Overview and Outcomes:

In this two-week Writing Root using Dinosaurs and all that Rubbish by Michael Foreman, children explore the themes and ideas in the story, such as dreams, desires and how to keep the earth a nice place to call home. They create a variety of written outcomes including reports, setting descriptions, letters, instructions, retellings and eventually a class pamphlet about how to look after the planet – all to help the man in the story. They also create sentences about their dreams and similes to share.

Synopsis of Text:

Dinosaurs have taken over the Earth! They're stomping and stamping all over the place. Young readers will love finding out why in this classic environmental tale from best-selling author/illustrator Michael Foreman. A fable for our time, and as relevant today as it was when it was first published in 1972.

Text Rationale:

This text has a strong moral about greed, looking after things and sharing the planet. The text provides a solid platform to discuss with children issues around environmentalism, conservation and recycling. Michael Foreman OBE is a significant author and illustrator who has written and illustrated many well-known titles.

Links and themes:

Environment, environmentalism, species, conservation, extinction, recycling, science, dinosaurs

Date written: January 2017

Updated: October 2023