Teaching - Part 9

10 01, 2020

Spotting a Gomphotherium in a Tidy Classroom

By Mike|2024-01-12T07:09:13+00:00January 10th, 2020|Categories: Educational Activities, Everything Dinosaur Products, Main Page, Teaching|0 Comments

Spotting a Gomphotherium

Whilst on a visit to a school to deliver a series of dinosaur and fossil themed workshops to lower Key Stage 2 classes, one of our team members at Everything Dinosaur was given the opportunity to view some of the work carried out by the Year six children as they studied Darwinism and natural selection as part of their curriculum.

Several of the children had collaborated on poster displays providing an outline of Darwin’s ground-breaking theory regarding how populations change due to the transfer of heritable traits from one generation to another. The posters included details of Darwin’s life such as his voyage on the Beagle, his work on the finches on the Galapagos Islands and of course, the publication of his book “The Origin of Species” and its consequences for academia and the wider world.

Gomphotherium

One part of the display focused on the evolution of the elephant family (Order Proboscidea) and our eagle-eyed team member spotted an image of the CollectA Deluxe 1:20 scale Gomphotherium model that had been used to help illustrate different genera of ancient elephants.

An Image of the CollectA Deluxe 1:20 Scale Gomphotherium Model Features in the Display

CollectA Deluxe Gomphotherium model features in a school poster. — *The CollectA Deluxe 1:20 scale Gomphotherium model features in a display on the evolution of elephants. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.*

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The CollectA Deluxe prehistoric life model range: CollectA Deluxe Prehistoric Life Models.

Prehistoric Elephants

Many different types of prehistoric elephant were featured in the posters. For example, one of the earliest and most primitive members of the elephant family – Moeritherium was featured, along with Deinotheres and representatives of the Mammuthus genus.

The CollectA Deluxe Gomphotherium Model

CollectA Gomphotherium. — *The CollectA 1:20 scale Gomphotherium model.*

Our team member suggested that Everything Dinosaur would be happy to assist the children with their studies by providing scale drawings of a number of proboscideans.

The Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

16 12, 2019

A Fantastic and Colourful Cretaceous-themed Seasonal Gift

By Mike|2024-05-06T09:25:24+01:00December 16th, 2019|Categories: General Teaching|Comments Off on A Fantastic and Colourful Cretaceous-themed Seasonal Gift

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

A seasonal decoration with a dinosaur theme - a festive T. rex. — *A seasonal decoration with a dinosaur theme. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.*

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.

10 12, 2019

Dinosaurs Help with Sentence Construction

By Mike|2024-01-06T13:34:36+00:00December 10th, 2019|Categories: Key Stage 1/2|Comments Off on Dinosaurs Help with Sentence Construction

Dinosaurs Help with Sentence Construction

A team member from Everything Dinosaur spotted this innovative approach to teaching Key Stage 1 children the rudiments of sentence construction whilst on a visit to the school to conduct a dinosaur and fossil themed workshop. In order to help the Year 1 children to understand how sentences are formed, the teacher had drawn a dinosaur and asked the children to describe it. The adjectives the class came up with when they viewed the drawing were recorded and then these adjectives were used to construct a sentence.

Dinosaur Themed Teaching

Dinosaurs Help with Sentence Construction

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

We are not quite sure what the genus the dinosaur illustration represents, perhaps it is one that has yet to be formally scientifically described. That’s not the point, when it came to using adjectives the spotty dinosaur provided the class with plenty of opportunities to come with lots of “describing words”.

The Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

6 12, 2019

Greenhill Primary Children Enjoy Learning About Fossils and Dinosaurs

By Mike|2024-01-06T11:40:57+00:00December 6th, 2019|Categories: General Teaching, Key Stage 1/2|Comments Off on Greenhill Primary Children Enjoy Learning About Fossils and Dinosaurs

Greenhill Primary Palaeontologists

Children in Year 1 at Greenhill Primary (Bury, Greater Manchester), have been busy learning all about dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals this term. A team member was given the opportunity to visit the school to work with the eager, young palaeontologists over the course of the morning. The first part of the session was based in the spacious hall, the second part of the workshop, which involved dinosaur footprint measuring and finding fossils, took place in the well-appointed and very tidy classroom.

Pupils as Palaeontologists

Year 1 Children Had Created a Play Area for Their Dinosaurs

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

As an extension exercise, our dinosaur expert challenged the children to draw a dinosaur and to label its body parts including the skull. During the wet play, Nayaab drew and labelled a beautiful pink and blue dinosaur which was then presented to Everything Dinosaur at the conclusion of the morning’s activities.

