General Teaching

15 08, 2015

Rare British Dinosaur Fossils Go on Display

By Mike|2024-05-05T14:40:21+01:00August 15th, 2015|General Teaching|Comments Off on Rare British Dinosaur Fossils Go on Display

Hypselospinus Dinosaur Fossils on Display at Bexhill Museum

The fossils of a large, plant-eating dinosaur have gone on display at Bexhill Museum (East Sussex). The dinosaur is a type of iguanodontid dinosaur, part of a clade of very successful bird-hipped dinosaurs that were very geographically widespread during the Mesozoic Era. The fossils, which represent limb bones and a single tail bone (caudal vertebra), were discovered by local palaeontologists Peter and Joyce Austen, it was Joyce, a specialist in palaeobotany, who found the first evidence of this dinosaur’s remains although the majority of the bones were excavated by local fossil hunter and dinosaur enthusiast David Brockhurst.

Hypselospinus Dinosaur Fossils

The Hypselospinus Fossils on Display at Bexhill Museum

Dinosaur bones on display at the Bexhill Museum.

Picture credit: Bexhill-on-Sea Observer

Iguanodon Dinosaur – Hypselospinus fittoni

The dinosaur (Hypselospinus fittoni), was formerly named and described in the late 19th Century, from other fossil material found in East Sussex. The Bexhill Museum material has been dated to the Early Cretaceous geological period. A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur explained that during the Early Cretaceous much of southern England formed a verdant flood plain that teemed with prehistoric life. The Hypselospinus fossils are estimated to be around 14o million years old.

Bexhill Museum is an independent museum run by volunteers whose patron is the comedian Eddie Izzard. It contains a wide variety of artefacts including a number of locally sourced fossils including dinosaurs and flying reptiles (pterosaurs). For the residents of this East Sussex seaside resort, it might be difficult to comprehend but back in the Early Cretaceous dinosaurs roamed the area.

A Model of a Typical Iguanodontid Like Hypselospinus

The new for 2018 Papo Iguanodon model.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Named and Described in 1889

Hypselospinus was formally named and described in 1889. It was typical of an iguanodontid dinosaur, reaching lengths of around six metres and perhaps weighing as much as two tonnes. It ambled around on all fours, but if the need arose, it could rise up onto its strong hind legs and adopt bipedal locomotion. Large neural spines associated with the dorsal vertebrae (back bones) suggest that Hypselospinus had a steeply arching back, this feature distinguishes this dinosaur from other iguanodontids known from southern England. It was formerly known as Iguanodon fittoni.

Everything Dinosaur supplies a range of museum quality, hand-painted dinosaur models including replicas of iguanodontids and the Papo Iguanodon dinosaur model. These are ideal for use in schools and teaching programmes.

To view the model: Papo Dinosaur Models.

13 08, 2015

Student Finds Rare Mammal Fossil

By Mike|2023-04-04T07:50:21+01:00August 13th, 2015|General Teaching|Comments Off on Student Finds Rare Mammal Fossil

American Student Finds Rare Marsupial Jawbone

An American student working with the North Dakota Geological Survey has found a very rare and exceptionally well preserved fossil jawbone of a Late Cretaceous mammal. The Cretaceous of North American may have sported mega fauna such as Tyrannosaurus rex and Triceratops but there was also a rich and diverse mammalian fauna. The fossil has been identified as a jawbone (complete with six tiny teeth), of a marsupial mammal named Glasbius twitchelli. The fossil is approximately sixty-six million years old and it represents the most complete lower jawbone found for this species.

To read a more complete article about this important fossil discovery: Student Makes Important Fossil Discovery.

Fossil Jawbone

For student Sean Ternes, it was a remarkable discovery. He had just been explaining to members of the public on a outreach programme how to find fossils when, during a break he tried a little fossil prospecting of his own and found the jawbone. From its well preserved state, team members from Everything Dinosaur concluded that the fossil had not long since been eroded out of the surrounding rock. This is the first time that the ancient marsupial Glasbius twitchelli has been recorded in North Dakota.

Everything Dinosaur stocks a wide range of museum-quality scale models of prehistoric mammals. To view the selection of prehistoric mammal replicas available at Everything Dinosaur: Models of Prehistoric Mammals.

A Rare Mammal Fossil

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur congratulated the student for their highly significant fossil discovery and stated:

“This is the most complete jawbone found to date for this important species. A tiny fossil such as this helps to provide palaeontologists with a better understanding of the mammalian fauna that lived during the very last days of the dinosaurs.”

