Early Years Foundation Reception

6 12, 2015

Dinosaur Skeleton Dig Site Great for Sensory Play

By Mike|2024-05-05T18:20:16+01:00December 6th, 2015|Categories: Early Years Foundation Reception|Comments Off on Dinosaur Skeleton Dig Site Great for Sensory Play

Dinosaur Skeletons and a Sensory Play Area

When thinking about creative play ideas for Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) or children in Year 1 who are learning about dinosaurs, try this simple and fun idea to help with exploring the properties of materials. Dinosaurs as a topic is a great way to help children to move from free-flow play into activity centred learning. Use a plastic tray, some sand and some plastic dinosaur models to re-create a dinosaur dig for the children.

Dinosaur Skeletons

Sensory Play – Digging up Dinosaur Skeletons

A dinosaur sensory play area for the children. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The substrate does not have to be entirely sand, in the tray pictured above, a range of small gravels have been added to help the children explore different materials. The paint brushes are just old brushes from the art department or from home that can’t be used for painting any more. They make great brushes for the palaeontologists to use to brush away the sand and stones to discover dinosaur skeletons.

Dinosaur Skeleton Models – Ideal for Sensory Play Activities

A set of assorted prehistoric animal and dinosaur skeletons.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

To view the range of dinosaur themed learning materials including skeletons and other models: Dinosaur Themed Educational Toys.

The budding palaeontologists loved finding the skeletons in the sand, we then sorted them into matching pairs and split the skeletons into plant-eating dinosaurs and meat-eating dinosaurs. Some newspaper under the tray is helpful to prevent too much sand ending up on the floor. We then looked at pictures in books to see how palaeontologists excavate fossils of dinosaurs. The children were excited when they spotted a paint brush, very similar to one that they had been using, in a photograph of a real-life dinosaur fossil dig.

This is one sensory play idea with a dinosaur theme that we highly recommend.

20 11, 2015

Special Dinosaurs with Ysgol Parc Y Llan

By Mike|2024-05-05T14:54:16+01:00November 20th, 2015|Categories: Early Years Foundation Reception, General Teaching|Comments Off on Special Dinosaurs with Ysgol Parc Y Llan

Deinosoriaid ar Droed (Ysgol Parc Y Llan)

Pupils at Ysgol Parc y Llan, a school in picturesque Flintshire (North Wales), have been tracking down dinosaurs and their fossils during the second half of the autumn term. Under the enthusiastic tutelage of the class teachers Miss Lewis-Jones and Mrs Arkinstone, the budding young palaeontologists in the Reception and Nursery class, in collaboration with the dinosaur fans in the mixed class of Year 1 and Year 2 have been studying dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals.

Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals – A Time Machine

There were lots of colourful artwork on display in the well organised classrooms, the children in the Reception/Nursery class had even been exploring how long ago dinosaurs lived.

Dinosaur Themed Time Travel

The Ysgol Parc Y Llan time machine. Schoolchildren learn about dinosaurs. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Ysgol Parc y Llan/Everything Dinosaur

The clock concept can help children become more confident with numbers. It can assist the children with learning to tell the time.

Visit Everything Dinosaur’s website: Everything Dinosaur.

Dinosaur Workshop

Prior to the morning of dinosaur themed activities with the two classes, the fossil expert from Everything Dinosaur was able to take some photographs of the children’s work. The teachers, with the able assistance of Mrs Lewis (Nursery Nurse) and Mrs Martin (Teaching Assistant) had devised a very creative and enriching scheme of work. The displays featured lots of evidence of independent learning.

Children Explore Different Materials to Make Prehistoric Animal Pictures

An impression dinosaur and prehistoric animal themed display at Ysgol Parc Y Llan. Picture creidt: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Ysgol Parc y Llan/Everything Dinosaur

Workshop Aims

The aim of the two workshops conducted by Everything Dinosaur was to reinforce the learning that had already taken place and to enthuse the children (and teachers) for the rest of the autumn term. The extension activities and additional resources provided by Everything Dinosaur, which were geared towards literacy and numeracy objectives, certainly went down well and the team members at the Cheshire based company are looking forward to seeing more of the children’s work.

