NatureLab Fossils and Mary Anning Workshop

School Workshop

Latest News: 5th March 2026
Our outdoor season starts now! From March to November, NatureLab offers a variety of outdoor workshops and field trips for all age groups. All our workshops include practical scientific investigation, nature exploration and align with forest school principles.

This one hour workshop provides pupils with a hands on introduction to fossil formation and palaeontologist Mary Anning, who discovered fascinating ichthyosaur fossils on Dorset's Jurassic coast.

Pupils will discover:

• How fossils are formed, and the part sedimentary rock plays in this process

• Common fossils found in the UK

• The lives of ichthyosaurs over 100 million years ago

NatureLab Fossils and Mary Anning photograph

school trip at NatureLab Fossils and Mary Anning

Teacher Checklist

Risk Assessments
Resource Packs
£5m PL Insurance

Where we travel to

We can visit your school in:

What activities are available during this school workshop?

Pupils will handle real fossils found on the Jurassic coast, take part in demonstrations, and put together images of bones to form an ichthyosaur skeleton.

Which curriculum topics do we cater for?

Geology Workshop

Fossils Rocks

Handle real Jurassic fossils and discover the fascinating creatures that lived in our seas 200 million years ago. Focusing on the rocks and fossils unit objectives, your pupils will discover how fossils are formed and the part sedimentary rock plays in this, through practical demos and activities.

Dinosaurs Workshop

Discover the dinosaurs of the ocean; the incredible marine reptiles that inhabited our coastline 200 million years ago. Watch your pupils become young palaeontologists as they handle real Jurassic fossils, discover how they were formed and work together to recreate an ichthyosaur skeleton.

Wildlife Workshop

Discover the fascinating creatures that lived in our seas in the Jurassic period. Through interactive demos and handling real Jurassic fossils, your pupils will discover British wildlife spanning millions of years! Ideal for LKS2, this workshop covers objectives from the rocks and fossils unit.

Biology Workshop

Life Sciences Dinosaurs Ecology and environment Animals including humans Underwater Animals and Habitats

Discover the pioneering palaeontologist Mary Anning, and handle real fossils found in Lyme Regis, where Mary discovered the first fossilised ichthyosaur. Incorporating LKS2 rocks and fossils objectives, this workshop covers the process of sedimentary rock formation and fossilisation.

What size groups do we cater for?

Up to 35 pupils per workshop. Discounts are available for multiple workshops booked by the same school, across our whole range of science and nature workshops.

Anything else?

This workshop supports key science curriculum topics including:
• Rocks and fossils
• Animals including humans

All equipment is provided, and additional resources to support curriculum topics will be sent to the school.
This workshop is ideal for introductory 'hook' lessons, and consolidating and making curriculum learning memorable.

Who are NatureLab?

We offer primary science and nature workshops and trips across a variety of topics, including habitats, minibeasts, life cycles, fossils and evolution. Please see our other listings for more details.

Shannon Raponi:
I am the founder of NatureLab, working with schools to impart my passion for the natural world and its protection.
I am a qualified primary school teacher with experience in KS1 and KS2. I have also worked as a field studies instructor and group leader, teaching biology and geography fieldwork to school groups in every year group from KS2 to A level, in addition to a number of volunteer roles with children.
I have a degree in animal behaviour and training, and wildlife conservation and research experience in South Africa. Throughout my career so far I have worked to give children experiences they would not otherwise have, and inspire a love for nature and the outdoors.