Prehistoric Animal Drawings Help to Inspire Young Artists

Everything Dinosaur team members have been asked to support the science outreach activities being organised by Rochdale Borough Council as the Natural History Museum’s “Dippy the Diplodocus” exhibition arrives in the northwest of England.  The Diplodocus exhibit, donated to the London Natural History Museum in 1905, is currently undergoing a nationwide tour.  Staff from Everything Dinosaur have been asked to put together a series of fun, fossil themed workshops in various parts of the northwest.

Prehistoric Animal Drawings

Whilst visiting a library, a team member spotted some very familiar prehistoric animal figures helping to promote a drawing competition aimed at eager, enthusiastic young palaeontologists.

Prehistoric Animal Model Help to Inspire Dinosaur Drawings

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The CollectA Kelenken (Prehistoric Animal Drawing)

A colourful drawing of large, flightless bird Kelenken is highlighted (above). In the library team members spotted a Liopleurodon (marine reptile), from the CollectA Prehistoric Life range of figures.  A model on the right of the Liopleurodon was a replica of an Iguanodon, also from the CollectA range.  Both these models represent long extinct creatures, fossils of which have been found in the British Isles.

View the CollectA Prehistoric Life model range: CollectA Prehistoric Life Figures.

CollectA also provide a selection of scale models. To view this range: CollectA Deluxe Prehistoric Life Scale Models.

A team member from Everything Dinosaur, in a break between delivering dinosaur and fossil themed workshops commented:

“It has been great to meet so many young dinosaur fans.  The Diplodocus event has attracted over a hundred thousand visitors to the area.  This has provided a real boost to the local economy.  We have seen a number of the entries in the dinosaur drawing competition and we have been most impressed with the illustrations and artwork.”

The Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

Everything Dinosaur Supporting “Dippy on Tour”

As part of the Natural History Museum of London’s nationwide tour of the Diplodocus dinosaur replica “Dippy on Tour”, Everything Dinosaur has been asked to provide a number of dinosaur and fossil themed outreach activities to help support the public’s perception of science.  During March (2020), team members will be visiting several locations in the north-west of England providing dinosaur and fossil themed workshops aimed at families.

Everything Dinosaur’s Outreach Activities Supporting a Nationwide Dinosaur Tour

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

These fun and lively events sold out a long time ago.  Everything Dinosaur’s programme includes visiting numerous libraries and other public buildings and delivering educational and fun, family orientated dinosaur and fossil themed workshops.

A spokesperson for the company said:

“We are looking forward to the workshops and we are going to be very busy tackling all the questions about dinosaurs that we are going to be asked.  Our plan is to give away a few fossils too.”

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

A Replica of a Diplodocus

The picture (above) depicts a Natural History Museum Diplodocus replica. These figures are available through Everything Dinosaur and help support the “Dippy on Tour” programme.

To view the London Natural History Museum dinosaur models: Natural History Museum Dinosaur Models.

Celebrating the Role of Women in Science on International Women’s Day

Today, (March 8th 2020), is International Women’s Day.  International Women’s Day is an annual event, which has its origins in the early part of the 20th century.  This day provides us with an opportunity to highlight the enormous contribution to science and scientific enquiry made by women.

Everything Dinosaur took a photo of an appropriate poster on display at a school. The school was Ilderton Primary. Everything Dinosaur team members were visiting the school to conduct a fossil workshop. The poster highlighted the role of women in science.

Recognising and Celebrating the Contribution of Women in Science

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

On a visit to a school in London (Ilderton Primary), to deliver a series of dinosaur and fossil themed workshops, an Everything Dinosaur team member spotted a wonderful display highlighting the role of women in science.

It is great to see women in science celebrated in this way, we hope that the display helps to motivate and enthuse the next generation of women scientists.

