All about dinosaurs, fossils and prehistoric animals by Everything Dinosaur team members.
//February
29 02, 2016

Dressing Up for Dinosaur Day

By | February 29th, 2016|Educational Activities, Main Page, Teaching|0 Comments

Dressing Up for Dinosaur Day

To mark the start of a week of dinosaur and fossil themed learning, children in Year 2 at Southglade Primary School (Nottinghamshire, England), were given the opportunity to wear their favourite dinosaur T-shirt to school.  Some children had brought in dinosaur costumes, others had their faces painted, so the Everything Dinosaur team member who spent the morning with the two classes felt very much at home.

Whilst talking through the learning objectives for the dinosaur workshops with members of the enthusiastic teaching team, our expert remarked on how spacious and well-organised the classrooms were.  There was lots of evidence of various challenging fiction and non-fiction based writing projects on display, hopefully the suggestion about children in class 2HD having a pet Triceratops and what adventures it might get up to might inspire these budding young palaeontologists to write a short story about a dinosaur visiting their school.

Dinosaur Day

Teaching Assistant Mrs Walker had got into the spirit of the scheme of work by converting a hat into a dinosaur, how very creative.  Can the children work out whether this dinosaur was a carnivore or a herbivore by examining the triangular and very sharp-looking teeth that Mrs Walker had cleverly added to her dinosaur themed headgear?

Mrs Walker – Complete with Dinosaur Hat

Dinosaur day.

Mrs Walker with her dinosaur hat.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur/Southglade Primary School

Enthusiastic and Creative Teaching Teams

Under the dedicated tutelage of the enthusiastic and creative teaching team the children in classes 2E and 2HD are bound to have lots fun whilst learning a great deal about prehistoric animals over the next few days.   Mrs Walker had even added some big green eyes to her dinosaur hat.  Can the children come up with a name for this dinosaur, how about “hatty-saurus”!

Dinosaur Hat Up Close

dinosaur dressing up for a dinosaur day.

A big-eyed dinosaur with spikes.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur/Southglade Primary School

The green spikes located on the head (also known as the skull, as discovered by Year 2 today), are very impressive and we love the big eye.  All to soon, it was time to leave, but we provided a dinosaur themed measuring exercise for the children to try, plus a novel extension activity that involves using some everyday materials to measure just how large a Tyrannosaurus rex could be.

Further Extension Resources to Support Learning Objectives

 Once back at the Everything Dinosaur HQ there was just time to send out some emails with dinosaur drawing materials and fact sheets to help support the learning objectives.

To view the range of educational, dinosaur-themed toys and games available from Everything Dinosaur: Dinosaur Toys and Gifts.

28 02, 2016

Everything Dinosaur Teams Up with JurassicCollectables

By | February 28th, 2016|Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Everything Dinosaur videos, Main Page, Press Releases|0 Comments

JurassicCollectables and Everything Dinosaur

One of the most exciting things about collecting dinosaur models is being able to swap views and feedback on the figures.  One of the best places out there to do this on the whole of the “world wide web” is the YouTube channel of JurassicCollectables.  How appropriate then, on the night of the Academy Awards (the Oscars), for Everything Dinosaur to announce that the UK-based mail order company has teamed up with the super talented film makers at JurassicCollectables!

Everything Dinosaur

Jurassic Collectables have operated a YouTube channel for the best part of seven years.  With over 46,000 subscribers and some 30.5 million views, this has certainly become the go to place for collectors and dinosaur fans to catch up on the latest prehistoric animal model introductions.  Take for example, the review of the new for 2016 Schleich Dilophosaurus model, one of the latest additions to our own Schleich product portfolio.  Great lighting, enables this replica to be shown off in all its glory and we love the attention to detail that the video reviewer shows, just like the attention to detail shown in the actual skin texture on the Dilophosaurus itself.

To View the “First Giants” Schleich Dilophosaurus Video Review

Video credit: JurassicCollectables

Check out the YouTube channel here: JurassicCollectables on YouTube.