Contact Everything Dinosaur to learn about our outreach work: Email Everything Dinosaur.

During the Dinosaur Workshops How to Describe Dinosaurs Using Adjectives was Explored

A colourful dinosaur and prehistoric animal display spotted in a classroom. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Ysgol Parc y Llan/Everything Dinosaur

A Planned Scheme of Work

As part of the planned scheme of work, the teaching team intend to set aside a small area of each classroom so that the children can construct their very own dinosaur museum. They can show off all their research and the results of the “pinkie palaeontologist challenges” that our fossil expert set them.

Looks like Wales has dinosaurs as well as dragons.

25 05, 2015

My First Toy Dinosaurs Model Set

By Mike|2023-03-30T10:56:49+01:00May 25th, 2015|Categories: Early Years Foundation Reception|Comments Off on My First Toy Dinosaurs Model Set

Set of Six Rubber Dinosaurs

EYFS teachers can introduce dinosaurs to their class with this super set of robust, rubber dinosaurs. The set consists of six different prehistoric animals and these models range in size from around thirty-two centimetres in length to a whopping forty-two centimetres. They are great for creative, imaginative play and ideal for little hands. The six dinosaurs are a plated Stegosaurus, a long-necked Brachiosaurus, a colourful duck-billed dinosaur (Parasaurolophus) and everyone’s favourite horned dinosaur – Triceratops. In addition, the set includes a large rubber Tyrannosaurus rex and a beautifully bumpy Ankylosaurus.

My First Toy Dinosaurs

The Set of Six Rubber Dinosaurs

A set of six rubber dinosaurs, great for tactile play.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

These models really help bring a term topic all about dinosaurs to life and the children can use the replicas to help recreate their very own prehistoric park. The models are light, tactile and super soft. They are suitable for children from three years and upwards and are ideal for creative, imaginative play.

To view the range of educational dinosaur themed toys available from Everything Dinosaur: Dinosaur Themed Learning Materials.

The teaching team at Everything Dinosaur have carefully selected this set of six rubber dinosaurs as they are ideal for children at Nursery or at Foundation Stage 2. A set of six dinosaur fact sheets is supplied with each set so that teachers, learning support providers and home educationalists can use facts and information about these dinosaurs to help support learning.

Teaching Ideas Using the Rubber Dinosaurs

The dinosaurs are all soft and ideal for handling by younger children from three years plus. Use the models to explore how different materials feel, bumpy or smooth? Hard or soft. Heavy or light?
The set of six rubber dinosaurs can be used to help children learn about different parts of the body. For example, where is the head? Where is the tail? How many horns can you count? Where is the mouth? Which dinosaurs walk on two legs, which ones walk on four? Which is the meat-eater? How do you know?
The dinosaurs can help children learn the names of popular prehistoric animals
Use the models to help young children create their own “Jurassic Park” or dinosaur zoo, these models can also be used in the sand play area.
Roll out some play dough and let the children use the soft, rubber dinosaurs to make patterns. Can they make a set of footprints? How many toes can they count?

For further information and support from the teaching team at Everything Dinosaur simply email: Email Everything Dinosaur.

This set of six rubber dinosaurs features Parasaurolophus, Brachiosaurus, T. rex, Ankylosaurus, Stegosaurus and Triceratops. They are great for imaginative, tactile, creative play with EYFS. Recommended for use in schools and for educational activities.

17 04, 2015

Reception Classes at Mead Primary School Study Sensational Dinosaurs

By Mike|2024-05-05T10:04:16+01:00April 17th, 2015|Categories: Early Years Foundation Reception|Comments Off on Reception Classes at Mead Primary School Study Sensational Dinosaurs

Giraffes, Lions and Zebras Learn all about Dinosaurs

It was a busy day yesterday for our dinosaur experts as the teaching team at Mead Primary School (Essex) had requested a dinosaur workshop for each of the three Reception classes at the school. The children in Foundation Stage Two had been learning all about dinosaurs and the classes, each named after an animal (Zebras, Giraffes and Lions), had prepared lots of questions. The focus for the scheme of work was writing and there were many examples of the children’s handwriting on display, including some lovely dinosaur fact books that some of the pupils had made.