8 08, 2015

Alaska’s Very Own Loch Ness Monster Described as Rare Fossils Found

By Mike|2024-05-05T14:25:55+01:00August 8th, 2015|General Teaching|Comments Off on Alaska’s Very Own Loch Ness Monster Described as Rare Fossils Found

Elasmosaurus Fossil Discovered in Alaska

The fossilised remains of a giant marine reptile have been uncovered by scientists in Alaska. The fossils representing an Elasmosaurus, an animal that belongs to the plesiosaur family, were found by an amateur fossil hunter who was hiking in the Talkeetna Mountain range when he came across several fragments of fossilised bone that had fallen down from a hillside. Realising their importance of the Elasmosaurus fossil, he recorded the location and contacted palaeontologists based at the University of Alaska Museum of the North who subsequently excavated the articulated remains.

Alaska’s Loch Ness Monster

Elasmosaurus had an extremely long neck. It superficially resembles the mythical Loch Ness Monster (believed by some to be a plesiosaur). No fossils of an Elasmosaurus have been found this far north before.

At Home in the Seas of the Late Cretaceous – A Model of an Elasmosaurid

Alaska’s Loch Ness Monster – an elasmosaurid.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Elasmosaurus Fossils

At an estimated eight metres in length, the fossils, which include impressive cervical vertebrae (neck bones), represent a substantial marine creature, one that would be about the size of an extant female Orca (Orcinus orca), although about 50% of the animal’s body length would have been made up of that very long neck. Humans have just seven neck bones (cervical vertebrae), whilst elasmosaurs had more than seventy.

Plesiosaur Fossils

Brandon with his plesiosaur fossils. The Plesiosauria were geographically widespread during the Mesozoic.

Picture credit: Brandon Lennon

The picture (above), shows Brandon Lennon holding some plesiosaur vertebrae found on the famous “Jurassic Coast”.

A Significant Fossil Find

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur stated:

“This is a significant fossil find. Ammonites and other invertebrate fossils are relatively common in the Talkeetna range, but to find the preserved remains of an elasmosaur is really special. It is not known at this stage whether this specimen represents a new species of marine reptile. In addition, it is hoped that a study of the bones and the matrix surrounding them will help scientists to obtain data that helps them to determine whether this creature was a resident or a transient, seasonal visitor to the seas this far north.”

Despite the very short excavation window, the scientists have managed to remove a substantial number of fossils. It is hoped that a field team will be sent out next summer to further explore the area in a bid to find skull material which would aid the scientists immensely in their research.

Everything Dinosaur stocks a huge range of marine reptile models, including plesiosaurs such as elasmosaurids: Sea Monsters and Marine Reptiles.

4 08, 2015

Supporting Literacy at Summer School Providing Helpful Support

By Mike|2024-05-05T14:26:30+01:00August 4th, 2015|General Teaching, Key Stage 1/2|Comments Off on Supporting Literacy at Summer School Providing Helpful Support

Kingswood Primary Academy Learn About Dinosaurs

It may be August and the school holidays but there is no rest for the dedicated teaching team at Everything Dinosaur. Today, Everything Dinosaur visited Kingswood Primary Academy (Northamptonshire), to support the summer school focusing on literacy with a dinosaur theme. The children, the majority of which are at Key Stage Two, took part in a number of exercises and activities with a dinosaur and fossil theme.

Everything Dinosaur

One of our dinosaur experts led a tactile fossil handling session exploring how fossils form and what they can teach us about life in the past. In addition, we supplied an array of resources including fact sheets, drawing materials and lesson plans to help the teachers. The children were challenged to design their own dinosaur and we saw some wonderful, creative prehistoric animals.

Colourful Dinosaurs Inspired by Everything Dinosaur Workshop

Lots of facts and dinosaur information.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur/Kingswood Primary Academy

Dinosaurs Helping with Literacy

With the focus on literacy, we challenged the children to include lots of labels and information about their dinosaur creation.

In a third session over the day, we helped the children build a dinosaur timeline so that they could show which prehistoric animals lived during the Mesozoic Era. Using pegs and string the children, helped by the enthusiastic teaching team at Kingswood Primary Academy produced a set of super dinosaur timelines featuring lots of different dinosaurs and prehistoric animals.

The Dinosaur Timeline Created by One of the Student Groups

Dinosaurs helping with literacy. Dinosaurs at summer school.

