Discovering Dinosaurs

Lesson Overview

Subject: English
Year Group: Reception (Ages 4-5)
Time Duration: 45 minutes
Class Size: 15 students
Curriculum Focus: Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
Specific Area: Communication and Language (Listening, Understanding, and Speaking)
Theme: Non-fiction Books – Dinosaurs

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will:

• Understand the difference between fiction and non-fiction books.
• Listen to and engage with a non-fiction text about dinosaurs.
• Learn and use new vocabulary related to dinosaurs.
• Participate in speaking and listening activities.

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Lesson Structure

1. Introduction (10 minutes)

Engage – Fossil Discovery Box

• Before the lesson, place small toy dinosaur fossils, footprints, and bones in a mystery box.
• Gather students in a circle and pass the box around. Each child can feel inside but not look.
• Ask: What do you think is inside? Why?
• Reveal the dinosaur objects one by one.
• Tell students that today, they will be exploring real facts about dinosaurs through a book!

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2. Main Activity (20 minutes)

Introducing a Non-Fiction Book (5 minutes)

• Show the cover of a non-fiction dinosaur book (e.g., National Geographic Kids: Dinosaurs).
• Ask: Is this a storybook or a fact book? How can we tell?
• Explain features of non-fiction books:
  ✅ Real pictures or illustrations
  ✅ Facts and information
  ✅ Headings and labels

Reading and Discussion (10 minutes)

• Read a short section aloud, stopping after key facts.
• Ask simple questions to prompt thinking:
  • What do we call a person who studies dinosaurs? (Paleontologist)
  • Which dinosaur was the biggest?
  • What did dinosaurs eat? (Introduce "herbivore" and "carnivore")
• Use call-and-response for new words:
  • Point to a dinosaur picture and say, "This is a T-Rex."
  • Students repeat, "T-Rex!"

Active Learning – Be a Dinosaur! (5 minutes)

• Assign simple dinosaur movements to different types:
  • T-Rex: Small steps, arms tucked in
  • Brachiosaurus: Tall stance with long necks
  • Triceratops: Marching with big stomps
• Guide students to move around like their dinosaur while reinforcing facts.

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3. Independent Activity (10 minutes)

Dinosaur Fact Hunt

• Hand out picture cards of different dinosaurs, each with a fun fact (e.g., "This dinosaur had three horns").
• Children walk around the room, find a partner, and tell them their dinosaur fact.
• Swap cards and repeat.

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4. Plenary (5 minutes)

What Have We Learned?

• Gather students back in a circle. Ask:
  1. What is one new fact you learned about dinosaurs?
  2. What makes a book a non-fiction book?

Exit Ticket – Dinosaur Roar Voting!

• Show three pictures of dinosaurs.
• Students roar for their favourite dinosaur before lining up!

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Differentiation

• Support: Use visual aids and Makaton signs for key words.
• Challenge: Encourage confident speakers to describe their dinosaur in full sentences.

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Resources Needed

✅ Dinosaur mystery box (toy fossils, footprints, bones)
✅ Non-fiction dinosaur book
✅ Dinosaur fact cards
✅ Picture cards for Dinosaur Fact Hunt
✅ Space for movement activities

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Assessment Opportunities

• Observe student participation in discussion.
• Listen for correct use of new vocabulary (e.g., herbivore, carnivore).
• Assess speaking confidence during fact-sharing.

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Teacher Reflection

✏️ What worked well?
✏️ Which students engaged most?
✏️ How can this be adapted for future lessons?

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🦖 Roarsome Learning! 🎉

This lesson maximises active engagement, language development, and discovery-based learning, ensuring Reception students develop a love for non-fiction books and dinosaurs! 🚀