Providing Extra Resources for Upper Key Stage 2
Many teachers and teaching assistants are busy planning their forthcoming scheme of work as they prepare for the start of the next academic year. Recently, Everything Dinosaur was contacted by a Year 5 teacher who was working on lesson plans for the science element of the national curriculum, specifically that part of the topic area that covered evolution, natural selection and Darwinism. They intended to look at the geology of their local area and explain what life was like in the very distant past. Around 300 million years ago, the school would have been underwater, covered by a shallow tropical sea that teemed with life.
Everything Dinosaur Exploring Limestone Outcrops
Evidence for this can be found in the numerous limestone outcrops in the area. The limestone is used as a local building material and the teacher planned to use these resources to help explain about the area’s geological past.
Setting Out to Explore the Local Geology of the Area
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
The picture (above) shows a form of limestone called oolitic limestone. The term means “egg stone”, as the texture of the rock’s surface resembles fish eggs. The circular patterns are the remains of ooliths that make up the limestone rock. Fragments of sea shell, or grains of sand are rolled around on the sea floor and as they move they collect CaCO3 (calcium carbonate). Concentric layers of this material are formed and it is these that give the rock its characteristic appearance. The teacher hopes to inspire the Year 5 pupils by showing them the geology on their doorstep.
For models and replicas of prehistoric animals: Prehistoric Animal Models.
The School Would Have Been Underwater Millions of Years Ago
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
Team members supplied some extra resources and provided advice to help this teacher plan for this very creative topic area.
Visit the company’s website: Everything Dinosaur.