Amazing facts all about prehistoric life.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur/Kingswood Primary Academy

Everything Dinosaur stocks a huge range of prehistoric animal and dinosaur models: Prehistoric Animals and Dinosaur Models.

Prehistoric Animal Fact Sheets

Once again, we encouraged the children to include lots of facts and information on their dinosaur and prehistoric animal timelines. The summer school, which will run over the next two weeks, has certainly got off to a great start.

Commenting on Everything Dinosaur’s contribution Andy Bark, (class teacher for Year 5) stated:

“The activities engaged and motivated the children and it was a super day! Thanks.”

The children at Kingswood Primary Academy enjoyed the start of their dinosaur themed summer school with a visit from a fossil expert from Everything Dinosaur to help kick-off proceedings. We will be back next week to provide further support and assistance to the teaching team. Next week, we are off on a fossil hunt!

Visit Everything Dinosaur’s website: Everything Dinosaur.

28 07, 2015

Speed Stacking a Great Dinosaur Themed Memory Game

By Mike|2024-04-11T10:01:05+01:00July 28th, 2015|General Teaching, Key Stage 1/2, Key Stage 3/4|Comments Off on Speed Stacking a Great Dinosaur Themed Memory Game

Dinosaurs Inspire a Simple and Fun Memory Game

Dinosaurs and prehistoric animals can be wonderful subjects for a term topic or as part of a week of science teaching in schools. Here is a simple and fun memory game which uses classroom resources to help reinforce learning and recall.

As Everything Dinosaur team members visit schools to carry out dinosaur themed workshops and other activities, we discuss the learning needs of children with teachers and members of the senior leadership team. As a result, we have devised a fun, dinosaur themed speed stacking game in which children are challenged to sort different dinosaurs by size.

Dinosaur Memory Game

A Fun and Simple Dinosaur Themed Speed Stacking Game

Simple memory game to help young scientists.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Resources Required (You Will Need)

Plastic cups or beakers
Speed stacking labels (Everything Dinosaur provides various sets of labels on the download section of this website – dinosaurs for schools)
Adhesive tape to secure the labels to the bottom of the beakers/cups
A timer such as a stop watch or Ipad/Smart phone etc.

Our team members have created a series of speed stacking challenges. For example, to help in teaching about food webs we have a five stage, food chain based on meat-eating dinosaurs. This is a great way to help build up hand to eye co-ordination and motor skills as well as helping children to remember how food chains are constructed.

Also, Everything Dinosaur team members have created labels for a dinosaur sizing, speed stacking game, as mentioned earlier. Will the children be able to sort the dinosaurs by size?

Speed Stacking Game Labels Devised By Everything Dinosaur

Learn how animals are classified, learn the geological timescale with this speed stacking game.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Speed Stacking Labels

The speed stacking labels, further instructions and additional, free to download teaching resources from Everything Dinosaur can be provided: Contact Everything Dinosaur.

For teaching resources aimed at different year groups and key stages, simply visit the specific download pages accessible from the main downloads menu.

Once labels have been stuck onto the beakers you are ready to start the speed stacking game. Record the times taken for the children to stack the beakers in the correct order, as extension activities you could get the children to tabulate or plot their results. Can they devise their own dinosaur themed speed stacking games?

For dinosaur themed teaching resources including models, sets of plastic dinosaurs which are great for counting and sorting games, as well as real fossils and fossil replicas ideal for craft activities visit: Dinosaur Gifts and Toys including Replica Fossils.

17 07, 2015

Top Marks for Everything Dinosaur

By Mike|2023-04-01T14:15:13+01:00July 17th, 2015|General Teaching, Key Stage 1/2|Comments Off on Top Marks for Everything Dinosaur

Five Stars and a “Smiley Face” from Teacher

Yesterday, Everything Dinosaur visited St Mary’s R.C. Primary (Greater Manchester), to conduct a morning of dinosaur themed activities with Year 1 children. The classroom was decorated with some fantastic examples of dinosaur artwork and there were plenty of examples of creative writing and composition on display.

Dinosaur Workshop

As part of Everything Dinosaur’s on-going commitment to improve our dinosaur workshops we receive feedback from teachers and teaching assistants. Our dinosaur and fossil workshops are very highly rated, teaching teams like the range of activities we offer and the way in which we try to support the individual learning needs of the children. The budding palaeontologists in class 1 certainly enjoyed themselves, a number of children asked whether our dinosaur expert could come in to see them every day.

