Reception Dinosaurs
Dinosaur Feast

Consider the diets of herbivorous and carnivorous dinosaurs and if any dinosaurs were omnivores; what is the evidence for these two sets of dinosaurs? Be inspired by the subject of dinosaur eating and think about healthy eating; create your own healthy dinosaur feast of Dinosaur savoury snacks and swamp smoothies for family members.

Session 1 Tyrannosaurus Drip!

Objectives

Early learning goals

  • Make observations of animals and plants, explain why some things occur, talk about changes.

Science

  • Identify animals that are carnivores, herbivores and omnivores.
  • Raise and answer questions that help become familiar with the life processes common to all living things.
  • Find out about and describe the basic needs of animals, including humans, for survival.

Lesson Planning

Read Julia Donaldson’s book as introduction to herbivore & carnivore. How do we know? Talk teeth! Good oral hygiene for humans.

Children will:

  • Learn vocabulary: carnivore, herbivore and omnivore.
  • Think about the basic needs of animals for survival.
  • Look at life processes of dinosaur: egg, baby, adult.
  • Learn about teeth: milk teeth and adult teeth; brushing teeth and good oral hygiene.

Provided Resources

This session does not need any provided resources.

You Will Need

  • Tyrannosaurus Drip by Julia Donaldson and David Roberts
  • Labels for carnivore, herbivore and omnivore
  • Small hand held mirrors
  • Diagram of teeth in a human mouth
  • Resources for craft activity
  • Books for book corner
  • Playdough
  • Role play items

Session 2 Keep those Dinosaurs healthy!

Objectives

PD (H&SC)

  • Know the importance for good health of physical exercise and a healthy diet.

Science

  • Describe the importance for humans of exercise, eating the right amounts of different types of food and hygiene.

Lesson Planning

Children take on the role of dinosaur parents; how to ensure their babies grow up healthily on a typical day in dinosaur world? 

Children will:

  • Role-play parent dinosaurs caring for their young, through mime. Seeking out healthy food and activities for ‘naughty’ offspring who only want to sleep all day and eat sugary treats
  • Develop role-play into short dramas
  • Photograph/video for class website

Provided Resources

This session does not need any provided resources.

You Will Need

  • Flip chart
  • Props for role-play
  • A3 paper for each group
  • Felt tip pens

Session 3 The Right Stuff for us!

Objectives

PD (H&SC)

  • Know the importance for good health of physical exercise and a healthy diet.

DT

  • Use basic principles of a healthy & varied diet to prepare dishes.
  • Understand where food comes from.

Science

  • Raise and answer questions to become familiar with the life processes common to all living things.
  • Find out about and describe the basic needs of animals, including humans, for survival.
  • Describe the importance for humans of exercise, eating the right amounts of different types of food and hygiene.
  • Make observations of animals and plants, explain why things occur and talk about changes.

Lesson Planning

Can we humans eat the same food as the dinosaurs? What is a healthy diet for us? Help create a menu of dinosaur theme snacks and smoothies.

Children will:

  • Learn the basic principles of a healthy and varied diet.
  • Understand where food comes from.
  • Know the importance for good health of physical exercise and a healthy diet.

You Will Need

  • Paper for posters
  • Café role play items
  • Food magazines
  • Examples of different types of food
  • Supermarket baskets

Session 4 Dinosaur Feast

Objectives

PD (H&SC)

  • Know the importance for good health of physical exercise and a healthy diet.

Science

  • Describe the importance for humans of exercise, eating the right amounts of different types of food and hygiene.

DT

  • Use the basic principles of a healthy and varied diet to prepare dishes.
  • Understand where food comes from.

Lesson Planning

Invite family and friends to a dinosaur feast of healthy snacks and smoothies made by children. 

Children will:

  • Participate in preparing healthy snacks and smoothies to share with friends and family.
  • Consolidate their learning in presentation to family and friends.
  • Record Dinosaur Feast by writing and drawing.

You Will Need

  • Ingredients for healthy snacks and smoothies
  • Kitchen equipment
  • Dinosaur shapes to draw round
  • Playdough
  • Other play resources as available.