Title:
A Seaweed Pantry
Episode:100Te Papa Collection:Taonga Māori
Suggested curriculum levels:2 – 5
Curriculum connections:English: Listening, Reading, and Viewing, Social Sciences: Continuity and Change Economic World
Description:For generations, muttonbirds have been a Māori delicacy. But the hunting season is short, so how did they store them all year round? Simon Morton starts with a large pile of slimy seaweed.
Questions for students
- Why does the narrator introduce the Tale by opening a can of peaches?
- Why do people preserve food? What food preservation methods do you know of apart from cans? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each method?
- Use the 'Comparisons' response template to record the similarities and differences between preserving muttonbirds (titi) and preserving another kind of food.
- In your own words, describe the way poha titi (muttonbird bags) are made. You might like to try making a bag or ball from bull kelp yourself. What could you use it for?
- What impact does muttonbird collecting have on the bird population? Is it a sustainable 'industry'? Give your reasons.
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