Sadly, that’s not possible what with our work in schools and the other educational projects as well as the dinosaur studies that our team members are involved in.

To view the wide range of prehistoric animal and dinosaur themed models, toys and gifts available from Everything Dinosaur’s award-winning and user-friendly website: Visit Everything Dinosaur.

Feedback from Teachers

Still, the teaching team really appreciated our work, we received a five star rating in our feedback, plus a lovely “smiley face” from the teacher, in her teaching notes.

Genuine Feedback from Teacher after a Dinosaur Workshop

Feedback from Blackpool Science Conference

5 stars for Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur/St Mary’s R.C. Primary

The teacher stated:

“The children enjoyed the hands on activities and we will definitely use Everything Dinosaur again. Thank you.”

To contact Everything Dinosaur to request information about our work: Contact Everything Dinosaur.

16 07, 2015

Five Quick Dinosaur Topic Extension Ideas

By Mike|2023-04-01T14:08:24+01:00July 16th, 2015|General Teaching, Key Stage 1/2|Comments Off on Five Quick Dinosaur Topic Extension Ideas

Simple Dinosaur Themed Ideas to Encourage Writing

During our dinosaur workshops in schools, Everything Dinosaur team members get asked by teaching teams for advice on how to develop extension activities. We are happy to help and to assist where we can. Dinosaurs as a teaching topic in schools does not just allow teachers to explore science, geography and history, but there is also enormous scope to cover numeracy and literacy subject areas too. During our school visits we are often amazed at the variety of writing and reading themed topic ideas that teaching teams come up with. Many of these make wonderful classroom displays on the “Wow Wall”.

Dinosaur Topic Extension Ideas

Classroom Display That Demonstrates Writing (FS2)

FS2 children draw prehistoric landscapes.

Drawings of a prehistoric landscape by FS2 children.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

To read a recent blog post about Everything Dinosaur’s work with a Year 1 class: Year 1 Become Dinosaur Detectives.

Five Easy to Use Dinosaur Themed Writing Exercises

To assist teachers and teaching assistants, here are five exercises that involve researching and writing about dinosaurs. We have listed them so that less confident learners can have a go at the first items listed, whilst more capable learners can try the other ideas listed.

Find out about the terms “herbivore”, “carnivore” and “omnivore”, Can you explain what these terms mean? Can you name three dinosaurs, a herbivore, a carnivore and one that is an omnivore? Can you think of animals alive today, that are either herbivores, carnivores or omnivores? How would you describe people? Are people herbivores, carnivores or omnivores?
Learn about your favourite dinosaur and talk about it in front of your class without stopping or repeating yourself for one minute. What facts can you find out?
Can you find a dinosaur starting with each letter of the alphabet? Write your list in alphabetical order. Can you do the same but this time for animals that are alive today?
Read a book (fiction or non-fiction) about dinosaurs and write a book review about it.
Imagine you could go back in time and meet dinosaurs. Write a story about your dinosaur adventure.

Dinosaur Topic Extension Ideas for Teachers

These simple ideas are easy to implement and Everything Dinosaur team members are happy to help out by supplying free downloads of dinosaur fact sheets, games and other teaching resources.

For further information on our science outreach work: Contact Everything Dinosaur.

Musical and Poetic Dinosaurs

Here is a further extension exercise, perhaps this can be conducted as part of small group work.

Can you write and perform a dinosaur rap? Make up a song or write a poem about dinosaurs. Are you brave enough to perform your rap or say your poem in front of the class?

Visit Everything Dinosaur’s Website: Everything Dinosaur.

15 07, 2015

Dinosaurs Help with Literacy and Improve Writing Skills

By Mike|2024-04-11T10:11:21+01:00July 15th, 2015|General Teaching, Key Stage 1/2|Comments Off on Dinosaurs Help with Literacy and Improve Writing Skills

Dinosaurs Help to Improve Key Stage 1 and 2 Writing and Reading Skills

Teaching about dinosaurs with Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 can help to give children greater confidence with their reading and writing as well as introducing them to the concept of scientific working. Dinosaurs as a term topic links beautifully into the curriculum and allows teaching professionals to help pupils develop their reading and writing skills. For example, team members at Everything Dinosaur encourage children at their dinosaur workshops to independently research prehistoric animal names and write definitions and explanations about how the animal got that name, here is an example:

Dinosaur Definitions (Writing Exercise)

Maiasaura (pronounced May-ah-saw-ah)

Meaning: “Good Mother Lizard”

Why the Name? “When this dinosaur’s fossils were found the scientists also found fossils of dinosaur nests and babies, so the palaeontologists think that this dinosaur looked after its young” (explanation provided by Mary aged 9).

