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A field centre based on the south west coast of the Isle of Wight displaying fossils and locally inspired palaeoart. The centre organises fossil hunting trips in some of Europe's best dinosaur locations across the south of the Island.
HINT: See more pictures in our Gallery!
REMEMBER: Our resources are included FREE of charge when booking your trip via Education Destination!
Our qualified and experienced teachers have worked closely with Dinosaur Expeditions C.I.C. to develop a range of high quality curriculum-relevant learning resources and activities to help you and your students get the most out of a visit. These cover many subjects and age groups, and are a mix of pre-visit, on-site and post-visit activities to support your preferred teaching style.
To find suitable resources, first select the appropriate Key Stage and then scroll down to your subject below.
Help OFF Quick Website Intro5 Lower Key Stage 2 resources offered at this venue View this key stage across ALL venues
ART & DESIGN1CREATIVITY IN ART & DESIGN1
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MATHEMATICS2WORKING MATHEMATICALLY2
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SCIENCE2BIOLOGY2
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We have identified the following additional learning opportunities at Dinosaur Expeditions C.I.C. for Lower Key Stage 2 students, which we hope to produce in due course. If you could make use of this, please click to vote and we'll raise the priority!
| Subject | Unit | Topic | Summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Science | Chemistry | How fossils are formed when living things are trapped in rock | Vote | |
| Science | Chemistry | Compare and group different kinds of rock based on appearance and physical properties | Vote | |
| History | Bringing the Past to Life | How archaeologists bring the past to life | Vote | |
| English | Grammar & Vocabulary | Paleo terminology | Vote | |
| English | Writing (Composition) | Creative Writing | Caption writing - informative and humerous | Vote |
| Design & Technology | Technical Knowledge | Investigate Design | Investigate the design and production of the on-site models | Vote |
5 Upper Key Stage 2 resources offered at this venue View this key stage across ALL venues
ART & DESIGN1CREATIVITY IN ART & DESIGN1
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MATHEMATICS2WORKING MATHEMATICALLY2
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| Details | Add to Planner |
SCIENCE2BIOLOGY2
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We have identified the following additional learning opportunities at Dinosaur Expeditions C.I.C. for Upper Key Stage 2 students, which we hope to produce in due course. If you could make use of this, please click to vote and we'll raise the priority!
| Subject | Unit | Topic | Summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geography | Human and Physical Geography | Coasts | Types of waves and erosion at the coast | Vote |
| Geography | Human and Physical Geography | Physical Geography | What is Geology? Observations and descriptions - focus on sedimentary rocks | Vote |
| History | Historical Enquiry | Find out about the past using museum resources | Summarise learning based on interpretation of the museum and case contents | Vote |
| English | Reading | Understanding Texts | Skeleton texts - extinction | Vote |
| English | Writing (Composition) | Writing Poetry | Dinosaur inspired fun poetry | Vote |
| Mathematics | Statistics / Handling Data | Dinosaur Data! | Classification (eg food types); Venn diagrams | Vote |
| Art & Design | Graphic Communication | Dinosaur "Top Trumps" | Vote |
7 Key Stage 3 resources offered at this venue View this key stage across ALL venues
ART & DESIGN1CREATIVITY IN ART & DESIGN1
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MATHEMATICS2WORKING MATHEMATICALLY2
| Details | Add to Planner |
| Details | Add to Planner |
SCIENCE4BIOLOGY4
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| Details | Add to Planner |
| Details | Add to Planner |
| Details | Add to Planner |
We have identified the following additional learning opportunities at Dinosaur Expeditions C.I.C. for Key Stage 3 students, which we hope to produce in due course. If you could make use of this, please click to vote and we'll raise the priority!
