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MOA MANIA |
MOA MANIA A Fun Multi Level Whole Language Project on a Conservation Theme It's time to get some 'Moa Mania' going in Your Classroom. Levels 2-4.A Fun cross curricula series of activities to celebrate our sadly extinct but fabulous New Zealand birds - the Moa. Use this celebration of the Moa to focus our pupils attention on the need to conserve our remarkable biodiversity before it is too late. Maori Vocabulary: Moa: the Terrible Birds of New Zealand. Nga Moa: Nga Manu Wehi o Aotearoa. Background Notes Once we had eleven species of Moa that had lived for millions of years in New Zealand. These fabulous birds, the lost giants of New Zealand, suffered a combination of habitat destruction and ceaseless hunting that led to their extinction over 500 years ago. Sadly we have learned very little. The huia and the piopio have already gone. Kiwi, kakapo, kokako, black stilt and blue duck are in terrible danger.Perhaps our black robin might survive. Let us celebrate our ancient Moa and use our celebration to focus children's attention on the need to conserve our environment before it is too late. Useful Resource Material
Planning and Running Your Moa Mania Festival Introduce the idea that Moa were alive today it would make a fabulous tourist attraction. Discuss and list how we could use the Moa in this way. Have pupils brainstorm ideas of how they could run a Moa Mania Fun Day to raise interest in the Moa. Plan out your campaign which will culminate in a Moa Mania Day for parents and other classes. Include some or all of the following activities …
DESIGN A MOA Construct a Moa Mask with stapled cylinders of thick paper or cardboard. Add neck and decorate with paint,wool,torn paper feathers. Bend over top of cylinder to make base of Moa face. Complete with cardboard and thick paper to make a beak. Paint and decorate in a variety of ways. Design a Moa-body using hessian or sheets. Decorate the body with paint and pin or staple strips of paper for feathers. Attach to the mask face. Make Moa claw shapes out of cardboard and tie around leg. Use in a Moa parade. PAINTING Paint large group; murals showing a group of Moas running towards the forest, fleeing from several Giant Eagles (now extinct) that were its 'only threat before humans.
MOA MEASUREMENT Compare & Measure Moas could be as tall as 3.5 metres , although many species were much smaller than this. Have groups/class paint a 3.5 metre Moa for the classroom wall. Measure pupils heights and place marks and names of class on body of Moa. Have each child find the difference in height between themselves and the Moa. Express as a percentage/ratio/fraction. Junior class children could use it as a height chart.
The children are part of an expedition to Fiordland to hunt for the Moa. They are very lucky and actually find one. Have each pupil write a report for the local newspaper describing the adventure. MOA HAIKU. Try this Japanese three line nature poetry. Line one has three syllables, line two has seven and line three has five. The first line states the title, the second line describes the title, the third line describes an action, eg Mighty Moa RADIO REPORT A group of Moa have been found still living. Pupils become radio reporters sent to the scene. File your report and include interviews and sound effects. .. Make the tape like a normal broadcast interrupted by an exciting 'news flash.' .
FURTHER DIRECTIONS • Debate. "Humans have a right to change the environment as they wish." • Make cardboard Moa Mobiles to hang in the classroom. • Create and perform a group Moa Dance. • Papier mache over a balloon to make Moa eggs • Write a letter to a friend overseas explaining why they should come to New Zealand and see the Moa. MAKE A MOA HABITAT Construct a bush area in your classroom. Have models/pictures of Moa cropping off their food of tough leaves and twigs (include a swamp area). Smaller Moa will feed at the swamp edge and on lower softer leaves. Have sounds of bush birds,animals, streams, waterfalls on tape recorders spaced through the forest to enhance atmosphere. Take people through the environment Moa spotting. Prepare a tourist commentary.
Further Directions … in a more serious style Begin a class research project and find out about Moa habitats, the birds they are related to, why they became extinct, the Moa hunters, how scientists found out about them, fossils, eating habits, how we have altered the environment, and endangered birds and animals of the present day. How we can help!
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