Dinosaurs Help with Literacy

Encourage the children to write definitions and explanations for dinosaur names. Everything Dinosaur team members are happy to email over fact sheets and other useful teaching materials to assist teachers.

Composition – Writing Thank You Letters

After a dinosaur workshop, we encourage the children to write in thank you letters to our dinosaur expert. The children can send in questions to us and we do our best to respond, providing answers. This is a great way for Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 pupils to gain confidence with their writing, vocabulary and sentence construction.

A Typical Thank You Letter from Year Two

Everything Dinosaur team members encourage letter writing.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Our thanks to Joy and the rest of her classmates for sending in such a super set of thank you letters.

To see more information about Everything Dinosaur’s product range: Learning Resources – Dinosaur Themed Gifts.

9 07, 2015

Science Laboratories, Research and Dinosaurs

By Mike|2024-04-11T10:22:06+01:00July 9th, 2015|General Teaching, Key Stage 1/2, Key Stage 3/4|Comments Off on Science Laboratories, Research and Dinosaurs

Supporting STEM – Dinosaurs in the Science Lab

Everything Dinosaur was invited to Shire Oak Academy (West Midlands), to take part in a STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), day in support of science teaching in schools. In a fun packed day, we delivered four dinosaur and fossil themed workshops with Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3 children. Our dinosaur expert explained how fossils formed and the children got to handle lots of dinosaur fossils as well as learning about how giant prehistoric sharks could swallow their teacher in one bite.

Fossil Themed Workshop

Science experiments included weighing and measuring different vertebrae, looking at what bones are made of (the science of the barbecue), dinosaur blood and the recipe for cloning a Woolly Mammoth!

The Science Lab – All Ready for Dinosaur Themed Experiments

A well appointed laboratory in a school.

Well resourced teaching facilities, all ready for a fossil themed workshop.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Breaking Bones

We even promised the children that their teacher would break a few bones (all in the interests of vertebrate palaeontology of course). Our thanks to the STEM day organisers and to all the teachers and teaching assistants who took part. Our dinosaur workshops were certainly a big hit, the event organiser commented:

“Thank you Everything Dinosaur! I will definitely be in touch again next year!”

Feedback from Teachers and Children

In a very busy programme, we did get some time to receive feedback from the teachers who saw our dinosaur workshops.

Mrs Chantler (KS2 teacher) stated:

“The dinosaur workshop was engaging and inclusive. Use of objects made the subject accessible to all, the children were fascinated.”

Mrs Vann (teacher) commented:

“The children were fascinated with the teeth comparisons.”

Katie in Year 7 exclaimed:

“The workshop was amazing, I wish we could do this everyday!”

All in all, I think we can safely say that our contribution to the STEM day and our dinosaur workshops was very well received.

For information on the range of teaching and learning resources available from Everything Dinosaur: Everything Dinosaur Learning Resources and Toys.

7 07, 2015

Teaching About Mary Anning with Year 4

By Mike|2023-04-01T12:01:01+01:00July 7th, 2015|General Teaching, Key Stage 1/2|Comments Off on Teaching About Mary Anning with Year 4

Mary Anning 1799-1847

There are a lot of terrific female scientists around today, but back in Georgian times, women were not treated well in the almost entirely male dominated scientific world. It was only after Mary Anning’s death in 1847 did her research and meticulous fossil hunting begin to receive the plaudits that it deserved. When asked by the organisers at a Key Stage Two science conference to provide information on a famous scientist for Year 4 children as part of a competition, Everything Dinosaur jumped at the chance to talk about Mary Anning.

Name Dropping Famous Contributors to Palaeontology

Helping to promote science for girls by dressing up as Mary Anning.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

We hope our work with Year 4 children at the conference, (we took them on a fossil hunt), will help to inspire the next generation of scientists. Mary Anning may have spent much of her life “on the rocks” but she remains one of the most important early pioneers of the science of palaeontology.

Everything Dinosaur is happy to provide more information to schools about Mary Anning to help enthuse and motivate the next generation of scientists.

To view the extensive range of dinosaur themed toys and models available from Everything Dinosaur’s award-winning website: Dinosaur Gifts and Toys.