A TEACHING trust has granted Dorset and East Devon schools £75,000 to help get creative in teaching about the Jurassic Coast.

The Dorset and East Devon Jurassic Coast Team has been awarded the money from the Primary Science Teaching Trust. The cash will help primary schools across the region to develop resources for the new national curriculum, due to be launched in September.

The new Big Jurassic Classroom project focuses on recruiting teachers to act as ambassadors for the Jurassic Coast, and on three areas of work – teacher placements with scientists, teacher training days and creating resources.

Teachers will work alongside scientists from national institutions like the Natural History Museum, National Oceanography Centre and local organisations such as the Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre.

They will research different themes like evolution and adaptation to create new classroom resources.

Dr Anjana Ford, Jurassic Coast learning and participation manager said: “We are delighted to have been awarded this grant from the Primary Science Teaching Trust. We can now actively recruit teachers to be inspired by working alongside scientists and create inspirational and challenging resources for children.”

There will be training sessions for teachers to learn how the Jurassic Coast can be used to teach the new earth science content in the primary and secondary curriculum.

Hilary Cox, Dorset County Council spokesman for the environment said: “This fantastic grant will enable children to learn about science in an exciting and hands-on way whilst using the wonderful resource of the Jurassic Coast, right on our doorstep.”