Everything Dinosaur and JurassicCollectables

Commenting on the partnership with Everything Dinosaur, all round good guy JC commented:

“Jurassic Collectables YouTube channel is an on line video archive for all things Jurassic Park and Dinosaurs.  In the early 1990’s there was a palpable fascination with Dinosaurs that was realised through Spielberg’s ground breaking film.  Through a lens of Jurassic-nostalgia, the aim of the channel is to provide a friendly in depth look at all dinosaur products.  This is why Jurassic Collectables is honoured to be partnered with Everything Dinosaur, an on-line store they regularly call upon for the latest in Dinosaur figurines and merchandise.”

Everything Dinosaur on YouTube

Now that’s an accolade for the hard-working team members at Everything Dinosaur, perhaps it’s time for us to take a curtain call!

To view Everything Dinosaur’s on-line store: Everything Dinosaur.

Explaining the association between JurassicCollectables and Everything Dinosaur, a spokesperson for the company stated:

“Here at Everything Dinosaur, we really enjoy watching the amazing videos that JurassicCollectables produce.  We have been admirers for a long time and it is terrific to see such a dedicated channel.  We wholeheartedly endorse what they do and we recommend, if you have not done so already, subscribing.”

To visit Everything Dinosaur’s YouTube channel: Everything Dinosaur on YouTube.

Tonight, Hollywood might be abuzz with the Dolby Theatre hosting the 88th Academy Awards but check out the JurassicCollectables YouTube channel for some super dinosaur themed videos.  An Oscar for best picture perhaps?

28 02, 2016

John Locke Academy Explores Dinosaurs

By | February 28th, 2016|Early Years Foundation Reception|Comments Off on John Locke Academy Explores Dinosaurs

Foundation Stage Children Discover Dinosaurs (Dinosaurs with John Locke Academy)

Friday was “find a dinosaur day” for the Foundation classes at John Locke Academy.   The eager, young prehistoric animal fans in Nursery and Reception have just started their term topic and it’s all about dinosaurs!  In the well organised and spacious classrooms there were lots of creative, dinosaur themed activities for the children to get to grips with.  There was even a set of very colourful dinosaur eggs on display.  It looks like the children had enjoyed making a nest for these huge eggs.

Dinosaurs with John Locke Academy

A Dinosaur Nest Has Been Discovered in the Classroom

Dinosaurs with John Locke Academy

Dinosaur eggs spotted at John Locke Academy. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: John Locke Academy/Everything Dinosaur

During the workshops we were able to encourage the children to think of some amazing describing words as we examined the teeth and jaws of carnivores.  Impressive pre-knowledge was demonstrated by a number of the children.  If our dinosaur expert ever gets stuck whilst studying a fossil, we now know who to get in touch with.

To contact Everything Dinosaur to learn more about our outreach work: Email Everything Dinosaur.

As part of Everything Dinosaur’s support for the varied and challenging scheme of work that had been developed by the enthusiastic teaching team, we were able to provide some colourful dinosaur themed word mats and a useful pronunciation guide, so that the grown-ups could keep up with all the budding palaeontologists.

All to soon, it was time for our dinosaur expert to say goodbye, as each of the classes lined up in very smart, straight lines there was just time for a special “T. rex” finger wave!

Everything Dinosaur stocks a large range of dinosaur themed toys, gifts and games which have all been tested and approved by our enthusiastic teaching team.

To view the range of prehistoric animal themed gifts available from Everything Dinosaur, including replicas of iconic animals from the fossil record: Dinosaur Gifts.

27 02, 2016

Doedicurus DNA Solves Glyptodont Puzzle

By | February 27th, 2016|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Main Page, Palaeontological articles|0 Comments

Ancient DNA Puts Glyptodonts Firmly in the Armadillo Family Tree

It has proved more difficult to trace than the pattern of osteoderms on the giant, armoured back of Glyptodon but thanks to a new study published in the journal “Current Biology” scientists have been able to establish that glyptodonts nestle well and truly within the family tree of modern armadillos.  It had long been suspected that these heavily armoured animals, many of which possessed fearsome, spiky tail clubs, were closely related to extant armadillos, but this new research, based on the analysis of 12,000 year old mitochondrial DNA extracted from a Doedicurus fossil, identifies them as a subfamily with the armadillos.

