Instructional Series
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Welcome to the English medium literacy instructional series teaching and learning resources for years 1 to 8.
- Blue
- Gold
- Green
- Orange
- Red
- Turquoise
- Yellow
- 1
- 2
- Health and Physical Education
- Science
- English
- Social Sciences
- Fiction
- Non-fiction
- Stories
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10 items - Showing 1 - 10
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Isobel’s Garden
by Maria Hansen
illustrated by Andrew Burdan
This is a true story set in the aftermath of the Christchurch earthquakes. When William and Sam kick their ball over the fence and go looking for it, they find themselves in an overgrown garden. Isobel, the owner of the garden, explains that her family have left Christchurch because of the earthquakes, and she has no one to help her keep it tidy. The boys and their mum help her out, but it’s a huge job, and they call in the Student Volunteer Army.
Turquoise 1
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The Gardener and the Scarecrow
by Dot Meharry
illustrated by Ali Teo
In this humorous narrative, the gardener needs to find a way to stop the greedy birds from pecking at his vegetables. Children will enjoy working out what the gardener has in mind!
Blue 2
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The Gardener’s Maze
by Dot Meharry
illustrated by Ali Teo
In this humorous narrative, the gardener designs and builds a maze in his garden with help from a friendly hedgehog! This text is a companion text to The Gardener and the Scarecrow (Blue).
Green 2
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Undersea Gardens
by Julie Ellis
This report provides information about seaweeds found in New Zealand waters and how they are used. There is a quiz activity that helps children to apply knowledge from diagrams to actual examples. The rich content means that this text is best read over more than one session and shared before being used for guided reading.
Gold 2
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The Garden Surprise
by Feana Tu‘akoi
illustrated by Matthew Haworth
In this story, Milly describes what happens when her class plants carrot seeds at school. Everything goes according to plan until Milly and Sunil notice that one of Milly’s plants looks different from the rest. Her teacher, Mr Langi, shows her how to use an app to find out what the mystery plant is.
Blue 1
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Mrs Brown’s Garden
by Dawn McMillan
illustrated by Dede Putra
In this story, Grace helps her neighbour, Mrs Brown, by watering her tomatoes. When Dad invites Mrs Brown to their family barbecue, she and Grace arrive with a large bowl of tomatoes from her garden.
Red 2
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How Kiwi Saved the Forest
retold by André Ngāpō
illustrated by Isobel Joy Te Aho-White
This tale is set at a time in the mythical past when Kiwi can fly, but when the trees of the forest are dying. When Tāne-hokahoka (guardian of the birds) and Tāne-mahuta (guardian of the trees) ask each bird to come and live on the forest floor and eat the insects that are destroying the trees, only Kiwi is prepared to give up his life in the sky.
#LFH
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Going Camping
by Elizabeth Pulford
illustrated by Samantha Asri
Two brothers, Sam and Josh, decide to “go camping” in their garden. Although it’s lots of fun during the daytime, Josh is not so keen on the idea of staying in the tent when it gets dark. Students will be able to make connections to times when they have felt anxious or worried, and some will make connections to their own experiences of camping.
Yellow 3
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A Very Clever Possum
by Vivienne Joseph
illustrated by Christine Tate
This narrative describes how Mr Lees, a keen gardener, tries to save his favourite rosebush from a hungry possum by setting a trap. Night after night, the wily possum manages to get the food out of the trap and escape. Information about possums is included inside the back cover, along with comments from the author and the illustrator.
Orange 2
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Lost
by Kylie Parry
illustrated by Philip Webb
Finn tells Mum he has found a small lost creature in the garden shed. Mum doesn’t look at the creature, so she thinks Finn is playing make-believe. But she plays along and tells Finn that the lost creature will need its mother and Finn will have to find her. After thinking hard, Finn comes up with a plan. Mum is shocked to discover at the end of the story that Finn wasn’t making things up! This delightful fantasy story is actually a poem, narrated entirely in rhyme.
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