| Subject | Unit | Topic | Summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geography | Human and Physical Geography | Physical Geography | Name and identify landforms of erosion | Vote |
| Geography | Human and Physical Geography | Links between geology, coastal erosion and fossil hunting | Vote | |
| Science | Biology | Variation between species | Vote | |
| Science | Biology | Learn how changes in the environment have lead to the evolution of different species | Vote | |
| History | Chronological Understanding | Placing events in chronological order | The ancient periods | Vote |
| English | Writing (Composition) | General Writing for Purpose and Audience | Leaflet or presentation describing how fossils are made | Vote |
| English | Writing (Composition) | Storyboard a trailed for a dinosaur themed movie | Vote | |
| English | Writing (Composition) | Writing / Designing to Persuade (Advertising) | Production of brochure or advertisement for Dinosaur Expeditions | Vote |
| English | Spoken Language | Post-visit presentation to alternative class or key stage back at school | Vote | |
| Mathematics | Working Mathematically | Solving Problems | Dinosaur logic puzzles | Vote |
SORRY - no Key Stage 4 resources currently available at this venue View this key stage across ALL venues
We have identified the following additional learning opportunities at Dinosaur Expeditions C.I.C. for Key Stage 4 students, which we hope to produce in due course. If you could make use of this, please click to vote and we'll raise the priority!
| Subject | Unit | Topic | Summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geography | Human and Physical Geography | Coasts | How do land processes shape our coastline? | Vote |
| Geography | Human and Physical Geography | Coasts | Processes of marine erosion and the resulting landforms | Vote |
| Geology | Geological Timescale | The geological timescale | Vote | |
| Geology | Landscape | Characteristics of chalk and clay landscapes | Vote | |
| Geology | Earth Structure | Plate Tectonics | Fossil morphological changes | Vote |
| Geology | Earth Structure | Plate Tectonics | Earth structure, plates and plate movement. Fossil and rock dating. | Vote |
| Science | Biology | Evolution | Understand how fossils provide evidence for evolution | Vote |
| Science | Biology | Relationships in an Ecosystem | Understand how organisms are interdependent and adapted to their environments | Vote |
| English | Writing (Composition) | Writing to Summarise | Recall and summarise the history of the dinosaurs | Vote |
SORRY - no Key Stage 5 resources currently available at this venue View this key stage across ALL venues
We have identified the following additional learning opportunities at Dinosaur Expeditions C.I.C. for Key Stage 5 students, which we hope to produce in due course. If you could make use of this, please click to vote and we'll raise the priority!
| Subject | Unit | Topic | Summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geography | Human and Physical Geography | Coasts | Soft-rock geology; cliff structure and profile | Vote |
| Geography | Human and Physical Geography | Coasts | Coastal management: cost-benefit analysis and assessing socio-economic and environmental need within | Vote |
| Geography | Human and Physical Geography | Coasts | Past and future sea level changes | Vote |
| Geology | Geological Timescale | The geological timescale and the IOW's position. | Vote | |
| Geology | Landscape | Characteristics of chalk and clay landscapes - observation | Vote | |
| Geology | Earth Structure | Plate Tectonics | Observing beds, folding, bedding planes. | Vote |
| Archaeology | Excavation: recording sites and landscapes; recovery; dating; interpretation | Vote |
SORRY - no Post 16 / Adult resources currently available at this venue View appropriate resources across ALL venues
The following information is not intended to form a comprehensive access statement; it is provided to highlight particular areas of concern for disabled visitors. We do not warrant that this information is fit for purpose or accurate. Education Destination will happily assist with gathering information in respect of particular concerns, or help you arrange an inspection visit.
To help you determine whether Dinosaur Expeditions C.I.C. is suitable for your particular students, we've summarised any accessibility issues for you in the section below.
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Assistance dogs allowed
The exhibition centre is fully accessible and assistance dogs are allowed.
Assistance dogs allowed
The fossil walks take place on a public beach nearby and last usually 2 hours. Terrain is uneven and the beach is sandy. Therefore this activity is unfortunately not suitable for wheelchair users, the infirm, or those who cannot support themselves for long periods of time. There are no toilet facilities on the beaches used.