Doedicurus

Placing the Glyptodonts in the Armadillo Family

Good old "pestle tail" has a home.

Good old “pestle tail” has a home.

Picture credit: Safari Ltd

The picture above shows a model of the glyptodont called Doedicurus (D. clavicaudatus), by Safari Ltd.  Doedicurus was one of the larger representatives of this group of strange prehistoric animals that originated in South America.  At over three metres in length and weighing in at approximately 1,400 kilogrammes, this herbivore was around the size of a Volkswagen Beetle car.

Earlier studies based on the shape of fossil bones indicated that the glyptodonts were members of the Xenarthra Order.  A group of mammals that includes anteaters, sloths and armadillos, but there were considerable anatomical differences between members of this Order, which led to confusion as to how closely related to the armadillos the extinct glyptodonts were.

The Key is the Carapace

That large, dome-shaped shell, (carapace) certainly resembles that seen in modern armadillos, but it lacks the articulation.  However, it was a fragment of fossilised carapace, believed to come from a Doedicurus that roamed some 12,000 years ago that has unlocked this mystery.  Scientists from the National Centre of Scientific Research (CNRS) and Montpellier University in France in collaboration with colleagues from McMaster University (Ontario, Canada), were able to reconstruct the entire mitochondrial genome based on computer modelling that could predict likely mitochondrial DNA sequences.

Studying Glyptodonts

The researchers had to develop RNA probes capable of identifying potential genetic material from the target species from within the heavily contaminated fossil sample.  Possible ancestral sequences were plotted against the genomes of present-day Xenarthra (sloths, anteaters and armadillos) and slowly and surely the composition of the mitochondrial genome of Doedicurus was pieced together.

The Family Tree of the Armadillos (Cingulata)

Phylogenetic analysis places the glyptodonts firmly in the Armadillo family.

Phylogenetic analysis places the glyptodonts firmly in the Armadillo family.

Picture credit: Current Biology

The picture above shows a phylogeny and molecular timescale of extant armadillos including the extinct glyptodont Doedicurus sp. (in red).

DrcFrederic Delsuc, one of the authors of the scientific paper explained:

“Glyptodonts should probably be considered a subfamily of gigantic armadillos.”

The resulting phylogenetic analysis places the Glyptodontinae as a subfamily but a distinct lineage within the Cingulata (armadillos).  The closest living relative to the giant glyptodonts according to this new research, is the Pichiciego, otherwise known as the Dwarf Pink Fairy Armadillo (Chlamyphorus truncatus) an inhabitant of the grasslands of central Argentina.  Ironically, the Pichiciego, is the smallest species of Armadillo alive today, with adults rarely measuring in excess of twelve centimetres long and weighing around 120 grammes, that’s around 1,160 times lighter than the giant Doedicurus!

Implications for this Study

This research has wider implications when it comes to piecing together the evolutionary relationships between long extinct animals and their modern relatives.  This ancient DNA identification and mapping technique pioneered in this research  can help unlock and reconstruct a range of other ancient genomes, allowing scientists a much better understanding of the diversification, evolution and radiation of vertebrate species.

To view the range of prehistoric animals made by Safari Ltd including that splendid Doedicurus replica: Wild Safari Prehistoric World Figures.

26 02, 2016

More Papo Dinosaur Word Mats for Schools

By | February 26th, 2016|Educational Activities, Main Page, Press Releases, Teaching|0 Comments

Everything Dinosaur Creates More Papo Dinosaur Word Mats

The Papo dinosaur word mats featuring Stegosaurus, Triceratops, Velociraptor and Tyrannosaurus rex have proved so popular with teachers that Everything Dinosaur has added a further two word mats to this free to download teaching resource.  The Papo Spinosaurus and the huge Papo Brachiosaurus now feature in this colourful word mat series, enthusing primary school children about dinosaurs and helping to increase their confidence with language and develop their vocabulary.

