UKS2 Topic: Dinosaurs and Fossils Block F: Dinosaur Species
Learn about the species of the Mesozoic Era with very practical and engaging activities. Reconstruct a
dinosaur by adding clay to a dinosaur skeleton, make a Dino-family jigsaw, take part in an animal
survival game, make a 3D Mesozoic timeline showing the three main eras and populate each section
with pictures of the correct dinosaur species.
Block F: Dinosaur
Main outcome: Science Other outcomes: D&T
Species [5 sessions]
By the end of this block
you will have achieved
the following outcomes:
Session 1: Science and
D&T
Flesh It Out!
Learn about how
palaeoartists reconstruct
dinosaurs from fossils and
try it yourself!
Session 2: Science
Dino Families
Learn about the main
family groups of
dinosaurs and make a
Dino-family jigsaw.


Draw on already known information about dinosaurs and form research questions.
Know how living things, and the bone structure of fossils, can influence a palaeoartist’s
reconstruction.
 Consider how palaeoartists use this information to hypothesise about what dinosaurs
looked like.
 Recognise the family groups of dinosaurs.
 Know that dinosaurs are grouped into two large families based on the structure of their
hips: lizard-hips and bird-hips.
 Learn that dinosaurs were integral to, and adapted to, their environments.
 Investigate what resources palaeontologists understand past ecosystems to have contained.
 Understand how living things compete for resources by pretending to be animals competing
for food and shelter.
 Recognise the different landscapes of the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods of the
Mesozoic Era.
 Discuss, with understanding, how the vegetation and climate changed during the Mesozoic
Era.
 Recognise the different species of dinosaurs that lived in the landscapes of the Triassic,
Jurassic and Cretaceous epochs of the Mesozoic Era.
 Consider how the vegetation, climate and landscape may have influenced and sustained the
different species of dinosaurs that occupied them.
 Discuss, with understanding, how the vegetation changed during the Mesozoic Era.
 Construct a model Mesozoic Era, portraying the three different landscapes and vegetation
of the periods within it.
Children will
 Recognise that fossils provide information about living things that inhabited the Earth
millions of years ago.
 Use research and develop design criteria to inform the design of innovative, functional,
appealing products that are fit for purpose.
Children will
 Recognise that fossils provide information about living things that inhabited the Earth
millions of years ago.
 Recognise that living things produce offspring of the same kind, but normally offspring vary
and are not identical to their parents.
 Identify how animals and plants are adapted to suit their environment in different ways and
that adaptation may lead to evolution.
© Original resource copyright Hamilton Trust, who give permission for it to be adapted as wished by individual users.
The links to the websites and the contents of the web pages associated with such links specified on this list (hereafter collectively referred to as the ‘Links’)
have been checked by Hamilton Trust (being the operating name of the registered charity, William Rowan Hamilton Trust) and to the best of Hamilton
Trust’s knowledge, are correct and accurate at the time of publication. Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other terms and conditions on the Hamilton
Trust website, you acknowledge that Hamilton Trust has no control over such Links and indeed, the owners of such Links may have removed such Links,
changed such Links and/or contents associated with such Links. Therefore, it is your sole responsibility to verify any of the Links which you wish you use.
Hamilton Trust excludes all responsibility and liability for any loss or damage arising from the use of any Links.
UKS2 Topic: Dinosaurs and Fossils Block F: Dinosaur Species
Session 3: Science
The Survival Game
Investigate dinosaurs and
their environments,
understand how they
would have competed for
resources and take part in
an animal survival game.
Session 4: Science and
D&T
3d Mesozoic Timeline
Part 1
Find out about the three
main periods of the
Mesozoic Era and portray
their landscapes and
vegetation in a 3D model.
Session 5: Science and
D&T
3d Mesozoic Timeline
Part 2
Populate your model of
the Mesozoic Era with
pictures of the correct
dinosaur species living in
each of the three periods.


Recognise that fossils provide information about living things that inhabited the Earth
millions of years ago.
Identify how animals and plants are adapted to suit their environment in different ways and
that adaptation may lead to evolution.
Children will
 Use research and develop design criteria to inform the design of innovative, functional,
appealing products that are fit for purpose.
 Recognise that fossils provide information about living things that inhabited the Earth
millions of years ago.
Children will
 Recognise that fossils provide information about living things that inhabited the Earth
millions of years ago.
 Use research and develop design criteria to inform the design of innovative, functional,
appealing products that are fit for purpose.
© Original resource copyright Hamilton Trust, who give permission for it to be adapted as wished by individual users.
The links to the websites and the contents of the web pages associated with such links specified on this list (hereafter collectively referred to as the ‘Links’)
have been checked by Hamilton Trust (being the operating name of the registered charity, William Rowan Hamilton Trust) and to the best of Hamilton
Trust’s knowledge, are correct and accurate at the time of publication. Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other terms and conditions on the Hamilton
Trust website, you acknowledge that Hamilton Trust has no control over such Links and indeed, the owners of such Links may have removed such Links,
changed such Links and/or contents associated with such Links. Therefore, it is your sole responsibility to verify any of the Links which you wish you use.
Hamilton Trust excludes all responsibility and liability for any loss or damage arising from the use of any Links.
UKS2 Topic: Dinosaurs and Fossils Block F: Dinosaur Species
Resources
Session 1
Provided: Reconstructing a dinosaur; Dino-dictionary entry.
You will need: Long sheets of paper (wall paper); Thick pens; Small, plastic dinosaur skeletons; Air
drying clay; Clay tools; Squares of textured cloth (hessian); Paint and a brush; Internet or books with
animals from today in them.
Session 2
Provided: Dinosaur powerpoint; Dino-Families jigsaw.
You will need: Scissors; Internet and dinosaur reference books.
Session 3
Provided: Dino dictionary; Fact Sheets; Survival game.
You will need: Internet; Coloured cards (two colours); Tape; Whistle.
Session 4
Provided: How to make a 3d Mesozoic timeline.
You will need: Cardboard; Newspaper; Sticky tape; Scissors; Warm water; Modroc; Paint and brush.
Session 5
Provided: How to make a 3d Mesozoic timeline (part 2).
You will need: Scissors; Art straws; PVA glue; Modelling moss; Internet (access to Google images) and
thumbnail prints of dinosaurs.
© Original resource copyright Hamilton Trust, who give permission for it to be adapted as wished by individual users.
The links to the websites and the contents of the web pages associated with such links specified on this list (hereafter collectively referred to as the ‘Links’)
have been checked by Hamilton Trust (being the operating name of the registered charity, William Rowan Hamilton Trust) and to the best of Hamilton
Trust’s knowledge, are correct and accurate at the time of publication. Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other terms and conditions on the Hamilton
Trust website, you acknowledge that Hamilton Trust has no control over such Links and indeed, the owners of such Links may have removed such Links,
changed such Links and/or contents associated with such Links. Therefore, it is your sole responsibility to verify any of the Links which you wish you use.
Hamilton Trust excludes all responsibility and liability for any loss or damage arising from the use of any Links.