesque Lyme Regis to explore the UNESCO World Heritage site the “Jurassic Coast” and to walk in the footsteps of Mary Anning.  A personal guided tour of the Lyme Regis Museum is included as is a special screening of the amazing “Why Dinosaurs?” documentary.

The Jurassic Journey Itinerary

• Sunday July 6, 2025 | Arrival in Whitby.
• Monday, July 7, 2025 | Fossil Hunting with Dr Lomax and Yorkshire Fossils on the Whitby Coast.
• Tuesday, July 8, 2025 | Whitby Museum | Rutland Sea Dragon.
• Wednesday, July 9, 2025 | Oxford Natural History Museum | Britain’s Dinosaur Highway.
• Thursday, July 10, 2025 | Lyme Regis Museum | Mary Anning’s Home | WHY DINOSAURS? Screening.
• Friday, July 11, 2025 | Full-Day Jurassic Coast Fossil Hunt | Farewell Dinner.
• Saturday, July 12, 2025 | Departure.

Dean Lomax will personally accompany you on your very own Jurassic adventure.  What an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

​For further details and to make an enquiry about booking: Jurassic Journey (Dr Dean Lomax).

Helping to Fund Real Research

A portion of the revenue from this fantastic tour will go to support Dr Lomax’s research. Funding for fieldwork and paleontological research is highly competitive.  Funding from this special holiday tour will help to contribute to scientific studies and will be acknowledged directly in upcoming papers.

Mike from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“What an incredible opportunity!  Fourteen people have the chance to visit and explore some of the most remarkable fossil locations in the world.  To go behind the scenes at prestigious museums and to pick the brains of leading academics and professional fossil hunters.  Ancient Odysseys, a company that specialises in palaeontology themed tours has teamed up with the multi-award-winning Dr Dean Lomax to offer an amazing vacation experience. Don’t miss your chance to take part in this extraordinary Jurassic journey.”

The website of Dr Dean Lomax: British Palaeontologist Dr Dean Lomax.