Papo Dinosaur Word Mats

A New Addition to the Everything Dinosaur Papo Inspired Dinosaur Word Mats

Papo dinosaur world mat featuring Spinosaurus.

Papo Spinosaurus word mat.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

These word mats, once downloaded from Everything Dinosaur’s dedicated schools website, can be laminated and then stuck on the classroom tables.  With six in the series there are plenty to go round.

To contact Everything Dinosaur about our free teaching resources: Email Everything Dinosaur.

Teaching Ideas

These dinosaur themed word mats can be used in lots of ways.  For example, if one is given to each table then the children can be encouraged to learn about their particular dinosaur, a great way to enthuse the class about carrying out independent research and independent learning.  Can the children find out facts about their very own dinosaur?  Can they make a science poster all about what they have discovered?  The word mats feature individual dinosaurs with various body parts labelled.

Teachers could blank out these labels and ask the children to provide the information themselves.  Perhaps, they might even be able to add a few new ones of their own.

Pronunciation Guide and Timeline

A pronunciation guide is incorporated into each word mat.  Great news for teachers and teaching assistants as this means no more struggling with difficult dinosaur names.  The geological periods that make up the “Age of the Dinosaurs” are also provided along with a handy timeline.  The silhouette of the dinosaur provides an indication as to when the dinosaur featured on the word mat lived.

The Papo Brachiosaurus Inspires Another Word Mat

Papo dinosaur word mat - Brachiosaurus.

A Papo Brachiosaurus dinosaur word mat.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur stated:

“These word mats have certainly proved popular.  At the start of the second part of the Spring Term we have been handing out a set of word mats to all the classes that we have been working with.  We have also received numerous requests to email these resources out to schools as well as making them freely available on our dinosaurs for schools website.  The children seem to really enjoy using them and in a number of cases, within minutes of handing the mats over to the teaching team they have been laminated and stuck on the classroom tables ready to inspire the budding young palaeontologists.”

To view the Papo range of prehistoric animal models: Papo Dinosaur Models.

25 02, 2016

Class One Get into Dinosaurs

By | February 25th, 2016|Key Stage 1/2|Comments Off on Class One Get into Dinosaurs

A Dinosaur Museum in the Classroom

The Key Stage 1 pupils at All Saints’ C of E Primary have started to learn all about dinosaurs and prehistoric animals this term.  A dinosaur workshop delivered by Everything Dinosaur provided a provocation for the children and teachers alike.  The children spent the morning handling lots of fossils and exploring the size and scale of dinosaurs.

A Dinosaur Museum

A Dinosaur Museum was Set up in the Classroom

Dinosaur and fossil workshop.

A dinosaur museum at All Saints Primary. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Dinosaur Workshop

We set the Year 1 and Year 2 children a number of extension activities to help support the teacher’s scheme of work and although the children have only just started the term topic, there were numerous examples of dinosaur themed writing on display around the well organised classrooms.

Class One (ages 5-6) had set up a mini dinosaur museum in one corner of their classroom.  This area will be used to showcase some of the children’s prehistoric animal themed arts and crafts.  Some of the children presented our dinosaur expert with dinosaur drawings that they had done and in return we promised to email over fact sheets and drawing materials to help support the learning.

For further information about Everything Dinosaur’s work in schools: Contact Everything Dinosaur.

Commenting on the success of the morning of dinosaur themed activities, the Year 1 class teacher stated:

“The children were engaged with the session and we loved all the hands on stuff!”

We look forward to hearing how the budding young scientists tackled the extension activities we provided.

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented that the company’s teaching team supervised the introduction of the dinosaur themed toys and games.  They even tested and approved the Everything Dinosaur product range.

To view the range of prehistoric animal toys in stock, including replicas of famous animals from the fossil record: Dinosaur Games and Dinosaur Toys.

