Hatching Chicks During EYFS Dinosaur Workshop

Whilst delivering a series of tactile and kinaesthetic dinosaur themed workshops with children in Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), we were joined by some very special visitors to the school.  As part of a rich, diverse and highly creative curriculum, the Foundation Stage children had the opportunity to watch hatching chicks.  The incubator had been placed on a unit top allowing the children a perfect view, permitting them to observe the chicks hatching.

Special School Visitors – Hatching Chicks

Hatching chicks.
Hatching chicks in the classroom. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Birds are Dinosaurs

Our dinosaur expert explained that birds were actually dinosaurs and that the Dinosauria was classified into two groups, the non-avian dinosaurs such as Triceratops, Stegosaurus and Apatosaurus and the avian dinosaurs which includes all birds (Aves) living today.  Some of the children even got to hold a cast of Tyrannosaurus rex toe bones and have their picture taken by the incubator.

For dinosaur themed education toys and games: Educational Prehistoric Animal Gifts.

Incorporating the Hatching Chicks into the Lesson Plan

The Everything Dinosaur team member explained how birds are very similar to dinosaurs and like T. rex, most birds walk on three toes.  The similarities between the chicks and Tyrannosaurus rex were explained and highlighted, the photographs that had been taken by the teaching team would help to prompt the children’s thinking in a follow up activity.  Can the children remember the similarities between dinosaurs and birds?  What are the differences?

Visit the Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.