Educational Activities

16 11, 2023

A Colourful and Educational Dinosaur Display Earns Praise

By Mike|2023-11-30T09:30:26+00:00November 16th, 2023|Adobe CS5, Educational Activities, Main Page, Photos, Press Releases|0 Comments

A colourful and educational dinosaur display spotted in a Reception classroom has been praised by Everything Dinosaur. On a visit to Micklehurst All Saints Church Primary (Ashton-under-Lyne), team members spotted the carefully crafted children’s display.

*A colourful dinosaur display spotted in a Reception classroom. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.*

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The Dinosaur Display

The teaching team had been focusing on food chains. They had used the dinosaur term topic to help the children to understand what foods animals eat. The Reception class were keen to demonstrate their knowledge. The children eagerly pointed out which dinosaurs ate meat and which ones ate plants.

For inspirational dinosaur themed toys and games: Dinosaur Toys and Gifts.

As part of the varied term topic, the children had been making replicas of fossils. Some of these fossil replicas were on display in the classroom.

Fossil replicas that have been painted in silver or gold as part of the dinosaur display. — *Fossil replicas that have been painted in bronze, silver or gold as part of the dinosaur display. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.*

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Praising the Children and the Teaching Team

The fossil replicas had been created by pressing dinosaur models into salt dough. These objects had been painted a variety of metallic colours. The children’s artworks certainly made a colourful dinosaur display in the classroom.

We tested the children’s understanding of food chains. Some of the more capable learners were happy to identify which dinosaurs may have been omnivorous.

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

A spokesperson from the UK-based mail order company commented:

“We remember visiting the school back in March 2019. At the time we remarked on the beautiful school displays. The children had enjoyed their prehistoric animal themed term topic. They were eager to highlight which parts of the dinosaur display that they had personally contributed to.”

15 11, 2023

Counting with Dinosaurs Helping Children to Gain Confidence

By Mike|2023-11-22T12:23:46+00:00November 15th, 2023|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur Fans, Early Years Foundation Reception, Educational Activities, Main Page, Press Releases, Teaching|0 Comments

Whilst searching for an image in the Everything Dinosaur database, we came across a photograph of a counting with dinosaurs exercise. The picture had been taken on a visit to Whirley Primary in Cheshire back in 2019. The teaching team had launched an imaginative dinosaur-themed term topic. Everything Dinosaur team members were invited into the school to explain all about dinosaurs.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Counting with Dinosaurs

The reception class had been struggling with addition and subtraction. The teaching team developed some simple prehistoric-animal themed counting exercises to help the children to become more confident. After our visit, we supplied the school with some additional, free teaching resources.

Visit the Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“We supplied the school with some additional teaching materials. Lesson plans and supporting materials to assist with the scheme of work were emailed. It is always a pleasure to help schools. We do our best to assist the teaching teams.”

To contact an Everything Dinosaur team member: Email Everything Dinosaur.

6 11, 2023

The Fantastic Lyme Regis Fossil Festival 2024

By Mike|2023-11-11T11:29:52+00:00November 6th, 2023|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur Fans, Educational Activities, Geology, Main Page, Photos, Photos of Everything Dinosaur Products|0 Comments

The Lyme Regis Fossil Festival (2024) is scheduled to take place over the weekend of the 8th and 9th of June. Everything Dinosaur has received an official media pack providing further details about this exciting event. A spokesperson for the UK-based mail order company also confirmed that the preceding Friday would be allocated for schools and students.

The Lyme Regis Fossil Festival (2024)

The festival is organised by the Lyme Regis Museum with the support and assistance of key partners. These partners include the Charmouth Heritage Centre and the London Natural History Museum. The allocated venues are the Lister Gardens, the Jubilee Pavilion, the Marine Theatre and the Lyme Regis Museum. Aimed at families especially young children, there will be no entry fees.

Everything Dinosaur was involved in the inaugural event and has participated subsequently. Unfortunately, other commitments prevent team members from attending in 2024.

Art and Science in Palaeontology — *Prehistoric animal drawing fun at the Lyme Regis fossil festival. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.*

The photograph (above) was taken around 2016 during one of Everything Dinosaur’s visits to the festival. We provide lots of free drawing materials to mums and dads of budding young palaeontologists.

