Early Years Foundation Reception

10 03, 2017

Amazing Dinosaurs Come to Clutton C of E Primary

By Mike|2024-05-07T15:30:05+01:00March 10th, 2017|Early Years Foundation Reception, General Teaching, Key Stage 1/2|Comments Off on Amazing Dinosaurs Come to Clutton C of E Primary

Dinosaurs Come to Clutton C of E Primary

It was a Jurassic themed morning for the budding, young palaeontologists in Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1 at Clutton C of E Primary school. The children had been learning all about dinosaurs and fossils under the guidance of the enthusiastic teaching team and to round off the week, a visit from an expert from Everything Dinosaur had duly been arranged. Prior to the dinosaur and fossil themed workshop, the teaching team had time to show their visitor some of the excellent work that the children had been doing since they started the prehistoric animal themed topic two weeks ago.

What the Children Know About Dinosaurs

The KWL technique helps teachers understand subject pre-knowledge.

Using the KWL technique to start a term topic all about dinosaurs.

Picture credit: Clutton C of E Primary School/Everything Dinosaur

Lots of pre-knowledge was demonstrated by the children. For example, Hayden commented that “a meteor crashed into the Earth and it caused tsunamis and the dinosaurs died”. Well done Hayden, scientists think that a big rock from space did crash into the Earth some 66 million-years-ago and this may have been one of the key factors in the extinction of the dinosaurs. Oliver stated that “T. rex ate the dinosaurs that had horns on their head”. He is quite right, big meat-eaters like Tyrannosaurus rex did eat the plant-eating horned dinosaurs like Triceratops and Styracosaurus.

Tyrannosaurus rex An Extremely Dangerous Dinosaur

Rebor GrabNGo 02 T. rex Type A (Anterior View). T. rex named by Henry Fairfield Osborn.

The Rebor GrabNGo 02 T. rex Type A in anterior view. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The picture (above) shows a Rebor GrabNGo T. rex dinosaur model.

To view the Rebor range: Rebor Prehistoric Animal Models and Figures.

Dinosaurs Roar

Abbie explained that dinosaurs could roar. Some dinosaurs probably did make lots of noise, but other dinosaurs, especially some of the smaller ones, probably squeaked, squawked and may even have honked! Esmé commented that dinosaurs hunt, the meat-eaters certainly did go hunting and in the workshop, the children learned how the colossal (good word Olivia), Ankylosaurus kept himself safe when a T. rex came into the forest.

During his visit, our dinosaur expert saw some amazing examples of the children’s work. There was some super hand-writing on display and several beautiful dinosaur skeletons that had been made from tissue paper and glue. The Foundation Stage and the Key Stage 1 pupils were certainly enjoying their dinosaur themed term topic. We hope they enjoy the extension activities we provided and good luck with the dinosaur drawing exercise, remember to label those body parts including the skull!

Visit the Everything Dinosaur website: The Everything Dinosaur Website.

22 02, 2017

A Dinosaur and Fossil Day at Great Wishford Primary School

By Mike|2023-05-21T12:52:05+01:00February 22nd, 2017|Early Years Foundation Reception, General Teaching, Key Stage 1/2|Comments Off on A Dinosaur and Fossil Day at Great Wishford Primary School

A Day of Dinosaurs and Fossils

Situated in the heart of rural Wiltshire is the delightful village of Great Wishford. Many of the rocks used as local building materials were laid down during the Jurassic geological period. Children at Great Wishford Primary have just started learning about dinosaurs and fossils, quite appropriate really, when the school is situated in a part of the world renowned for its Jurassic marine fossils. The children are living in their very own “Jurassic Park”.

A Dinosaur and Fossil Day

The children in the mixed Reception and Year 1 class had been challenged to build their own dinosaur over the half-term break. The models made an excellent display in the classroom. Lots of different materials had been used in the project, the children (and their grown-up helpers) can be very proud of their efforts.

Half-term Project Building Prehistoric Animal Models

Dinosaur and fossil day at Great Wishford Primary school.