Dinosaur Workshop

The Walls Outside the Classroom were Decorated with Dinosaur Displays

Lots of different dinosaurs on display.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Summer Term Topic

To act as a provocation for the Summer Term topic, the teachers had made paper mache dinosaur eggs, one for each class. The children discovered the eggs and concluded that a dinosaur had laid them. They were then encouraged to write to one of our dinosaur experts to invite him in to help them investigate . The dinosaur workshops in the school, were a great success helping to motivate and inspire the children as well as the enthusiastic teaching team.

To view the range of dinosaur and prehistoric animal themed toys and games including replicas of iconic fossil animals stocked by Everything Dinosaur: Learning Materials – Everything Dinosaur.

One of the Eggs Found at the School – Could this be a Dinosaur Egg?

What will happen when it hatches?

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

To contact Everything Dinosaur to request further information about our educational work: Email Everything Dinosaur Team Members.

13 04, 2015

Dinosaur Soft Toys – The Amazing Achievosaurs

By Mike|2024-05-05T10:24:24+01:00April 13th, 2015|Categories: Early Years Foundation Reception, General Teaching, Key Stage 1/2|Comments Off on Dinosaur Soft Toys – The Amazing Achievosaurs

The Acheivosaurs – Reinforcing Positive Learning Behaviours in EYFS and Year 1

A range of three inch (eight centimetre) tall soft toy dinosaurs is helping young learners to develop life skills. The Achievosaurs teaching concept is reinforcing positive values in schools and Everything Dinosaur has lobbied hard to get these super dinosaur soft toys back into production. Many children in the EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage) and Year 1 are very familiar with dinosaurs such as Tyrannosaurus rex and Diplodocus. The fascination for all things dinosaur can help motivate young learners and these dinosaur soft toys have proved to be a valuable teaching aid for educationalists.

Dinosaur Soft Toys

The Achievosaurs – Super Soft Toy Dinosaurs for Use in Schools

Some of the original “Achievosaurs”.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

This range of “Itsy Bitsy” dinosaur soft toys help encourage children. As these items are now back in production, Everything Dinosaur team members set out to examine how the “Achievosaurs” teaching concept came about.

The Achievosaurs

Retired Bristol school teacher, Lori Mitchell got in touch with Everything Dinosaur and she explained how the idea for using dinosaur soft toys took shape.

Ms Mitchell commented:

“The idea for the Achievosaurs came after a South Gloucestershire Early Years course “Providing Challenge, Improving Outcomes” in October 2010. During the day, we were asked to consider how we encourage our children to reflect on their learning, rather than just talk about their activities, and how we can help them develop the skills needed to become life-long learners. We discussed the learning-focused qualities we wanted to encourage in our children and a colleague shared the “Curious Cat” she used with her class. One of the Early Years advisors then said something like “you know, dinosaurs would be another idea..you could have a Thinkasaurus”…and that was it…I went home after the course and devised the Achievosaurs!”

To view the dinosaur soft toys available from Everything Dinosaur: Dinosaur Soft Toys.

8 04, 2015

The New Dinosaurus Lunch Bag and Matching Drinks Bottle

By Mike|2024-05-04T19:26:23+01:00April 8th, 2015|Categories: Early Years Foundation Reception, General Teaching|Comments Off on The New Dinosaurus Lunch Bag and Matching Drinks Bottle

Dinosaur Themed Lunch Bags and Bottles

The warmer weather (at least some of the time in the UK), leads to an increase in the number of children bringing packed lunches to school. Everything Dinosaur team members have been asked to advise and recommend something suitable for very young dinosaur fans when it comes to lunch boxes and drinks bottles. There are many different types of lunch bag and boxes on the market, but we ask parents to consider some practical points when it comes to making a purchase.

