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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26 items - Showing 21 - 26
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The Ants and the Grasshopper
by Dave Armstrong
"It was a cold winter’s night. A southerly gale was blowing up from Antarctica. Every creature in the bush was freezing — except the ants. The ants were safe and warm inside their colony, and they had plenty to eat."
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Huhu in the Mud
Huhu is out getting some exercise as he jogs through the bush. Oh no! Huhu wasn’t looking where he was going and now he is stuck in the mud. Who can help?
Focus sounds: Th Jj
New high utility words: likes, can’t
Previously used high utility words: Huhu, into, to, the, he, out, I, a, says, Ruru, of, ka pai
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Stay Where You Are
by Tricia Glensor
illustrated by Elspeth Alix Batt
Jessie’s family is going for a walk in the bush, but Jessie wanders off the track as she follows a fantail. When she looks back to tell Mum and Dad about the fantail, they are not there. Jessie realises that she is lost and asks the fantail if it is lost too. She explains to the fantail that they need to stay where they are until they are found.
Blue 2
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Rongoā for the Land
by Mere Whaanga
Restoring the whenua on the Māhia Peninsula
Taipōrutu is a sheep and cattle farm on the Māhia Peninsula. The land has been in the same whānau for twenty generations. It was once covered in native bush: tī kōuka, mānuka, rewarewa, tītoki, kahikatea, nīkau, and kawakawa. These species ensured the health of the land and the health of its people – but then they were cleared for farming. A few years ago, the family who owns Taipōrutu came up with a plan to restore their whenua. They called the plan Ahikāroa.
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The Possum Problem
by Johanna Knox
illustrated by Adele Jackson
"Possums. You hardly ever see them, but they’re all around: in the bush, on farms, in parks. They might even be in your garden. During the day, possums stay in their dens. These are dry, hidden places where they won’t be disturbed. Possums emerge after dark, millions upon millions of them, all across New Zealand. And what do they do? They eat."
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Rongoā Māori
by André Ngāpō
illustrations by Elspeth Alix Batt
This story has a strong theme of the value of rongoā Māori, traditional Māori medicine. It provides opportunities for students who are familiar with te reo and rongoā Māori to share their knowledge. Ana’s mum is ill, and when Nan comes to visit, she decides that rongoā Māori is what Mum needs. Nan takes Ana into the bush with her to collect the plants she wants to use. Ana is fascinated by what Nan shows her, and Nan agrees to teach Ana more about traditional Māori medicine. After using rongoā Māori to treat an unexpected emergency, they return home to prepare the leaves of koromiko they have collected to treat Mum’s illness.
Purple 2