A class of Year 3 and 4 students recently had an exciting experience holding and exploring the set of 15 Moa bones in the Hands on Tauranga collection. Their teacher decided to borrow the moa bones to use as a 'language experience' writing activity. Supplied with white museum gloves, the students enjoyed studying the bones, feeling how heavy they are, and getting to experience something that not many children get to do as Moa bones are usually in display cases in museums! Their teacher used school journal articles to introduce how Moa lived in Aotearoa, and why they became extinct. The students were then able to write a story ' A Day in the Life of a Moa' or write a factual report about the moa. Rounding off their engaging experience the class painted pictures of moa using watercolours.
https://www.handsontauranga.co.nz/hot-items/science/moa-bones-hc1501-15/
