Welcome to Jurassic Park… sort of!

Last week in Book Talk, our classroom has been buzzing (or should we say roaring) with excitement as we’ve dived into the thrilling world of Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton. Our young readers have been exploring the iconic novel, focusing in particular on one of the most dramatic moments in the book — when the Tyrannosaurus-Rex breaks free after the park’s electronic fence fails. Let’s just say, things got very tense!

The children have thoroughly enjoyed putting themselves in the shoes of the characters, examining the suspense, action, and drama that unfolds when a giant prehistoric predator decides to go on a late-night stroll. Cue lots of gasps, page-turning, and some slightly worried glances at the classroom door…

After brushing up on their reading comprehension skills — spotting key details, making predictions, and diving into the language Crichton uses to build tension — the children were given an exciting challenge. To write a persuasive piece encouraging people to visit Jurassic Park!

Yes, despite the T-Rex escape (minor detail!), the class took on the role of ambitious park promoters, eager to convince tourists that Jurassic Park is the ultimate holiday destination. Using persuasive techniques such as rhetorical questions, weasel words and vivid descriptions of the park’s stunning attractions, they produced some truly outstanding work.

It’s been a joy to watch the children engage so enthusiastically with the story, flex their creative muscles, and bring the prehistoric world to life through their words. Who knew a classroom could contain so many future novelists and advertisers!

We’re incredibly proud of all they’ve achieved and, in the unlikely event anyone does decide to book a trip to a dinosaur theme park, we suggest taking a raincoat, a flashlight — and possibly a fresh pair of underwear…

Until next time, happy reading — and watch out for the raptors!