Dinosaur and fossil models on display in a classroom. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Great Preparation for the Next Term Topic

Dinosaur and prehistoric animal figures in the classroom.

An amazing collection of prehistoric animal models made by the children. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Dinosaur Workshops with Year5/6 and Reception/Year 1

The morning was spent working with the children in Upper Key Stage 2. The focus was on developing the concept of working scientifically, using evidence to formulate ideas and theories. Our lesson plan had been prepared with the aim of enriching the scheme of work that had been prepared by the dedicated teaching team.

Themes such as extinction, evolution, adaptation and natural selection were covered and the class was given the chance to look at a real palaeontological puzzle as they tried to work out, based on the fossil evidence, what a prehistoric fish had for its dinner!

What Had a Prehistoric Fish Had for its Dinner?

The Papo Otodus megalodon model in anterior view. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The picture above shows a Papo prehistoric shark model.

To view the range of Papo prehistoric animal figures: Papo Prehistoric Animal Models.

A Provocation Session

In the afternoon, it was the turn of the Reception and Year 1 children, an opportunity to provide a provocation session to kick-start the dinosaur themed term topic. The enthusiastic children moved quietly through the forest and employed their super-power when a Tyrannosaurus rex was looking for something to eat.

They learned that most fossils feel cold when you first touch them and that some fossils can be big or even massive! Over the course of the day we proposed a series of age-appropriate extension activities to help support the well-crated term topic plans of the teaching team. The children in Year 5/6 were challenged to research the story of the Coelacanth and to look at the evidence that helps support the theory that the dinosaurs are not actually extinct. The mixed Reception and Year 1 class were challenged to have a go a drawing their very own dinosaur, but they had to label the body parts including the skull.

A Scale Drawing of a Coelacanth

Scale drawing of a Coelacanth. What is a Coelacanth?

A scale drawing of a Coelacanth. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The well-organised and tidy classrooms were most impressive and the care and attention the school staff had taken to create exciting and rewarding learning environments was clearly evident. Lots of different activities supporting the learning needs of the children had been prepared. For example, in the Reception/Year 1 classroom the outline of a long-necked dinosaur (Sauropoda) had been created on the floor using masking tape. The dinosaur’s tail stuck out into the corridor! This simple exercise can help children to appreciate just how big some dinosaurs were as well as helping to reinforce differences between ourselves and animals.

Visit Everything Dinosaur’s website: Everything Dinosaur.

6 02, 2017

Dinosaur Drawings and Letters from Reception

By Mike|2023-05-16T09:30:17+01:00February 6th, 2017|Early Years Foundation Reception, General Teaching|Comments Off on Dinosaur Drawings and Letters from Reception

Egerton Primary School Reception Class Study Dinosaurs

Last month, a team member from Everything Dinosaur visited the Reception class at Egerton Primary to conduct a dinosaur and fossil themed workshop in support of the children’s term topic all about dinosaurs. The children have been loving learning all about prehistoric animals and working out which ones were carnivores and which ones were herbivores. Lots of fun activities linked to personal development and gaining confidence with reading and writing have been incorporated into the exciting scheme of work by the dedicated teaching team.

A Fossil Themed Workshop

As part of the extension activities that came out of the workshop, the Reception class were challenged to write in to thank us for visiting their school and a couple of days ago, we received in the post a big envelope filled with the children’s letters as well as some very colourful dinosaur drawings.

For inspirational dinosaur themed toys and gifts: Prehistoric Animal Themed Toys and Gifts.

The Letters and Drawings from the Reception Class (Egerton Primary)

Wonderful dinosaur drawings. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Egerton Primary School/Everything Dinosaur

We took a photograph of the letters and drawings and tweeted about the children’s work. We made sure to copy in the school’s Twitter feed. The children had taken great care over the letter writing exercise, lots of great finger spacing, confident shaping of letters and the children kept their words on the lines, which when you are just five years of age, is a great achievement.

