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Whānau challenges

Tell us a story: how did the colossal squid get to Te Papa?

Our beloved colossal squid (the only one on display in the world) has been a whānau

  whānaufamilyMāori favourite since 2008 – but how did it get here? Tell us a ‘tall tale’ or a factual story about how it came to Te Papa. You could write, draw, or animate your story.

Remember to show us! #TePapaWhānauChallenge

Read pages 8 and 9 of the colossal squid activity book to find out how the squid got to Te Papa, or make up your own story!

Inspiration

Collections Online

The colossal squid on a table

Caption

Colossal squid, Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni Robson, collected 2008, Ross Sea, Antarctica. CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Te Papa (M.277964)
A front cover of a book with an illustration of a big squid

Caption

The Curioseum: Collected Stories of the Odd and Marvellous, 2014. Te Papa Press
A little squid in a jar

Caption

Squid, Chiroteuthis sp., collected 12 April 1980, W of New Plymouth, New Zealand. CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Te Papa (M.067219)
A black and white photo of a fishing boat surrounded by ice, there's ice covering the boat too

Caption

Whaling in the Ross Sea, 1924, by Unknown. Te Papa (B.077495)
   

Videos

Other useful resources

The colossal squid activity book (page 8 and 9 tells the real story of how the colossal squid came to Te Papa)

The arms and tentacles of the colossal squid

The beak of the colossal squid

The eyes of the colossal squid

See how others took on the challenge

A drawing of the squid and a boat

Caption

How to colossal squid came to Te Papa, by Tilly age 10

Using Plasticine and Lego to create a stop motion animation video

Caption

Using Plasticine and Lego to create a stop motion animation video with a tablet device, by Lennox and Frankie age 7 and 4

Want to use stop motion? Watch a video to learn how to do it

Introduction to stop motion – English 

Introduction to stop motion – te reo Māori

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