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TOYS
Lesson Ideas and Activities
A TOY'S LIFE
In this exploratory workshop, students learn about different types of toys, research historical toys and discover why toys are so important.
TOYS THAT MOVE
To make a toy move we use a push, pull, or spin force. Take our quiz to see if you can identify which force is needed for each toy!
TOYS FROM THE 1980s/1990s
Watch real commercials for toys that you may have seen in the classroom at MOTAT.
OLD TOYS VS NEW TOYS
Play our memory game to match the old toys up with the newer versions.
MĀORI TOYS & GAMES
Māori traditionally played a wide range of sports and games, some aimed at teaching important skills, others practised as part of ritual.
VICTORIAN TOYS AND GAMES
Information and activities about the types of toys and games Victorian children played with. Do we still use any of them today?
RUBBER BAND CARS
A fun and exciting way for students to practice prototyping and testing making and testing a rubber band powered car.
THE MOTAT COLLECTION: TOYS
Explore MOTAT's digital collection of toys and games.
Toys kupu list
Key:
Click the icons below to discover more!
Article
Video
Website
Podcast
Activity
Timeline of toys
An interactive timeline of popular toys throughout history.
Timeline of Barbie dolls
As the times changed, so did Barbie. Check out this timeline of Barbie then and now.
The history of dolls
Dolls are among the oldest man-made objects. Cherished generation after generation, their looks and purposes have changed over the centuries. Here is a global overview of their story from Ancient Time to the 21st century.
The history of the Hula Hoop:
An iconic children’s toy and fitness craze.
"Puzzle fiends":
The crossword craze in NZ.
The story of how the teddy bear came to be:
Have you ever wondered how the Teddy Bear get its name?
Flexo (NZ Made):
A deep dive into a New Zealand made toy: Flexo. Mark and Elizabeth Stolten talk about where Flexo came from, what it can do, and where it's going.
Toys from Trash:
A plethora of toys that can easily be made at home from recycled materials. Arvind Gupta’s Toys from Trash includes written instructions and 1-minute DIY videos.
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