Beautiful Dinosaur Drawings

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur praised the children’s drawing. He stated that the children had created some amazing prehistoric animals. Many of the drawings had been carefully labelled. The spokesperson congratulated the children and the teaching staff.

Well done the Reception class at Egerton Primary.

Visit the Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

10 01, 2017

FS3 – Dinosaur Roar with an Exciting and Unique Dinosaur Workshop

By Mike|2024-05-07T12:57:56+01:00January 10th, 2017|Early Years Foundation Reception|Comments Off on FS3 – Dinosaur Roar with an Exciting and Unique Dinosaur Workshop

Reception Children at Leigh Primary School Study Dinosaurs

Children in classes FS2 and FS3 had an exciting afternoon learning all about different types of dinosaur. The wet weather outside did not dampen their spirits as these children aged between four and five years old moved like dinosaurs and handled lots of fossils. The budding young explorers learned about fossils and how they formed. Real fossils feel as cold as a stone! Our team members enjoyed exploring dinosaurs with Reception children.

Dinosaurs with Reception Children

Children design rules for their dinosaur museum. Dinosaurs with Reception children. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

For dinosaur themed toys and gifts: Dinosaur Themed Toys and Gifts.

Feedback from a Teacher

One of the teachers emailed on behalf of the children and the rest of the hard-working and dedicated teaching staff at the school, she said:

“Thank you for visiting Reception yesterday. We had lots of fun learning about dinosaurs. We think you are very clever and you know lots about dinosaurs. Fletcher enjoyed learning about T. rex. Miller enjoyed holding the fossil and showing his friends. Heidi thought it was cool holding the dinosaur’s head. We couldn’t believe that a dinosaur’s brain was so small. Thank you for showing us the model of the dinosaur. We loved being dinosaurs and showing our teeth and dinosaur fingers. We liked roaring like a dinosaur and Mrs Thomas [class teacher] is going to put our photo on the school website. I hope we don’t scare the mums and dads! “

Today, the enthusiastic children are going to get busy making dinosaur pictures, which sounds wonderful. We hope to see some pictures of the children’s creations very soon.

So pleased to hear that the young children enjoyed the school dinosaur workshop, our dinosaur expert certainly enjoyed teaching about dinosaurs in school.

Visit the Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

10 10, 2016

Milk Carton Woolly Mammoth Craft Idea

By Mike|2023-05-07T21:42:12+01:00October 10th, 2016|Early Years Foundation Reception, Key Stage 1/2|Comments Off on Milk Carton Woolly Mammoth Craft Idea

Milk Carton to Woolly Mammoth

For teachers, museum staff and home educationalists, here is a simple craft idea to make a Woolly Mammoth model. This could prove to be very useful when thinking of extension ideas to support teaching about the Stone Age or prehistoric mammals. A milk carton can be used to make a Woolly Mammoth model.

Make Your Own Woolly Mammoth Models Using Milk Cartons

Making a Woolly Mammoth out of a plastic milk carton.

Making a Woolly Mammoth out of a milk carton.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Visit Everything Dinosaur’s website: Everything Dinosaur.

Ideal for Upper KS1 or Lower KS2

Using just a few basic school resources, all of which are readily available in the average classroom, a milk carton can be used to make a Woolly Mammoth model. This craft idea is a great way to help support cross curricular activities.

What You Will Need

Scissors (round ended ones would be best)
A selection of empty milk cartons (washed out)
White card or paper
Paints
Pencil and a black pen to help draw out the shapes to be cut out of the milk carton

Carefully cut the milk carton in half, using the handle as a guide. The handle will make the trunk of the Mammoth so cut the handle first than cut around the rest of the carton. Then trim the base of the milk carton so that the base is a good two centimetres deeper than the trunk. This will ensure that the Mammoth’s trunk will be raised off the floor.

The Milk Carton Mammoth Begins to Take Shape

Woolly Mammoth takes shape (milk carton).