The user-friendly and award-winning Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

New Research Suggests Climate Change Could Adversely Affect Amphibians and Reptiles

Researchers from Tel Aviv University (Israel) and Queen’s University Belfast have carried out one of the most comprehensive studies to date to better understand what affects life expectancy among all living vertebrates in the world.  The study’s conclusions not only challenge a long-accepted theory about the lifespan of organisms, but also provide a new perspective on climate change – that global warming could have a huge impact on the life expectancy among cold-blooded animals such as reptiles and amphibians.

Studying Reptiles and Amphibians

With many schools having ponds in their grounds and wildlife areas, it is important to emphasise how crucial these habitats are for many animals, particularly frogs, toads and newts as the spawning season gets underway.

Forty-one Percent of All Amphibian Species Assessed to Date* Are Threatened with Extinction

Picture credit: Queen’s University Belfast

* International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List Data.

The “Rate of Living” Theory

Some animals with backbones, such as some species of frog, can live for less than a year.  Whilst other animals such as elephants and turtles can live for a very long time. The “rate of living” theory has long been accepted as an explanation as to why organisms age.  According to this theory, the faster the metabolic rate the shorter the lifespan.

The scientists from Queen’s University Belfast and Tel Aviv University looked at data from over 4,100 land vertebrate species from across the planet to test the prevailing “rate of living” theory.  They found that ‘rate of living’ does not affect aging rates, rejecting the previously accepted link between metabolism and lifespan.

Identifying Extinction Factors for Reptiles and Amphibians

The study, published today (Friday 14 February), in the journal Global Ecology and Biogeography, found that rates of aging in cold-blooded organisms including amphibians and reptiles are linked to high temperatures.  These findings led the scientists to propose an alternative hypothesis: the hotter the environment is, the faster the rate of living that in turn leads to more accelerated aging and a shorter lifespan.  Dr Daniel Pincheira-Donoso, co-author and Lecturer in Evolution & Macroecology at the School of Biological Sciences at Queen’s University Belfast, explained:

“Our findings can have critical implications for our understanding of factors that contribute to extinctions, especially in modern times when we are facing a worldwide decline of biodiversity, with cold-blooded animals being particularly endangered.  Now we know that the life-expectancy of cold-blooded vertebrates is linked to environmental temperatures, we could expect to see their lifespans further reduced as temperatures continue to rise through global warming.”

A Tiny Frog Emerging from a Pond

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

Helping Wildlife

Providing suitable habitats for animals such as frogs, newts and toads is essential.  School wildlife areas, especially those with a body of water can play a vital role in helping to sustain local populations, as well as providing schoolchildren with an opportunity to study wildlife at close quarters.  Teaching teams can then use these resources to help link learning to key elements of the science curriculum.

For models of prehistoric reptiles and amphibians: Prehistoric Animal Models and Figures.

Wild Safari Prehistoric World Camarasaurus Model Wins Award

Readers of the magazine “Prehistoric Times” have voted the Wild Safari Prehistoric World Camarasaurus model the best dinosaur model of 2019.  The discerning readers of the magazine selected this dinosaur figure based on its scientific accuracy and its suitability for permitting creative, imaginative play.

Camarasaurus Model

The Wild Safari Prehistoric World Camarasaurus Model Wins an Award

An Extensive and Diverse Prehistoric Animal Model Range

The Wild Safari Prehistoric World model range from Safari Ltd features an extensive range of extinct animals and other prehistoric creatures.  The Camarasaurus figure, the largest dinosaur introduced by this American company last year, has been voted the best dinosaur toy of 2019 by readers of “Prehistoric Times” magazine.

The Camarasaurus model (pronounced KAM-are-oh-sore-us ), measures around thirty-five centimetres long and that carefully sculpted head stands some sixteen centimetres high.  The model is not too heavy and ideal for little hands and creative minds.  The design team at Safari Ltd work hard to ensure that the dinosaur models that they create are scientifically accurate, utilising the latest research from palaeontologists to assist them in this process.