Visit the family-friendly Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

A Free Event Aimed at Families

The Lyme Regis Fossil Festival is one this country’s leading palaeontological events. It brings together eminent scientists as well as top geological and palaeontological organisations. The two-day event celebrates the rich fossil heritage of the “Jurassic Coast”.

There are lots of free, family-orientated activities including shows, talks, fossil hunting walks, exhibitions and interactive displays. The organisers predict that there will be over 10,000 visitors to the Dorset town over the weekend of 8th/9th June 2024.

A model of a belemnite. — *The new for 2020 CollectA Belemnite model. Visitors to the festival can expect to see lots of belemnites and ammonites. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.*

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The picture (above) shows the CollectA prehistoric life belemnite model. CollectA have introduced a range of figures representing iconic animals from the fossil record.

To view the CollectA prehistoric life model range: CollectA Deluxe Prehistoric Life Models.

Team members at Everything Dinosaur wish the organisers every success with their endeavours. Hopefully, the weather will behave, and it will be warm and dry over that weekend.

23 10, 2023

Everything Dinosaur Addresses Students on Popular Degree Course

By Mike|2023-11-23T10:58:53+00:00October 23rd, 2023|Adobe CS5, Educational Activities, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Main Page, Photos, Press Releases|0 Comments

A team member from Everything Dinosaur was invited to address final year digital marketing students at Manchester Metropolitan University. Mike of Everything Dinosaur had received some training from the University, taking part in a “Developing Innovation” programme. As a result of his connections to the University he was invited to present to the digital marketing students. The students are looking at Everything Dinosaur’s digital footprint and Google Analytics as part of their course. The aim is to provide them with a real business to study.

*Everything Dinosaur team member Mike got asked lots of questions by the digital marketing students. Picture credit: Alexandra Severn (MMU).*

Everything Dinosaur Fielding Questions

Working with their teacher, Alexandra Severn (Senior Lecturer in Digital Marketing Communications and Programme Leader), the students had compiled an extensive list of questions. The questions ranged from asking about our website, customer profiling and social media activities to enquiring about our favourite fossils. Fortunately, a fossil had been brought along. It is not very often a Woolly Rhinoceros dorsal vertebra takes part in a business school lecture.

One student asked:

“What was our favourite dinosaur?”

Ryan enquired:

“How sustainable is your operation? Do you consider the environmental impact at each stage of your operation?”

Amin wanted to know how the dinosaur models are made and are they made in a safe environment?

We hope the answers we provided were informative and helped the students to gain a better understanding of the business world. It was also a pleasure to be able to discuss some of the ways in which Everything Dinosaur has reduced its carbon footprint. In addition, our use of recycled cardboard and the replacement of compostable starch chips rather than using foam were highlighted.

Everything Dinosaur team member addresses students at Manchester Metropolitan University. — *Mike of Everything Dinosaur addressing the final year digital marketing students at Manchester Metropolitan University. Picture credit: Alexandra Severn (MMU).*

Commenting on the experience, Mike stated:

“It is nice to be able to give something back to the next generation. They had compiled a challenging set of questions, and I did my best to answer them all. It was a pretty intense session, but I got the chance to talk to some of the students afterwards and they wanted to have their photograph taken with the Woolly Rhino fossil.”

Visit the award-winning and user-friendly Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

17 10, 2023

Beautiful Homo erectus Model Skulls on Display

By Mike|2023-11-23T11:00:47+00:00October 17th, 2023|Dinosaur Fans, Educational Activities, Main Page, Photos, Teaching|0 Comments

A team member from Everything Dinosaur marvelled at a display featuring a pair of Homo erectus model skulls on display at a school. A visit to Painsley Catholic College back in 2018, provided us with the opportunity to photograph the clay models. The science and art departments had collaborated to create a beautiful exhibit that documented human evolution. Many different hominin species were illustrated. Our personal favourites were the pair of Homo erectus skulls.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur praised the teaching staff at the time for creating such an informative display.