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Making a Woolly Mammoth Model

Cut two tongue-shaped slots on each side of the carton, these will make the legs. Use a pencil to sketch out where the cuts will be made and then go over the pencil line with a black marker pen to give you a distinctive line to follow. Cut a third tongue-shaped slot on the back of the carton, this will help to form the back legs. Add the tail by cutting a small “V” shape at the top of this slot, you can then bend this plastic out to make the Woolly Mammoth’s stumpy tail, but watch for sharp edges.

Paint your Woolly Mammoth model, mark in the five toe nails per foot, outline the small ears (an adaptation to the cold) and add the eyes.

Build Your Own Herd of Prehistoric Woolly Mammoths

Build your own herd of milk carton Woolly Mammoths.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Make a small hole either side of the trunk and push some white card or paper into the hole to form the pair of tusks. Bend the tip of the tusks upwards so that they resemble the tusks of this Ice Age elephant. Different sized milk cartons can be used to make different sized Woolly Mammoths, such as the adult and young pictured above.

For dinosaur and prehistoric animal resources for schools, including fossil sets and dinosaur models: Prehistoric Animal Toys and Gifts.

4 10, 2016

Big Blue Dinosaur Spotted at Three Peaks Academy

By Mike|2023-05-07T17:04:59+01:00October 4th, 2016|Early Years Foundation Reception|Comments Off on Big Blue Dinosaur Spotted at Three Peaks Academy

There’s a Dinosaur Behind You!

Another busy morning for a member of the teaching team at Everything Dinosaur. Today, it was an early start and off to Three Peaks Academy in the sunny West Midlands to work with two classes of eager Reception children. The children had only just started attending the school for the entire school day and their first ever term topic is dinosaurs. The budding young palaeontologists had already excavated some dinosaur bones and built a safe play area for the prehistoric animal models that had taken up residence in the well-appointed classrooms.

Lots of super listening skills on display and both classes were able to beat our fossil expert in the ammonite fish catching game, so that means stickers all round.

For creative, dinosaur themed toys and games: Dinosaur Toys and Gifts.

Lurking at the back of the spacious hall, the location for today’s dinosaur workshops with the Reception classes, was a huge, blue dinosaur. Our dinosaur expert thinks that none of the children spotted the dinosaur, even the teacher looked surprised when she was informed. Can you spot a blue dinosaur?

A Big Blue Dinosaur Spotted at Three Peaks Academy

A mural that features a big, blue dinosaur in a school hall.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

A Big, Blue Dinosaur

Can the children work out what the dinosaur’s name might be? It’s not a Lexovisaurus or a Liliensternus that’s for sure, two dinosaurs that we discussed with Lexie and Lilly, promising to email over pictures of the dinosaurs that have similar names to their own. What food did this big blue dinosaur eat? Perhaps the dinosaur themed word mats that we provided as extension materials along with the other resources we sent to the teacher, could provide a clue.

During our dinosaur workshop with each Reception class we challenged the children to have a go at drawing their very own dinosaur. Our dinosaur expert wanted to see lots of colourful pictures and could the children label their dinosaur’s body parts, especially the skull?

Everything Dinosaur’s website: Everything Dinosaur.

16 05, 2016

Reception Children and Marvellous Dinosaurs

By Mike|2024-05-06T06:38:09+01:00May 16th, 2016|Early Years Foundation Reception|Comments Off on Reception Children and Marvellous Dinosaurs

Egerton Primary Reception Class Study Dinosaurs

Back in April, a member of the Everything Dinosaur teaching team visited Egerton Primary to deliver a dinosaur and fossil themed workshop to the Reception class. Our morning visit certainly went down well with the teachers and the enthusiastic children all enjoyed handling the fossils and learning lots of facts about prehistoric animals. We challenged the children to have a go at writing a fact about a dinosaur in a dinosaur footprint. We duly received a very well written set of “dinosaur foot facts” written on dinosaur footprints from the class.

A Handwriting Exercise Using Dinosaur Footprints

A thank you note from a child in Reception class.

Picture credit: Egerton Primary School

Visit Everything Dinosaur’s award-winning website: Everything Dinosaur.