Drawing and Labelling a Dinosaur

*A beautiul pink dinosaur drawn by a young palaeontologist. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.*

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

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

28 11, 2019

A Unique Wonky Horned Dinosaur Skeleton

By Mike|2024-01-05T13:44:31+00:00November 28th, 2019|Categories: General Teaching|Comments Off on A Unique Wonky Horned Dinosaur Skeleton

Horned Dinosaur Skull – Not Symmetrical

A team of scientists writing in the prestigious journal “Cretaceous Research”, have discovered the beautifully preserved skull of a horned dinosaur. The skull comes from a Styracosaurus, a dinosaur famous for its bony neck frill with spikes. However, the left side of this bony frill looks very different from the right side of the frill. The skull is asymmetrical.

Palaeontologist Scott Persons with the Skull of the Styracosaurus

Scott Persons with dog and "Hannah" the Styracosaurus. — *Scott Persons with “Hannah” the Styracosaurus and his dog.*

Picture credit: Scott Persons/University of Alberta

Studying Styracosaurus

When scientists want to display a dinosaur in a museum, they often produce mirror images of bones to replace missing parts of the skeleton. For example, if the right thigh bone is found but not the left, then a mirror image of the right thigh bone can be produced and used in the mounted display. The discovery of this asymmetrical dinosaur skull demonstrates that the heads of dinosaurs could look very different. The right side of the head looks very different from the left. This has implications for how dinosaurs can be displayed in museums – producing mirror images of bones from the skull might not be as good an idea as previously thought.

A Styracosaurus Drawing

Styracosaurus illustrated. — *A drawing of the horned dinosaur Styracosaurus. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.*

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The illustration (above) is based on the CollectA Deluxe Styracosaurus model.

To view this range: CollectA Age of Dinosaurs Deluxe Range.

In addition, such variability in the skull and the way that it looks casts doubt over how some dinosaur species get named. Sometimes a new species is erected based on subtle variations in the shape and structure of the skull. If the dinosaurs had such extensive variations in the shape of the skulls, as this Styracosaurus fossil suggests, then some dinosaur species might be invalid.

The Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

13 11, 2019

Foundation Stage 2 Have Fun Learning About Animals

By Mike|2023-12-31T20:23:49+00:00November 13th, 2019|Categories: Early Years Foundation Reception|Comments Off on Foundation Stage 2 Have Fun Learning About Animals

Foundation Stage 2 – Animal Skeletons

Whilst on a visit to a school to conduct a dinosaur themed workshop with some eager and excited Reception class children, our dinosaur expert spotted some super animal skeletons that the children had created. Using straws and cotton buds to represent bones, the Foundation Stage 2 children had made skeletons of various animals. The children had made skeletons of birds, people, dinosaur skeletons, cats, dogs and even a fish.

Dinosaur Skeletons

Anatomy Class – Reception Class Make Animal Skeletons

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The skeletons that the children had created certainly made a colourful display outside in the corridor adjacent to the hall where we were conducting our dinosaur and fossil themed workshop.

Everything Dinosaur’s website: The Everything Dinosaur Website.

25 10, 2019

Reception Classes Create Beautiful Prehistoric Landscapes

By Mike|2023-12-31T20:49:55+00:00October 25th, 2019|Categories: Adobe CS5, Educational Activities, Main Page, Teaching|0 Comments

Reception Classes Create Prehistoric Landscapes

The three classes of Reception-aged children at Broughton Primary in Flintshire have been busy learning all about dinosaurs and fossils this term. With the half-term break approaching, a team member from Everything Dinosaur was invited into the school to deliver three dinosaur workshops, one for each class, to help reinforce their learning as the topic came to a conclusion. During the visit, our dinosaur and fossil expert was given a tour of a couple of the spacious and tidy classrooms and shown the prehistoric landscapes that the children had created.

Class 1 (Dosbarth 1) – Prehistoric Landscape

Reception class children build their own "prehistoric park". — *A very colourful prehistoric landscape created by a Reception class.* *Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.*

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

What do Dinosaurs Need to Keep them Healthy and Happy?

As part of an enriched and varied scheme of work, the Reception classes have been learning about animals and what they need to help keep them safe, healthy and happy. The children have incorporated some of this learning into their prehistoric landscapes that they have been building. For example, class 1 ensured that there were plenty of plants for the herbivores to graze upon and lots of rocks for the dinosaurs to hide amongst to keep them safe from Tyrannosaurus rex.

As part of the extension activities for the classes following our workshops, we supplied extra resources for the teaching team. Each class was given their very own hard hat to wear when they went out looking for fossils. Dinosaurs as a term topic certainly lends itself to lots of creative play and exploration.

For dinosaur and prehitoric animal themed toys: Dinosaur Toys and Gifts.

A Prehistoric Landscape Created by a Reception Class – Can you See the Three Fossil Hunting Hard Hats?

Class One build a dinosaur landscape. — The prehistoric scene created by a Reception class (Dosbarth 1). The three fossil hard hats donated by Everything Dinosaur can be seen in the background. These hard hats have a lamp on the front to help the children search for fossils. *Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.*

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

Prehistoric Landscapes

The enterprising teaching team had used a variety of materials to help create the mini “Jurassic Parks”, these items will help the children to explore and learn about the properties of different materials. Class 3 had even included a large, cardboard and cloth cave for their dinosaur models to hide in.