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

7 10, 2023

A Terrific Trilobite Tribute

By Mike|2024-01-02T14:30:38+00:00October 7th, 2023|Adobe CS5, Educational Activities, Geology, Main Page, Photos, Teaching|0 Comments

In 2015, Everything Dinosaur team members visited Wren’s Nest. This is a nature reserve and SSSI (Special Site of Scientific Interest). The exposed strata dates from the Silurian and it is full of fossils including the occasional trilobite. Whilst exploring this location, a photograph was taken of a trilobite tribute. A plaque honouring the “Dudley bug” (Calymene blumenbachii).

A trilobite plaque at the Wren's nest SSSI (Dudley). — *A trilobite plaque at the Wren’s nest SSSI (Dudley, West Midlands). Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.*

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Remembering the Trilobite

The Trilobita were remarkably abundant and diverse during the Palaeozoic. These ancient marine arthropods originated in the Cambrian. The last of their kind are believed to have become extinct at the end of the Permian.

The abundant fossils to be found at the Wren’s Nest nature reserve represent life on a Silurian reef approximately 420 million years ago. Team members have visited Wren’s Nest several times. This location was designated Britain’s first National Nature Reserve for geology (1956).

The motif is an inscription it reads:

“Scour the ground for geological litter my feet drenched in an ancient sea.”

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The picture (above) shows a CollectA trilobite model.

To view the range of CollectA not-to-scale replicas and figures: CollectA Prehistoric Life Models.

Wren’s Nest Nature Reserve

Over 700 different types of fossil are known from Wren’s Nest. Over eighty are unique to this location and found nowhere else on the planet.

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“Wren’s Nest is a geological gem. We recommend a visit, especially in the early summer months prior to the school holidays. In the height of summer this location can get extremely busy and there is limited nearby parking”

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

28 09, 2023

Stunning Dinosaur Artwork in School

By Mike|2024-01-02T14:37:09+00:00September 28th, 2023|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Drawings, Dinosaur Fans, Educational Activities, Teaching|0 Comments

A fabulous dinosaur artwork created from drawings of children’s hands was spotted during a visit to a school to conduct a dinosaur and fossil workshop. The colourful dinosaur complete with big eyes and a pointed tail was on display outside a classroom.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Dinosaur Artwork

During our many visits to schools we have seen numerous examples of dinosaur inspired artwork. This particular piece caught our eye, as its design meant that every child in the class has had the opportunity to participate. Drawings of the children’s hands made up the dinosaur’s body. In the bright and spacious classroom, the children had built prehistoric animal dioramas using shoe boxes to house their dinosaur models.

To view the range of dinosaur and prehistoric animal models available from Everything Dinosaur: Prehistoric Animal Models and Dinosaur Figures.

The Everything Dinosaur website is user-friendly and so easy to navigate. It is jam-packed with lots of prehistoric animal themed gifts and toys. There are drawing activity sets too. Perhaps you will be inspired to create your own dinosaur artwork.

Visit the user-friendly and award-winning Everything Dinosaur website: The Website of Everything Dinosaur.

8 09, 2023

Colourful and Charming Dinosaur Eggs

By Mike|2024-01-02T14:35:44+00:00September 8th, 2023|Adobe CS5, Early Years Foundation Reception, Educational Activities, Key Stage 1/2, Main Page, Photos|0 Comments

Team members at Everything Dinosaur spotted some colourful dinosaur eggs in a carefully constructed nest on a visit to a Cheshire primary school. Whilst reviewing some teaching work from early 2018, we found a picture of the beautiful dinosaur eggs.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Dinosaur Eggs

The photograph of the dinosaur nest was taken on a visit to Little Leigh primary in Cheshire. Everything Dinosaur had been invited into the school to deliver a workshop to Year 1 children who were learning about dinosaurs. The dedicated teaching team created the eggs, and the children were asked about what materials could go into the nest to keep the eggs safe. This exercise was a great way for the pupils to explore the properties of materials. In addition, to learning about dinosaur eggs, the pupils had the opportunity to examine different nesting materials.

To contact Everything Dinosaur to learn more about our outreach work: Email Everything Dinosaur.