The Dinosaur Footprints Writing Exercise

Writing in a dinosaur footprint a great exercise for a Reception class. The relatively small space and the unusual shape of the foot forces the child to concentrate on the shape of letters and the spacing of words. In addition, care is needed to write in the space so this helps to build up writing confidence and hand to eye co-ordination. The children need to think carefully about what they are going to write. We appreciated the little dinosaur and fossil drawings too.

Our thanks to the teaching team for sending in these super dinosaur footprints.

For dinosaur themed toys, games and models: Dinosaur Toys and Gifts.

10 05, 2016

Remarkable Four-Year-Old “Youngest Dinosaur Educator”

By Mike|2024-05-06T06:30:26+01:00May 10th, 2016|Early Years Foundation Reception, General Teaching|Comments Off on Remarkable Four-Year-Old “Youngest Dinosaur Educator”

Australian Boy the “Youngest Dinosaur Educator”

News has reached the teaching team at Everything Dinosaur about a remarkable little boy from Sydney (Australia), whose parents have put forward to the Guinness World Records organisation in recognition of his great dinosaur knowledge. Proud parents Qing Zhang and Hill Wang have put forward their son four-year-old Makan in a bid to have him recognised as the “youngest dinosaur educator”. Speaking to the Australian media outlet 9news.com.au, which broke the story, mum Qing Zhang stated:

“He’s got an amazing memory. He can tell what each dinosaur’s traits are, what period they lived in, whether they’re omnivores or herbivores.”

Youngest Dinosaur Educator

Dinosaurs Help Children Learn

Now out of production the original Schleich Therizinosaurus replica. Dinosaurs help children learn.

Picture credit: Schleich

The Schleich range of prehistoric animals are ideal for robust play.

To view the Schleich range: Schleich Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animal Models.

Impressive Knowledge About Prehistoric Animals

Makan certainly loves dinosaurs and from the media release it is clear he has a great deal of knowledge. It is even more remarkable as he has yet to learn to read. However, we know that most Foundation Stage teachers will be aware of children who also seem to possess an encyclopaedic knowledge of prehistoric animals. At Everything Dinosaur we have had the great pleasure of meeting children, some of which are not much older than three years of age, who have demonstrated a remarkable amount of pre-knowledge about dinosaurs. Children seem to have a fascination for these long extinct creatures and relish the challenge of learning their long and complicated names.

Lots of Young Children Demonstrate Dinosaur Knowledge

Blake sent a dinosaur drawing to Everything Dinosaur. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

A Clever Little Boy

Makan’s parents state that their son has memorised more than thirty different species. He has built up his knowledge by watching dinosaur programmes. With the assistance of illustrated prompt cards, Makan can now recall the names of dinosaurs and facts about prehistoric animals on command. We think, that many teachers will have taught children who also demonstrated remarkable knowledge about dinosaurs and perhaps these children along with their teachers should be given recognition too.

Everything Dinosaur team members encourage children and help them. We are committed to helping young people learn about dinosaurs.

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

Do You Know a Dinosaur Expert?

We praise Makan’s mum and dad for encouraging their son. Learning about dinosaurs will help to equip this talented little boy with the sort of life-long skills that will help him to adapt, adjust and thrive in formal education. Teachers, do you have a very knowledgeable dinosaur expert in your class? If you do, we would love to hear from you and perhaps, with the permission of the grown-ups in charge, your pupil could be put forward as the world’s “youngest dinosaur educator”.

To contact Everything Dinosaur: Contact Everything Dinosaur.

22 04, 2016

Dinosaurs and Rare Fossils at Sandbrook Community Primary School

By Mike|2024-05-05T21:55:23+01:00April 22nd, 2016|Early Years Foundation Reception, General Teaching|Comments Off on Dinosaurs and Rare Fossils at Sandbrook Community Primary School

Earth Day, Dinosaurs, Awards and Ofsted

What a busy day for teachers, staff and children at Sandbrook Community Primary School. The two Reception classes have started to learn all about animals and life in the past with a topic dedicated to all things dinosaur. In addition, there was a special assembly at the busy Rochdale school where some of the hard working and enthusiastic pupils received certificates for the dinosaur footprints they had made. On top of all this, the Children’s Nursery is having an Ofsted inspection and it is Earth Day! April 22nd is a very important date, events are held all over the world to demonstrate support for our planet and the environment.

