With links to the beginnings of Palaeontology, Geology, the second dinosaur ever named, Charles Darwin and evolution, and ongoing scientific research into the creatures that lived here, Dinosaur Isle helps all ages to spark their curiosity about the ancient life that filled our natural world…
Dinosaur Isle Museum is an exciting and engaging interactive journey into the natural history of the Isle of Wight – a story 130 million years in the making! It explores the ancient creatures that roamed the Isle of Wight’s landscapes from the Cretaceous to the Ice Age, through their fossils, real bones, life-size reconstructions, sounds, smell, touch, and reconstructed environments.
World famous dinosaur and fossil collections
The Isle of Wight is world famous for its dinosaur and other fossil remains, and the museum is home to its best finds. As you journey back in time around the galleries, the museum showcases these finds with interactive exhibits and hands-on opportunities. These include getting to handle real fossils and dinosaur bones, talking to palaeontologists in the laboratory, and challenging your students with gallery activity trails.
Interact and engage with the museum’s friendly staff, who use their experience to bring to life the displays and exhibits that tell the story of the island’s natural history. They are always on hand to share their passion for our local fossil heritage, science and the museum’s collection.
Education packages and school visits
The museum delivers a variety of booked learning sessions for your class or group, suitable for all ages from KS1 to KS2, KS3, GCSE, A-Level, University, and adults. This includes interactive talks and handling sessions, workshops, guided gallery visits, and fossil walks to local beaches.
These hands-on activities are a brilliant opportunity for students to build their scientific skills – using microscopes, hand lenses, observing, comparing and questioning what they see. This makes our education packages a fantastic way to provide science, history or geography ‘capital’ to your trip.
Your visit to the museum can be tailored to your needs, be they curriculum, accessibility, SEN, or logistical. However, please be aware that beach visits are determined by the tides.
Contact the museum with a range of dates that suit you, as places book up fast, and they will be happy to advise you. Risk assessments are also available for all activities.
Teacher feedback from 2024/25:
“The background knowledge, before heading out to the beach, was essential to the children’s understanding… they were reminded of learning about rock types from Year 4 and this was then put into the context of fossils.
“Being able to identify pieces of fossilised mud and riverbed made them feel like real scientists! The educational value is so much more than just a walk around a museum. The level of engagement and the passion of your staff makes this a fantastic visit for anyone.”
Find out much more at www.dinosaurisle.com, or to go direct to the schools page click here.
To enquire or book your learning experience, email dinosaur@iow.gov.uk or call 01983 404344.