A Dinosaur Workshop

A spokesperson from the UK-based mail order company commented that they remembered the school visit. The spacious Year 1 classrooms were filled with lots of examples of the children’s work. One of the teachers had constructed a small dinosaur museum in a corner of the room.

A dinosaur museum at a primary school (Little Leigh, Cheshire). — *A dinosaur museum spotted at a school. Picture credit: Little Leigh Primary/Everything Dinosaur.*

Picture credit: Little Leigh Primary/Everything Dinosaur

The spokesperson added:

“The children were very enthusiastic, and they wanted to give us a tour of their classroom. We enjoyed visiting the dinosaur museum. However, we had to cut our visit short, we had a dinosaur and fossil workshop to deliver.”

Afterwards we chatted to the teaching team. They thanked us for the visit, and we congratulated them on their excellent scheme of work.

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

26 08, 2023

A Dinosaur Letter – An Example of Creative Writing

By Mike|2024-01-02T14:55:59+00:00August 26th, 2023|Adobe CS5, Dinosaur Fans, Educational Activities, Key Stage 1/2, Main Page, Teaching|0 Comments

Team members were going through their image archive when they came across a beautiful dinosaur letter. The letter had been sent into Everything Dinosaur by a girl called Emma. Emma was a pupil at Streethouse Primary school when Everything Dinosaur visited in November 2017.

Team members were invited into the school to work with the Key Stage 2 class for a morning. The workshop provided a provocation for the term topic. Over the course of the morning, we challenged the children to have a go at a variety of extension activities.

A Dinosaur Letter

Year 5 and Year 6 children and their letters to Everything Dinosaur — *Cursive writing on display from Year 5/6.*

Picture credit: Emma from Streethouse Primary School

We remember visiting the school back in 2017. It was a pleasure to meet such enthusiastic pupils.

In Emma’s letter she thanked Everything Dinosaur for the school visit and stated:

“You made me more confident in answering questions.”

The Key Stage 2 pupil went onto add:

“Thank you so much for being inspiring.”

Our thanks to Emma for her wonderful comments.

Visit the Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

18 08, 2023

Tracking Trilobites – Stunning Trilobite Images

By Mike|2023-12-08T15:33:56+00:00August 18th, 2023|Adobe CS5, Educational Activities, Everything Dinosaur Products, Main Page, Photos/Pictures of Fossils|0 Comments

A fossilised trilobite track has been recreated for an exhibit highlighting Palaeozoic life. The trace fossil with an accompanying trilobite model can be seen at the Liverpool World Museum.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Trilobite Fossils

Trilobite fossils are ubiquitous. Tens of thousands of specimens can be viewed in museums and museum collections. However, trilobite trace fossils are rare. The Liverpool World Museum exhibit depicts a trilobite walking across the sea floor. A distinctive set of parallel tracks are shown. Trace fossils preserve evidence of the activity of an organism. Most trace fossils provide direct “in situ” evidence of the environment of the prehistoric creature that produced the trace.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Commenting Upon the Trilobite Track

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“The track exhibit provides an opportunity for museum staff to recreate the environment in which some types of trilobite lived. Whilst some trilobites may have been active swimmers (nektonic), others were happy to wander along the sea floor, searching for food. The trace fossil exhibit also gives visitors the opportunity to view models of various trilobites.”

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The model shown above is a replica of Redlichia rex a large trilobite known from Cambrian strata. The R. rex figure is part of the invertebrate series produced by CollectA.

To view this range: CollectA Prehistoric Life Figures and Models.

Calymene trilobites on display. — *A selection of Calymene trilobite fossils on display. Some of the specimens show that these trilobites could roll into a ball to protect themselves. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.*

Trilobite Body Fossils

Fossils are used by scientists to identify the relative age of rock strata. Rocks can be correlated through the examination of the fossils that they contain. Trilobites are important zonal fossils. The trilobite fossils shown (above), are from the Silurian (Wenlock Group, Shropshire). They represent examples of the Calymene genus. Some of the specimens are rolled up into a ball, presumably a defensive behaviour.

The spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur added:

“A trilobite fossil might be one of the first fossils that a young person is given as a gift. It can ignite a passion for nature within them and lead to a lifetime of fossil collecting and learning about prehistoric animals.”

View the Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.