Instructional Series
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Welcome to the English medium literacy instructional series teaching and learning resources for years 1 to 8.
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140 items - Showing 131 - 140
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Hui Te Rangiora: The Navigator
by Sandy Morrison
Long before the tūpuna of Māori settled in Aotearoa, people sailed across the Pacific Ocean using their knowledge of the stars and nature to find their way. One of those people was Hui Te Rangiora. Nearly 1,500 years ago, he made an amazing journey deep into Te Tai Uka a Pia (the Southern Ocean), where nobody had ever been before.
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Oriori
by Ariana Tikao
People sing oriori to babies as the babies are growing inside their mothers. They also sing them during birth to help keep the mother and the baby relaxed. Later on, oriori can be used as lullabies. Oriori help pass on values and knowledge about te ao Māori. They do this through place names, whakapapa, and stories about the baby’s whānau. Oriori often include the hopes and dreams of the whānau for the baby.
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Tō Mātou Wāhi – Our Place
by Donna Reader, Principal, Fox Glacier Weheka School
Fox Glacier Weheka School is a small, rural kura. You’ll find it in the middle of South Westland. The school has only fourteen students. Some of them live near Fox Glacier Te Moeka o Tūawe, but others live at Bruce Bay Mahitahi. The Bruce Bay Mahitahi students have to travel for over an hour to get to school.
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Māui at Mahitahi
by Susan Wallace
Do you know who Māui is? If you ask people this question, most will reply “Yes”. But then, if you ask them to tell you more about Māui, it’s likely that each person will describe him differently. They might say Māui is a demi-god, a hero, a trickster, a rascal, their tipuna, or “that guy The Rock played in Moana”. For South Westland iwi Kāti Māhaki ki Makaawhio, Māui is a great Polynesian explorer who did many good things for his people.
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Out of the Wild
by Matt Comeskey
When did the chicken cross the road? Probably about eight thousand years ago – no joke! That’s when some scientists think chickens were first domesticated. What about dogs, cats, and other animals? When did they start living with people. And why?
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Piki Kōtuku
by Ariana Tikao
Taku piki kōtuku e, ka tau mai koe i hea? I rere mai i tūārangi, i Rangiātea. Ehara i te mea poka noa tō taenga mokorea.
My rare feather plume, where are you from? You flew in from far away, from Rangiātea. Your arrival at this time is not by chance.
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My Poppa
by Nathan Swain, year 3, Puni School; illustration by Leilani Isara
My Poppa is special to me. We share the same middle name, and it is Murray. I am the third generation to have the name Murray — it is my uncle’s middle name, too.
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Hidden Talent
by Maria Samuela
Annie is feeling envious of her siblings – they each have a special talent. (Kana is artistic, Juanita can sing, and rugby-playing Jackson has been made props manager for the upcoming talent quest.) The family says their talents must be inherited from their ancestors. Annie doesn’t think she has any special talents. However, on the night of the talent quest, disaster looms when the power supply goes out.
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Best in Show
by Simon Cooke
Bentley had the same nightmare every night: he was in the Perfect Pedigree Pooch Show. He sat proudly on the stage. His coat shone. His teeth gleamed.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” said the judge. “Winner of best in show is …”
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Fact or Opinion?
by Sarah Johnson
This article explores the difference between fact and opinion. It includes a simple report that uses facts, data, and sources. It discusses the grey areas between fact and opinion and that people’s opinions can be based on bias.
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