Palaeontology

Investigate New Zealand’s pre-historic past.

How do we know that dinosaurs and moa lived in New Zealand? What is a fossil and how are they created? What do moa and dinosaurs have in common?

Palaeontologists provide much of the knowledge we have about dinosaurs and fossils. Come and try some of the things they do and see some of the objects palaeontologists have found.

Both dinosaurs and moa have a strong popular appeal for students. This programme capitalises on this to involve students in their own investigations of the Museum’s object handling collection.

The Stevenson Learning Lab provides a secure space to examine specimens, to question and to discuss these extinct species. This is a dynamic and contentious field of scientific inquiry and we include objects and activities relevant to recent findings in both the field and scholarship.

This programme is assisted by LEOTC, funded by the Ministry of Education.

Programme Information

 Dates: Term 1: 4 March - 19 April 2013
Term 2: 6 May - 12 July 2013
Term 3: 29 July - 27 September 2013
Term 4: 14 October - 13 December 2013
 Venue:  Learning Lab
 Age:  Years 4-8
 Duration:  1 hour
 Student numbers:  Min 20, Max 30
 Cost per student:  $4
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Evolution: dinosaurs, fossils and moa

Related Museum Resources

New resources are currently in production for this programme.

Other Related Resources

Fossils: Digging up the Past
Levels: 2-4
Strand: Planet Earth and Beyond
Achievement aim: AA2

 Related Activities

This programme may be combined with visits to Natural History Galleries, Weird and Wonderful, Te Ao Turoa or a gallery of your choice.

 Useful Links

Kiwi Conservation Club:
Extinct Birds of New Zealand
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