Many Island venues and attractions, especially those outdoors, have limitations on opening times during the year. Additionally, some have limits on the number of group tours on any given date for safety and capacity reasons.
This section helps you identify whether Dinosaur Expeditions C.I.C. has any such restrictions during your preferred visit dates.
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A typical group visit consists of a tour of the museum and a guided fossil hunting walk along one of the nearby beaches between Compton Bay and Atherfield Chine.
Extend your visit with a range of materials from Education Destination.
All year
Have a question about Dinosaur Expeditions C.I.C. that's not answered here?
Ask one of our experts!
In this section we've highlighted any special clothing or equipment you'll need to bring in order to get the most out of a visit to Dinosaur Expeditions C.I.C.
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If participating in a fossil walk, you will be walking outdoors along unmade paths, up/down steep steps and along a sandy and rocky beach. Suitable attire will be needed depending on the weather conditions on the day.
If participating in a fossil walk, sturdy footwear will be required, ideally waterproof, for the beach section. A change of shoes and socks is a good idea, because no matter how many times students are told not to paddle or splash in the rock pools, almost invariably somebody comes back with wet feet!
One of the most common issues faced by teachers when planning trips is ensuring that all of the relevant paperwork is in place, and that the lead teacher and their assistants are fully briefed about each venue before they arrive.
Our experienced teachers have done most of this work for you. In this section you'll find a sample Risk Assessment covering all of the typical activities undertaken at Dinosaur Expeditions C.I.C. by groups of students, along with a detailed "On The Day" Procedure which sets out everything you need to know about the site before you get there.
If there are any other mandatory considerations, such as HSE advice sheets for animal attractions or outdoor activity centres, you'll also find these below.
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A brief overview of Dinosaur Expeditions C.I.C. prepared especially for teachers.
Download (PDF) →
For your convenience this generic risk assessment has been prepared to cover all of the typical activities undertaken at Dinosaur Expeditions C.I.C.. You may use it as the basis for your own documentation. We do not warrant that this is either complete or accurate, and would be happy to help arrange a site pre-visit if required.
Generic Risk Assessment (PDF) →
Our handy guide to distribute to your adult supervisors just before arrival. This essential document sets out in summary form everything you need to know about the venue, from a useful site navigation map to the locations of toilets and first aid boxes, lost child procedures, special clothing or equipment requirements etc.
On-the-Day Procedure (PDF) →Verified feedback from previous group visits...
Karen Paddock, Housemistress | 13/06/2017 | 40 x KS3
"Oliver was brilliant with the girls and they loved looking on the beach for fossils. The girls enjoyed the dinosaur farm, the carousel of activities was pitched just right."
Luke Martino, KS2 Teacher | 18/05/2017 | 25 x Upper KS2"Fantastic - Oliver was brilliant - the children were fully engaged and he was able to explain things in a way that all the children could understand. He gave thought to safety as well as to allowing children access to the beach."
Pauline Stirling, KS5 Head of PSHE & Citizenship | 02/03/2016 | 12 x KS5"Staff were extremely helpful and the visit was a success."
Maria Herbert, KS1 Teacher | 19/10/2015 | 30 x KS1"We had a great day on Monday the children really enjoyed it and we had lots of positive feedback from parents saying how much the children had talked about it when they got home. The timings and activities were perfect. I will be recommending it to fellow staff. It was their first trip out and we were really pleased at how they behaved. Thank you once again for a great day and please say a big thank you to Oliver for all his hard work."
Dave Cooper, Deputy Head | 12/10/2015 | 30 x Mixed Ages"The students all had a fabulous time and recommended to our years five and six the trip who have now booked up to go. We produced some great display work and poems as well as improving our knowledge of the IOW fossil scene."
Dinosaur Expeditions C.I.C. is located at:
Dinosaur Farm
Military Road
Brighstone
PO30 4PG
