Jurassic Dig Journey: Fossil Dig Workshop for Primary Schools (Nursery to Year 6)
Jurassic Dig Journey is a hands-on fossil dig workshop for primary schools, delivered in your hall by Giant Journeys across the UK and Ireland. Pupils from Nursery to Year 6 excavate and classify dinosaur fossils in 45 minute sessions, one class at a time and up to six classes a day, with all equipment provided. They also meet Trixie, our baby T-Rex, and see a real T-Rex egg and an adult T-Rex footprint.
Most schools pair the dig with the Dinosaur Visit. Reggie opens the day for the whole school in the morning, then classes come to the dig in 45 minute sessions for the rest of the day.
Embark on an adventure into the realm of dinosaurs with our captivating Jurassic Dig Journey, a fossil excavation experience designed especially for primary schools.
Within the sandboxes, children will delve in to unearth and classify fossils from an array of legendary dinosaurs.
From the mighty Tyrannosaurus Rex to the armoured Stegosaurus and the horned Triceratops, alongside a few ancient surprises, young explorers will uncover the mysteries of creatures from the past.
Ready to dig into the world of dinosaurs?
This immersive workshop gives pupils the opportunity to investigate fossils hands-on while learning how palaeontologists uncover and study evidence from millions of years ago.
Overview
- Up to 6 sessions in a full day
- 45 minute sessions, tailored to fit your school timetable
- Delivered one class at a time
- Suitable for Nursery to Year 6
- Delivered in school halls or large indoor spaces
- Augmented Reality (AR) experience included
- All equipment provided
- Great alongside our Dinosaur Visit Assembly
Within the sandboxes, pupils will carefully excavate and classify fossils from a variety of well-known dinosaurs.
They will investigate discoveries from species such as Tyrannosaurus Rex, Stegosaurus and Triceratops, along with a few unexpected ancient finds.
This process encourages careful observation, discussion and collaboration as pupils piece together evidence from the prehistoric past.
As if that wasn’t enough, we have incorporated ground-breaking Augmented Reality technology into the journey.
Using our tablets and specially designed books, children will bring these prehistoric creatures to life and explore them in a truly engaging way.
They will investigate key questions such as when dinosaurs roamed the Earth, what they ate, how large they were, and what their names mean.
The children will be able to answer these questions and more. We’ve even included a small human figure within the AR graphics to help pupils understand size comparisons relative to themselves.
Best delivered in a school hall or large indoor space, our Jurassic Dig Journey workshops are tailored to year groups and flexible around your school timetable.
More than fossils: meet Trixie
There is more to our Jurassic Dig than discovering fossils. Children also meet Trixie, our cheeky baby T-Rex, and discover just how big a Tyrannosaurus rex could be at only six weeks old.
They get to see a real T-Rex egg and an enormous adult T-Rex footprint, bringing the prehistoric world to life. With fantastic photo opportunities along the way, it is an unforgettable experience, especially for our younger explorers.
What Will Your Students Do?
Excavate Fossils
Dig through sandboxes to uncover and carefully extract dinosaur fossils.
Explore with Augmented Reality
Using tablets and interactive books we bring dinosaurs to life in stunning detail.
Ask Big Questions
Discover when dinosaurs lived, what they ate, how large they were, and what makes each species unique.
Identify Dinosaur Species
Classify fossils and link them to famous dinosaurs from the prehistoric world.
Why Schools Love Jurassic Dig Journey
Meet Reggie the Rex
For an added thrill, choose to enhance the experience further with a visit from Reggie the Rex, our very own animatronic Tyrannosaurus Rex.
Reggie makes a dramatic entrance, capturing pupils’ attention and bringing their learning to life in a memorable way.
Seeing the scale and movement of a dinosaur up close helps children visualise what these incredible creatures may have looked like millions of years ago.
It’s guaranteed to open or close the day on a spectacular high and leave a lasting impression on pupils of all ages.
Schools very often book Jurassic Dig sessions to follow the Reggie the Rex show. A typical day starts with the dinosaur show for the whole school in the morning, followed by smaller group fossil dig sessions.
What this covers in the curriculum
The session supports these areas of the national curriculum for England.
Key Stage 1 (Years 1 and 2): observing closely using simple equipment, identifying and classifying, and using observations and ideas to suggest answers to questions.
Lower Key Stage 2 (Years 3 and 4): describing in simple terms how fossils are formed when things that have lived are trapped within rock. Gathering, recording and classifying evidence to help answer questions.
Upper Key Stage 2 (Years 5 and 6): recognising that living things have changed over time, and that fossils provide information about living things that inhabited the Earth millions of years ago. Recording findings using classification keys.
Questions teachers ask before booking
How much does a Jurassic Dig workshop cost?
A half day is £450 plus VAT for up to four sessions. A full day is £650 plus VAT for up to six sessions. Tailored quotes are available for larger schools or longer bookings.
Which year groups can take part?
Nursery to Year 6. Sessions are tailored to each year group.
How long is each session?
Each session runs 45 minutes, delivered one class at a time. Up to six classes can take part in one day, and sessions fit around your school timetable.
What happens in a session?
Pupils dig through sandboxes to uncover and classify fossils from dinosaurs such as Tyrannosaurus Rex, Stegosaurus and Triceratops. They then explore them in augmented reality on our tablets. They also meet Trixie, our baby T-Rex, and see a real T-Rex egg and an adult T-Rex footprint.
What does the school need to provide?
Only a school hall or large indoor space. All equipment is provided, including the sandboxes, fossils and tablets.
Is augmented reality included?
Yes. Using our tablets and books, pupils bring the dinosaurs to life. They find out when the dinosaurs lived, what they ate and what their names mean.
Can it be combined with the Dinosaur Visit?
Yes, and schools very often do. A typical day starts with the Reggie dinosaur show for the whole school in the morning, followed by smaller group fossil dig sessions for the rest of the day.
Where do you travel to?
Schools across the UK and Ireland.
Related journeys and pricing
- Dinosaur Visit: Meet Reggie, a life sized animatronic T-Rex, in a 45 minute school assembly.
- CSI Journey: A hands-on forensic science workshop for British Science Week.
- Pricing: A half day is four hundred and fifty pounds plus VAT for up to four sessions. A full day is six hundred and fifty pounds plus VAT for up to six sessions.
- Locations: The towns and regions we travel to across the UK and Ireland.
- Mary Anning and why dinosaurs still capture every classroom: The fossil hunter whose story runs through our dinosaur days.
- Dinosaur workshops for engaged learning: How a dinosaur workshop links to science and history topics.
Ready to Bring Jurassic Dig Journey Into Your School?
An engaging, hands-on dinosaur workshop that sparks curiosity and brings prehistoric science to life for your pupils.