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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204 items - Showing 161 - 170
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New New Zealanders
by Adrienne Jansen
illustrated by Adrian Heke
This article introduces readers to a family who have escaped war-torn countries in the Middle East and have now embraced the freedom and safety that New Zealand offers. However, settling as refugees has its own challenges. We learn about the reasons the Kaka family had to move from Iraq to Syria, on to Lebanon, and then to New Zealand.
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Designed for Good
by Philip Cleaver
The New Zealand environment has been badly affected by introduced pests such as rats, stoats, and possums. “Designed for Good” follows the process of developing an effective and humane trap to reduce these pest populations. The article tells the story of the project, from the first “That’s it!” moment through to the production of thousands of traps, which are now in use throughout New Zealand.
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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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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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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 Bittern
by Diana Noonan
The Bittern has been adapted as a graphic text from the story of the same name in School Journal 3.1.09. Both versions tell the story of Henare Kāretu, who, in an effort to protect the habitat of the bittern, refused to drain the wetland on his farm.
Information and tips for using comics in the classroom:
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I’m the King of the Mountain
by Joy Cowley
illustrated by Dick Frizzell
In this lively, rhythmic text, suitable for sharing across all levels, a flea boasts that he is King of the Mountain, only to have the title snatched from him by a bigger, more threatening neighbour. The title is repeatedly relinquished as bigger, more intimidating animals come along, but the clever flea, using a little trickery, wins back the day.
This title is also available as a NZ Sign Language e-book on iTunes and GooglePlay.
#LFH
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The Journey
as told to Kiwa Hammond by Tumanako Taurima
Young Wilfred can be a rebellious godwit, but news that his family will soon embark on “the Journey” takes the wind out of his wings. After his family explain what “the Journey” is – their annual migration from Alaska to New Zealand – and a godwit elder recounts his heroic journey, Wilfred reassesses his attitude.
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Kūaka
by Bronwen Wall
Every September, the kūaka, or bar-tailed godwit, flies more than 11 600 kilometres from Alaska to New Zealand, and each March to June it flies back again. This engaging article explores its remarkable migration – its departure and arrival periods, how fast it flies, where and on what it feeds in New Zealand, and how it manages to fly for long distances without eating. The article also offers a traditional Māori perspective on kūaka.
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“Our Hero” – the Story of George
by Sue Gibbison
“George was a small dog with a lion’s share of courage”. This article tells the true story of how George bravely risked his life to save five children from an attack by two large, fierce dogs. The injuries he sustained could not be mended and he was put down by a vet, but his story lives on and spread far and wide.
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