Lunch Bag and Matching Drinks Bottle

Here are some points to consider:

Make sure the lunch box has plenty of room so that the lunch and a drink can be fitted inside.
Can it be cleaned easily, at least able to be wiped over with a sponge?
Has it a sturdy zip and is it easy to carry for your child?
Has it got some insulation to help keep food fresh and cool?
Can it be personalised in some way, we recommend that all lunch bags/lunch boxes have a place for the child’s name?
Are drink bottles plastic and leak proof?

Everything Dinosaur recommends the Dinosaurus lunch bag and matching drinks bottle for young dinosaur fans.

The Dinosaurus Lunch Bag and Matching Plastic Drinks Bottle

Dinosaur themed lunch bag and matching drinks bottle.

Dinosaur lunch bag and matching drinks bottle.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

To view the complete range of Everything Dinosaur back to school items: Everything Dinosaur – Back to School Items.

Please note: this article was written in April 2015 and the dinosaur lunch baga and matching drinks bottle is now longer available.

Recommended for School Use

Recommended for school use, this is an insulated dinosaur and prehistoric animal themed lunch box with a zip closure to help keep food safe. Lunch bag can be wiped clean or sponged over. It has a durable, padded carry handle. A robust, plastic dinosaur drinks bottle is supplied including an attachable, leak-proof twist cap. This is a super dinosaurus lunch bag and matching drinks bottle, ideal for school or for dinosaur expeditions! To avoid any mix ups when it comes to dinner time, underneath the lunch bag, there is a clear plastic pocket with a card so that the lunch box owners name can be provided.

23 03, 2015

Simple Dinosaur Themed Writing Exercise

By Mike|2023-03-25T07:48:38+00:00March 23rd, 2015|Categories: Early Years Foundation Reception, Key Stage 1/2|Comments Off on Simple Dinosaur Themed Writing Exercise

Dinosaur Themed Writing Exercise for Reception and Lower Key Stage 1

Here is a simple and creative idea to encourage young children with their handwriting. When an Everything Dinosaur team member delivered a dinosaur workshop to the Reception class at Egerton Primary School, the teacher requested if the children could write thank you letters to the dinosaur expert who conducted the morning of activities. We were happy to oblige and to help enthuse the children, large dinosaur footprint drawings were used to create dinosaur notepaper for the budding young palaeontologists.

Lots of Dinosaur Footprint Thank You Letters from Reception

Reception children write thank you letters

Reception children at Egerton Primary write thank you notes to Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Dinosaur Themed Writing Idea

By carefully punching a hole in the foot, a cord can be passed through the “dinosaur feet” and then a thicker pieces of coloured card can be added to the front and the back to provide the covers for a highly original dinosaur book. This would be great as part of a literacy and writing themed section of a term topic all about fossils and prehistoric animals.

Really Simple but Effective Dinosaur Writing Idea

Thank you letters shaped like dinosaur feet.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

What a super, dino-tastic idea! Notepads shaped like dinosaur feet are a great way to help encourage young children with their writing.

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“What a great idea” These dinosaur feet will help to motivate and encourage the Reception class children.”

Dinosaur Toys and Games

Everything Dinosaur stocks a wide range of dinosaur toys and games. All the merchandise has been tested and approved by the teaching team at Everything Dinosaur.

To view the extensive range dinosaur toys and games available from Everything Dinosaur’s award-winning website: Dinosaur Toys and Games for Kids.

16 03, 2015

Parents Comment after Everything Dinosaur Workshop in School

By Mike|2023-03-24T18:29:10+00:00March 16th, 2015|Categories: Early Years Foundation Reception, General Teaching|Comments Off on Parents Comment after Everything Dinosaur Workshop in School

Feedback from Parents after Dinosaur Workshop

At Everything Dinosaur, it is always a pleasure to receive comments from parents of children who have taken part in our dinosaur workshops in school, it was great to receive feedback stating that parents praise Everything Dinosaur after a school visit. After a visit to John Locke Academy to work with the EYFS stage children we received the following comment from a parent on our main, Everything Dinosaur blog site:

“Sounds like the children had an amazing time , my son attends the school and has learnt so much in such a small amount of time this by far has been his favourite topic he loves dinosaurs and was so excited to tell us that you’d been to the school thank you .”