25 02, 2016

Dodos and Dinosaurs

By | February 25th, 2016|Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Everything Dinosaur Products, Main Page, Press Releases, Product Reviews|1 Comment

New Cute Dodo Soft Toy Available from Everything Dinosaur

Everything Dinosaur has added a cute and very cuddly Dodo soft toy to the company’s soft toy range.  Although not a dinosaur in the strictest sense, (would you believe an avian-dinosaur)?  The Dodo soft toy is a very welcome addition to the range of dinosaur and prehistoric animal soft toys.

A Soft Toy Dodo from Everything Dinosaur

Dodo soft toy.

Dodo soft toy.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Dodos and Dinosaurs

With its shiny black eyes, bright yellow beak and little wings, this soft toy Dodo is suitable for children from three years of age.  Even extinct animals need love to!  The soft toy Dodo stands an impressive thirty centimetres tall and it is made from very soft material indeed, one might even say that this is a super-soft, soft toy.

To view Everything Dinosaur’s range of prehistoric animal and dinosaur soft toys: Soft Toy Dinosaurs.

Getting to Grips with a Giant Pigeon

The Dodo, scientific name Raphus cucullatus was a member of the pigeon family.  Growing to the size of a turkey, it was the largest type of pigeon known.  Based on contemporary descriptions and notes from scientists who had the opportunity to study this bird before its extinction, the Dodo is described as being chubby with a rounded body covered in grey coloured feathers.  The head and beak were naked of feathers, the bill was large and the mouth could open surprisingly wide.  The legs and feet were yellow and this bird moved rather slowly and clumsily.  Contemporary reports suggest that this bird gave a loud squawk when alarmed.

Sadly, as any budding young palaeontologist will tell you, within a century or so of its discovery by Dutch sailors on the island of Mauritius, the Dodo was extinct.  The reason for its demise remains uncertain.  It had been thought that visitors to Mauritius had killed the bird for food, but there are numerous accounts of the bird’s flesh tasting “oily” and being very unpalatable.   More likely, rats, pigs and cats introduced to the island by European settlers devastated the Dodo population by destroying nests and eating young birds and eggs.

A Symbol of Extinction

In 1693, the French explorer and naturalist Francois Legaut visited the last known refuge of the Dodo on the East Indian island.  He found no trace of Dodos.  This comical-looking bird has become a symbol for extinction, hence the phrase “as dead as a dodo”.  The Dodo had died out in less than one hundred years after mankind encountered it.

We hope you like our Dodo soft toy, it is rather lovable!

24 02, 2016

Class One and Class Two Study Dinosaurs

By | February 24th, 2016|Educational Activities, Main Page, Teaching|0 Comments

Kicking off the Term Topic – Dinosaurs

Children in Class One and Class Two at All Saints’ Church of England Primary School (Stockport, Cheshire), have started the second half of the spring term with a real roar!  These two classes are studying dinosaurs, fossils and life in the past with the help of their enthusiastic teachers Mrs Noble and Mrs Manning.

Although the term topic has only just started, the classrooms have lots of lovely dinosaur themed writing on display.  In Mrs Manning’s Year 1 classroom, a dinosaur museum has been set up, perhaps some of the measuring activities we suggested after our workshop might feature amongst the children’s exhibits.

A Dinosaur Museum

The Dinosaur Museum in the Classroom

Dinosaur museum.

The dinosaur museum in Class One.

Picture credit: All Saints’ Church of England Primary School/Everything Dinosaur

Children Study Dinosaurs

We noticed one of Everything Dinosaur’s inflatable dinosaurs on display in the dinosaur museum – it is an inflatable Stegosaurus!  As Mrs Manning confessed that her favourite dinosaur was another type of armoured dinosaur, an Ankylosaurus (pronounced an-KEE-loh-sore-us), the workshop format was altered slightly to allow the children to explore the size and scale of prehistoric animals using Ankylosaurus.  We were even able to compare our brains to the brain of this plant-eating, Late Cretaceous giant.

To learn more about the huge range of dinosaur toys we stock: Everything Dinosaur.

Gaining Confidence with Adjectives

When asked to describe the size of the huge ammonite fossil, the children came out with lots of fantastic adjectives, the ammonite was described as “colossal”, “gigantic”, “massive” and we even had “enormous” – all super adjectives that impressed the Everything Dinosaur expert who was leading the workshop.

