Hands on Tauranga offers students stimulating and original learning opportunities with real museum objects that support the New Zealand curriculum at primary and secondary school level.
Two boxes of fourteen assorted moa bones including upper leg, rib, vertebrae and pelvis.
In the long box are three moa leg bones. The shorter third bone is believed to be a femur bone. The femur is the upper leg bone of the moa, located between the hip and the knee. It is a large, strong bone that provides structural support for the leg.
In the second box of smaller bones are rib bones, vertabrae (neck or back bones) and pelvic bones of the Moa.
The moa (dinoris maximus) was a flightless bird, indigenous to New Zealand, that became extinct in the 1400’s due to hunting by māori. Moa were a valuable food source, and their bones, feathers and skins were also used in a variety of ways, including clothing, fish hooks and pendants.
Included with this resource is the picture book 'What Happened to the Moa?' by Ned Barraud.
> Click here to download 'Moa Bones- A 'Hands on Tauranga' teacher resource'
Read this article to find out how the Moa came to be 're-discovered' in the mid 1800's. https://www.yorkshiremuseum.org.uk/collections/collections-highlights/giant-moa-skeleton/
date: 1400's (or earlier)
maximum dimension: 530mm
subject area: Social Science, Science
subject themes: Biology, Environment, Resources, New Zealand, History
handling collection number: HC150/1-15
Why not get your hands on ....
>3D printed moa egg HC262 http://www.handsontauranga.co.nz/products/3d-printed-moa-egg-hc262/
> Replica Pouākai | Haast's Eagle claw HC24 https://www.handsontauranga.co.nz/hot-items/putaiao-science/hc24-replica-pouakai-haasts-eagle-claw/
House of Science related kit > 'Dem Bones / Ngā Kōiwi Tuahiwi '
With a focus on form and function, they will explore individual bones and compare/contrast them with other species.
Covers the living world strand with strong links to literacy and a great context for awesome writing activities. Optional extension ideas include researching animals with exoskeletons and exploring joints. https://houseofscience.nz/science-kits/