There were some wonderful examples of recycling to see in the school and the well maintained garden and play areas certainly indicated that the children and staff at this “Eco-School” appreciate the environment. Under the supervision of Mrs Beazley some of the Reception children had a go at making dinosaur footprints and of course, given the fact that it’s Earth Day, the dinosaur tracks had to be green.

Dinosaur Footprints on Display

Reception Class Make Dinosaur Footprints

Dinosaur footprints made by Reception class children. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur/Sandbrook Community Primary

For dinosaur and prehistoric animal themed toys and games: Dinosaur Themed Toys and Gifts.

Dinosaur Workshop for Reception Classes

The children learned all about a giant armoured dinosaur, how many tummies Tyrannosaurus rex had, what fossils feel like and how prehistoric ammonites caught their dinners. There was lots of fossil handling and fun activities in the two workshops and the teaching assistants were on hand to provide plenty of support and to take plenty of pictures (useful in recall and recounting activities later on).

Walking with Dinosaurs – Sandbrook Community Primary School

Reserved parking for Everything Dinosaur. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur/Sandbrook Community Primary

Using a foam cut which had been dipped in paint, the children were able to walk along a strip of paper and produce some super dinosaur footprints. Our fossil expert was allowed to pop into the spacious and well-appointed Reception classroom whilst the children were having lunch and take some pictures of their handiwork, (should that be footwork)?

Visit Everything Dinosaur’s website: Everything Dinosaur.

We set a few challenges to the children including producing a dinosaur drawing. Could they label their dinosaur drawing, including pointing out where the skull was? During our workshops we explained what skulls were and we also talked about dinosaur brains!

The teaching team and the children had a fantastic time exploring dinosaurs and after the footprints activity, if the colour of Mrs Beazley’s trousers are anything to go by, on today, Earth Day, this is one school that has definitely gone green.

19 04, 2016

Dinosaur Workshops from a Teaching Assistant Perspective

By Mike|2023-04-18T12:22:43+01:00April 19th, 2016|Early Years Foundation Reception, General Teaching|Comments Off on Dinosaur Workshops from a Teaching Assistant Perspective

Teaching Assistants Praise Everything Dinosaur

A fairly local dinosaur workshop for Everything Dinosaur this morning, a visit to a Reception class in Cheshire, so not too early a start for our dinosaur experts. We have visited this particular primary school on numerous occasions, delivering tactile fossil exploring sessions with the Reception-aged children as they are beginning the transition from free flow play to more task orientated learning. It is always a pleasure to visit schools such as this, to meet the enthusiastic teaching team and to see the well-resourced classrooms packed full of examples of the children’s work.

Children and Dinosaurs – A Great Learning Combination

Colourful prehistoric animals on display.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Feedback from the Teaching Team

As part of Everything Dinosaur’s continuous improvement strategy, we ask for feedback from teachers, teaching assistants and learning support providers. We are always looking to see how we can improve our dinosaur workshops in schools to help maximise learning.

Visit Everything Dinosaur’s website: Everything Dinosaur.

Below is a copy of the teaching feedback received today:

Five Stars for Dinosaur Workshop (Typical Workshop Feedback)

Every review posted is genuine feedback from a member of the teaching team.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Glad to see our work is so very much appreciated.

The Teaching Assistant wrote:

“This was an excellent session. Mike [the Everything Dinosaur workshop leader], kept the class completely engaged and involved, they enjoyed learning with him. Mike is obviously incredibly knowledgeable and a particularly well-skilled presenter. Mike’s reputation in school is amazing and well deserved. Thank you!”

To learn more about Everything Dinosaur’s work with Reception-aged children and to contact us to request a quotation: Contact Everything Dinosaur