Over the course of the morning the classes learned lots of amazing dinosaur facts, with the teachers taking many photographs, all of which could be used in the recounting and recall activities scheduled for the afternoon.

Marine Reptiles As Well

With the dedicated support of the teaching assistants the children had been sorting dinosaurs into herbivores and carnivores.  Reece had been colouring a drawing of a marine reptile, an Elasmosaurus (ee-las-mo-sore-us).  He confidently told our dinosaur expert that Elasmosaurus was a plesiosaur.

A Drawing of a Marine Reptile (Elasmosaurus)

Elasmosaurus drawing.

Reece and his Elasmosaur drawing.

Picture credit: All Saints’ Church of England Primary School/Reece from Class One

Fossil Themed Workshop

For one of the extension resources, we challenged the children to have a go at designing their very own dinosaur.  Perhaps, some of the dinosaurs that the children create might have long necks like Elasmosaurus, or even flippers, that would be a very intriguing dinosaur indeed!  Could the children make a dinosaur model using modelling clay or perhaps building bricks?  If the children create their very own dinosaur, we would like to see lots of lovely adjectives used to describe their design, in addition, could they come up with a name to describe their prehistoric animal?

To learn more about Everything Dinosaur’s award-winning service: Everything Dinosaur Customer Service.

23 02, 2016

Prestigious Feathered Dinosaur Exhibition Coming to Nottingham

By | February 23rd, 2016|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans|0 Comments

Exciting Dinosaur Exhibition Coming to Nottingham (Summer 2017)

Feathered dinosaurs turn 21 years old next year and to mark this event, a major dinosaur exhibition is coming to Nottingham (East Midlands of England), in 2017.  Although, the concept of feathered dinosaurs is now very well established, it was just twenty years ago, back in 1996, that the first, non-avian dinosaur species with evidence of fuzzy feathers was described.  Named Sinosauropteryx this lithe meat-eater literally “rocked” scientists as the long-awaited proof of feathered dinosaurs was revealed to the world.

A fossil of Sinosauropteryx Showing the Fuzzy Covering

Sinosauropteryx fossils showing "fuzzy" covering.

Sinosauropteryx fossils showing “fuzzy” covering.

Picture credit: University of California Museum of Palaeontology

The feathers, little more than a fuzzy integumental covering were too short to allow Sinosauropteryx to fly, they very probably helped to keep this little Chinese dinosaur warm.  Whatever, the role, this was the ground-breaking discovery that helped change how the dinosaurs were viewed.

Unearthing the Feathered Dragons

The dinosaur exhibition coming to Nottingham will be hosted at Wollaton Hall, (Wollaton Park, Nottingham), with a satellite display at Nottingham Lakeside Arts.  The exhibit will tell the story of the evolutionary relationship between theropod dinosaurs and modern birds, you might think differently about the feathered friends in your own garden, after all, that Starling sitting on the bird table is a distant relative of Tyrannosaurus rex!

Spectacular Feathered Dinosaurs Coming to the UK

Adult and juvenile feathered dinosaurs

Adult and juvenile feathered dinosaurs (Similicaudipteryx)

Picture credit: Xing Lida and Song Qijin

Meet the Largest Feathered Animal Known to Science

One of the highlights amongst the extensive fossil collection on display will be the massive Gigantoraptor (Gigantoraptor erlianensis), regarded as the biggest feathered animal known to science.  Gigantoraptor was as tall as a giraffe!

Gigantic Gigantoraptor Will Be Part of the Exhibition

Feathers used for display and courtship.

Feathers used for display and courtship.

Picture credit: BBC (Planet Dinosaur television series)

The beautifully preserved and spectacular fossils will be on loan from the Palaeozoological Museum of China, Shandong TianYu Museum and from the Dinosaur Museum of Erlianhaote (Inner Mongolia).  In addition, to the feathered dinosaurs, there will also be specimens of other Asian dinosaurs in the touring exhibit, all organised in a three-way partnership between the University of Nottingham, Nottingham City Council and the Institute of Palaeontology and Palaeoanthropology based in Beijing.  Other dinosaurs to feature will include the flying dinosaur Microraptor and other close relatives of the fearsome Velociraptor.