Parents Praise Everything Dinosaur

You are most welcome, we are happy to help out and our dinosaur workshops are extremely popular in schools. We really enjoy teaching about dinosaurs in schools.

One of the Dinosaurs we Spotted at John Locke Academy

A friendly sauropod spotted in a classroom at John Locke Academy.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

A Friendly Sauropod Dinosaur

A team member spotted a very friendly sauropod dinosaur in one of the spacious and well-designed classrooms. The sauropod seemed to be happy as it had a big smile on its face.

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“We are grateful for the feedback from parents, and from teachers too. We enjoyed our visit to John Locke Academy and we hope the extra, free teaching resources we provided will support the teaching team with their exciting term topic.”

Everything Dinosaur stocks a wide range of dinosaur themed toys, models and games. The UK-based mail order company also stocks some amazing replicas of iconic fossil animals. To view the range available from Everything Dinosaur’s award-winning, user-friendly website: Educational Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Models, Toys and Games.

11 03, 2015

Early Years Foundation Stage Study Dinosaurs John Locke Academy

By Mike|2023-03-24T18:09:48+00:00March 11th, 2015|Categories: Early Years Foundation Reception|Comments Off on Early Years Foundation Stage Study Dinosaurs John Locke Academy

John Locke Academy Learn All About Dinosaurs

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) at John Locke Academy have been studying dinosaurs and learning all about prehistoric animals. The term topic entitled “Stomp, Stomp Roar” has certainly encouraged the children with writing and vocabulary development as well as helping them to learn about the wider world. As part of their topic, a dinosaur expert from Everything Dinosaur was invited in to deliver a dinosaur workshop to Foundation Stage. The enthusiastic, young palaeontologists certainly enjoyed handling the fossils and learning all about how the armoured Ankylosaurus kept safe and how Triceratops used its horns.

John Locke Academy

Our dinosaur expert even spotted some dinosaur shaped mirrors outside one of the spacious Nursery classes.

A Shining Example of Dinosaurs on Display at a Nursery School

A shining example of dinosaurs in the classroom. Mirrors shaped like dinosaurs.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Dinosaur Museum

Part of a Reception class had been turned into a dinosaur museum. It contained lots of excellent examples of the children’s work including books all about prehistoric animals that the children had produced.

Reception Class Make Books About Dinosaurs

“Stomp, stomp, roar”! Reception class make books about dinosaurs.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The Everything Dinosaur expert who visited the school was most impressed with the level of knowledge the children demonstrated. Commenting on the dinosaur workshops delivered by Everything Dinosaur, one of the teachers stated that they were “Greatosaurus!”

Visit Everything Dinosaur’s website: Everything Dinosaur.

10 03, 2015

Feedback from Teachers and Praise for Everything Dinosaur

By Mike|2024-05-04T19:24:27+01:00March 10th, 2015|Categories: Early Years Foundation Reception, General Teaching|Comments Off on Feedback from Teachers and Praise for Everything Dinosaur

Getting Feedback from Teachers after a Dinosaur Workshop in School

At Everything Dinosaur we believe in getting feedback from teachers and learning support providers about our dinosaur workshops in school. To us it is all about developing effective dinosaur and prehistoric animal themed teaching workshops that help educationalists deliver teaching outcomes.

Feedback from Teachers

However, how do we know that our dinosaur workshops are effective?

This is really easy to answer, especially When we get emails like this:

“Thank you so very much for the amazing visit to our school. The children absolutely loved it and have been inspired to go fossil hunting and some have been to the Natural History Museum with their families. Everyone is talking about dinosaurs!

Thanks again.”

This was an email received this evening after a school visit undertaken last week to work with EYFS and Key Stage 1 children.

Typical Feedback from a Member of the Teaching Team

Five stars for Everything Dinosaur! Typical teaching feedback received by Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Everything Dinosaur stocks an extensive range of educational toys and games that have been tested and approved by our enthusiastic teaching team. To view the range, including replicas of iconic fossil animals: Replica Iconic Fossil Animals, Games and Toys.

Job done! Now for the next teaching assignment for our dedicated and resourceful teaching team.