Voted the Best Dinosaur Toy of 2019 – The Wild Safari Prehistoric World Camarasaurus Dinosaur Model

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Wild Safari Prehistoric World Camarasaurus Model

“Prehistoric Times” readers praised the model for its intricate paint detail and the pose of the dinosaur with its foot raised as if the animal was in motion.  Whether on the shelf or in the toy chest, the Wild Safari Prehistoric World Camarasaurus makes an excellent accessory helping to encourage children to have fun and play whilst learning about dinosaurs and life in the past.

Commenting on the award, a spokesperson for UK-based Everything Dinosaur stated:

“Our teaching team recognises the benefits of creative, imaginative play.  It is wonderful to see that the great care and attention to detail that Safari Ltd put into their dinosaurs has been acknowledged by readers of the magazine.  At the heart of everything that Safari Ltd do, is the desire to develop toys that teach, helping to educate young learners, fostering their curiosity and their respect for the environment and conservation.  Learning about long extinct creatures such as the Camarasaurus can help children become enthusiastic environmental activists and provide a perspective on climate issues affecting our planet today.”

To view the range of dinosaur and prehistoric animals from Safari Ltd available from Everything Dinosaur: Safari Ltd – Wild Safari Prehistoric World Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals.

The Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

Pachycephalosaurus with a Cranial Lesion

The recently introduced (2020), Wild Safari Prehistoric World Pachycephalosaurus dinosaur model is a highly detailed and scientifically accurate replica of a Late Cretaceous prehistoric animal.  This dinosaur toy has been expertly sculpted to highlight distinctive traits and characteristics of a “bone-headed” dinosaur.  The dome-headed skull with all its lumps and bumps has been skilfully recreated by the design team at Safari Ltd.

There’s even a scar on the skull showing the damage incurred as a result of a fight with another dinosaur.

Pachycephalosaurus Dinosaur Model

An Everything Dinosaur Team Member Points out the “Battle Damage” on the Skull of the Dinosaur Model

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

A Cranial Lesion

The models and figures that make up the Wild Safari Prehistoric World range by Safari Ltd are great for creative, imaginative play.  The prehistoric animal models are thoroughly researched so that they are as accurate as possible.  The Pachycephalosaurus figure has been intricately painted in a striking orange colour with the skull area coloured grey.  It is an excellent figure, one that will encourage children to have fun and play whilst learning more about the lives of long extinct animals.

The Wild Safari Prehistoric World Pachycephalosaurus Dinosaur Model (Safari Ltd)

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“Safari Ltd have a substantial range of dinosaurs and prehistoric animal models in their portfolio.  The design team try their very best to provide scientifically accurate figures and this Pachycephalosaurus with its battle damage is typical of this model range.  Providing a dinosaur with a realistic dent in its skull (battle damage), helps children to appreciate that these models represent animals that lived in the past, animals that were just as active and complex as many animals that the children are familiar with that are alive today.”

To view the Safari Ltd Pachycephalosaurus and the rest of the models and figures in this range available from Everything Dinosaur: Wild Safari Prehistoric World Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals Models.

Colourful Cretaceous-themed Seasonal Gift

During our many visits to schools to deliver dinosaur and fossil themed workshops, we are constantly amazed at the creativity of the teaching teams and the schoolchildren.  As the autumn term draws to a close we know that this time of year is exceptionally busy for schools.  With Christmas just around the corner and many schools due to break up for the holidays in the next few days or so, there is so much still to do.  Plus, of course there is all the planning for the scheme of work for the next term to complete.

A Sesonal Dinosaur Gift

We know from our bulging mail bag and congested email inbox that lesson plan preparation and topic area research are well underway in schools as dedicated teaching teams and their senior leadership finalise plans for spring.

We were surprised therefore to receive this thoughtful seasonal gift in the post.  A very creative idea, a set of window stickers for our office with a dinosaur theme.

A Creative and Seasonal Gift for our Dinosaur Experts

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

There are so many inspirational and clever teachers in schools.  We get to work with some extraordinary and very talented people.  This certainly is a very colourful and creative gift, which our dinosaur experts greatly appreciate.

View the Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.