The Prehistoric Landscape Created by Class 3 (Dosbarth 3)

Class 3 build their own prehistoric landscape. — *The prehistoric landscape created by class 3. A very colourful landscape for the dinosaur models to play in.* *Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.*

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Cretaceous Conifers

The children in class 3 had created a large cardboard and crepe paper forest for the plant-eating dinosaurs to browse. The forest would provide lots of handy nesting places for the dinosaurs too.

Cretaceous Conifers – A Prehistoric Forest for Dinosaurs to Explore

A forest fit for dinosaurs. — *Cardboard and crepe paper trees for the dinosaurs to hide amongst.* *Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.*

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

For further information about Everything Dinosaur’s teaching and science outreach work: Email Everything Dinosaur.

24 10, 2019

Reception Children Make Dinosaur Landscapes

By Mike|2023-12-31T15:47:52+00:00October 24th, 2019|Categories: Early Years Foundation Reception|Comments Off on Reception Children Make Dinosaur Landscapes

Reception Children Make Dinosaur Landscapes

The children in the three Reception classes at Broughton Primary (Flintshire), have certainly enjoyed learning about dinosaurs this term. A team member from Everything Dinosaur visited the school this morning to deliver three dinosaur and fossil themed workshops to help round off the scheme of work for the first half of the autumn term.

During the visit, our team member was shown some amazing dinosaur landscapes that the children had built.

Children in Class 1 (Reception) have Created a Prehistoric Landscape

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The Everything Dinosaur home page: The Website of Everything Dinosaur.

Dinosaur Landscapes

The Reception classes have been learning about animals and what they need to keep them safe and happy. The children created a river to allow the dinosaurs to catch fish to eat. The river would also provide water for the prehistoric animals to drink. The plant-eating dinosaurs have plenty of leaves to chew but all the dinosaurs have to be careful as the volcano has erupted and bright red lava is spilling out down its slopes.

Class 1 Children Constructed a Volcano as part of their Dinosaur Landscape Project

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Class 3 also constructed a home for their dinosaur models. Their very own version of “Jurassic Park” included a big forest for the dinosaurs to hide in so that they felt safe and a huge cave for them to explore. The hard hats we provided with the lamps on their front might come in handy when it comes to exploring the depths of the cavern.

The Prehistoric Scene Created by Class 3 (Dosbarth 3)

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The Reception classes enjoyed their dinosaur workshops and demonstrated some amazing counting and recall of dinosaur facts during the morning. We hope they like the dinosaur hokey cokey activity we provided too.

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

21 10, 2019

A Stunning and Beautiful Red T. rex Head

By Mike|2023-12-31T14:55:38+00:00October 21st, 2019|Categories: General Teaching|Comments Off on A Stunning and Beautiful Red T. rex Head

A Red T. rex Head

Our congratulations to young Caldey who sent into Everything Dinosaur an illustration of one of her favourite dinosaurs – Tyrannosaurus rex.

An Illustration of T. rex by Caldey

Beasts of the Mesozoic T. rex drawing. — *Caldey’s interpretation of the recently introduced Beasts of the Mesozoic articulated T. rex figure in 1:18 scale. Picture credit: Caldey.*

Picture credit: Caldey

The picture (above) seems to have been inspired by the Beasts of the Mesozoic model range.

To view this range of articulated figures: Beasts of the Mesozoic Models.

T. rex

The artist has taken great care to illustrate this dinosaur. Lots of amazing detail such as different shaped scales on the skull and the bony ridges over the orbit (eye socket) can be seen in this line drawing. Our congratulations to Caldey for creating such a super dinosaur illustration.

Everything Dinosaur team members receive lots of dinosaur themed drawings. Our thanks to Caldey for sending in a rather splendid red-headed Tyrannosaurus rex illustration.

Visit the Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

14 10, 2019

Stunning and Beautiful Autumn Dinosaurs

By Mike|2023-12-31T12:02:49+00:00October 14th, 2019|Categories: General Teaching, Key Stage 1/2|Comments Off on Stunning and Beautiful Autumn Dinosaurs

Dinosaur Display Made from Leaves

Lots of Key Stage 1 children and Reception classes have been learning about dinosaurs this term. On one of our many school visits a dinosaur expert at Everything Dinosaur spotted a colourful display of prehistoric animals that had been created using leaves. It seems that dinosaurs are even becoming involved in forest school activities, all part of creative, imaginative and thoroughly engaging teaching schemes of work.

A Dinosaur Created from Autumn Leaves

*Dinosaur leaves and outdoor learning. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.*

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

A Dinosaur Leaf Monster

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“We come across lots of wonderful and creative curricular during our visits to schools. We congratulate the teaching team for combining the term topic all about dinosaurs and fossils to learning about the changing environment and seasons. This really is a great example of creative cross-curricular teaching.”

A Dinosaur Leaf Monster

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

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