Commenting on this announcement a spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur stated:

“This is fantastic news!  Some of the best preserved dinosaur fossils ever found are coming to Nottinghamshire.  Many of these specimens have only recently been scientifically named and described.  This is a fabulous way to mark the 21st anniversary of the naming of the first, non-avian dinosaur species discovered with feathers and this exhibition will provide a wonderful opportunity to showcase how our knowledge about dinosaurs and their relationship with birds has developed over the last two decades.”

Dinosaurs that Learned How to Fly

Dr Adam Smith, curator and palaeontologist at the Nottingham Natural History Museum, Wollaton Hall, said:

“This spectacular exhibition will provide an opportunity for visitors to experience some of the most important fossils in the world, including new discoveries that have revolutionised our understanding of dinosaurs and the origin of birds.  They are helping scientists to understand the origin of birds and feathers – birds are literally dinosaurs.  Dinosaurs that learned how to fly!”

Dr George Baxter, Director of Business Engagement and Innovation Services at The University of Nottingham, added:

“Bringing this dinosaur exhibition to Nottingham from China is an enormous coup for the city.  Due to the links the University has established with the Institute of Vertebrate of Palaeontology and Palaeoanthropology, we now have a unique opportunity to host a natural history exhibition of international significance in Nottingham, which would be a tremendous boost to tourism and the local economy.”

Councillor Dave Trimble, Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture at Nottingham City Council, acknowledged the significance of this announcement:

“We are absolutely thrilled Nottingham has been chosen to host this remarkable exhibition when it comes to Europe for the first time.”

A Rare Opportunity

This is a rare opportunity to view dinosaur fossils that do not travel outside of China that often.  In the Chinese calendar, 2017 will be the year of the Rooster, which is highly appropriate considering the subject area being covered in this exhibition.  We would advise all dinosaur fans not to “chicken out” but to make a date in their diary to see the feathered dinosaurs up close.  What a great way to celebrate a 21st birthday!

Everything Dinosaur stocks a huge range of feathered dinosaur models: Dinosaurs Including Feathered Dinosaur Models.

23 02, 2016

More Papo Dinosaur Word Mats

By | February 23rd, 2016|Early Years Foundation Reception, General Teaching, Key Stage 1/2|Comments Off on More Papo Dinosaur Word Mats

More Papo Dinosaur Themed Word Mats for Schools

Such has been the response from teachers and teaching assistants after Everything Dinosaur introduced some Papo dinosaur themed word mats for use in schools, that this free to download range has been extended to include two more dinosaurs.  Joining the Velociraptor, Triceratops, Stegosaurus and T. rex will be a Spinosaurus and a Brachiosaurus word mat, all helping to encourage Primary school children with their language development.

The Carnivore Spinosaurus Joins the Everything Dinosaur Word Mat Range

Papo dinosaur world mat featuring Spinosaurus.

Papo Spinosaurus word mat.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Dinosaur Word Mats

These Papo dinosaur word mats are a free downloadable resource for use in schools.  They can be laminated and placed on classroom tables to help encourage children to develop their vocabulary.  In addition, these colourful and informative word mats can be used in classroom displays.

To request a Papo dinosaur word mat, whilst stocks last: Contact Everything Dinosaur.

Already, a number of schools have benefited from these free to download dinosaur themed teaching resources.  A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“We have teamed up with Papo to create these teaching resources.  The children love the wonderful Papo models that are featured on the mats and we have used our teaching knowledge in combination with our dino expertise to develop word mats that encourage children to develop a love of language and to gain confidence with using and writing words.”

To view the range of Papo prehistoric animal figures available from Everything Dinosaur: Papo Prehistoric Animal Models.

The Papo Brachiosaurus Model Features on the Word Mats

Papo dinosaur word mat - Brachiosaurus.

A Papo Brachiosaurus dinosaur word mat.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

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