Instructional Series
Welcome to the English medium literacy instructional series teaching and learning resources for years 1 to 8.
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Search results
32 items - Showing 11 - 20
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An Island in Time
by Philippa Werry
An Island in Time is about Matiu/Somes Island in Wellington Harbour. The text contains three articles, a timeline, and a glossary (which applies to all three articles). Using the book as a whole (over a series of lessons) provides opportunities for students to make connections across the different text types as well as with their own experiences. The key theme to explore across the three articles is how different people have viewed and used the land and how this has changed over time.
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The Desert Kaupoi
by Ariana Tikao
This is the true story of her Uncle Tony’s exploits in the Māori Battalion during the Second World War. This story of his war experiences gives a fascinating insight into the kind of person her uncle was, the qualities that led to him being awarded the Military Cross, and the life of a soldier in the Second World War. The story is told as a recount, using excerpts from his diary and historical photographs. It also includes a brief description of the players and events in the Second World War. Rich illustrations depict life in the desert and some dramatic moments on the battlefield.
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Frogs
by Paul Mason, illustrations by Michel Mulipola
Frogs is a graphic text that tells the story of Tane, a boy struggling to survive in a world where drastic environmental changes mean that humans need to protect themselves from the heat of the sun. Tane is forced to scrounge for anything he can sell to charge his chip, and his search leads him into dangerous territory, controlled by a gang known as the Mutts.
Information and tips for using comics in the classroom:
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The Wild Deer Debate
by Ian Trafford
Are wild deer in New Zealand for good? Are they a pest or a resource? In this report, four different groups of people express their opinions and give their reasons for wanting (or not wanting) deer to be left to roam free in New Zealand. The opinions form a continuum, from those that want complete freedom for deer to those who would like to see deer eradicated.
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The White Mouse
by Leon Davidson
The White Mouse tells the true story of Nancy Wake, a courageous and adventurous woman who helped end the German occupation of France in the Second World War. This illustrated biography tells of the experiences that shaped Nancy’s determination to fight the Nazis and relates some of her exploits in France during the war years. Pages 3, 5, and 9 provide background information about the Second World War, the French Resistance, and the Special Operations Executive. It may be helpful to build prior knowledge for students by reading and discussing the information on page 3 with them before reading the text. During reading, you could pause at the end of each of the other two journal pages to discuss the information there and support them to make connections with the details in the biography.
This story is supported by audio with embedded support. The embedded support in the audio version for this non-fiction text is designed to assist students to use visual features, such as photographs and diagrams, to help them make meaning of the text.
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The Bullet
by Sarah Penwarden
“The Bullet” has been adapted as a graphic text from the story of the same name in School Journal 4.3.08. In both versions, the story is about a boy who is bullied in his new school and faces decisions that could change the course of his young life. The graphic text format is more accessible and engaging, and provides multiple opportunities for readers to access the sophisticated themes and abstract ideas of the original story. The illustrations use a gritty, raw style that highlights the sense of danger and risk. The text offers opportunities for students to build on the key competencies of managing self and relating to others.
Information and tips for using comics in the classroom:
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Sky High
by Feana Tu‘akoi and David Hill
Building a rocket in the backyard may not be a common experience for many students, but most will be able to identify with the ongoing human dream of exploring space. This text combines two texts: “Rocket Club” (a recount of one boy’s rocket-building experiences) and “Blast from the Past” (a report linking historical and contemporary information about rockets). The report explains and describes how, when, and why rockets have been used over more than 900 years.
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Outward Bound
by Ian Trafford
Outward Bound is a lively, fast-paced text in which a teenage boy, Sam, recounts his experience attending an Outward Bound course in the Marlborough Sounds with his father. Reluctant at first, Sam finds himself kayaking down rapids, rock climbing, sailing, and camping. He surprises himself by overcoming – and enjoying – each challenge. The experience changes his relationship with his father and his attitude to his own abilities. By the end, Sam thinks, “I know a part of me will never be the same.”
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My Place
by Janice Marriott
Jeromie and Jelintha have come to a New Zealand city from rural Papua New Guinea. Ryan lives on a farm that his family has owned for generations. The MacLean family is travelling around the country in a camper van. And Ruiha lives in an outer suburb of Wellington but commutes to school in the city. This text explores what “home” means to all these people. It includes information about their daily routines and the challenges they face. Quotes from interviews pepper the report, and key ideas are highlighted visually.
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Blue Roses
by Lino Nelisi
Illustrated by Mathew Tanielu Hunkin
Blue Roses is a vividly illustrated text in graphic novel format. The illustrations convey much of the meaning, mood, and sequence of events. It tells the story of a Niuean family’s visit to their grandpa’s grave. The narrator, a young girl, carries blue plastic roses. “I don’t like seeing dead flowers on Grandpa’s grave,” she says.
Information and tips for using comics in the classroom:
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