Instructional Series
Welcome to the English medium literacy instructional series teaching and learning resources for years 1 to 8.
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- Fiction
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- Articles
- Stories
- Poems
- Plays
Search results
98 items - Showing 81 - 90
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A Mugging in Maths
by Cassandra Tse, illustrations by Josh Morgan
This classroom mystery is solved by Ruby, a student who loves detective novels and who has honed her skills through reading. The author delights in mysteries and plays – and works both forms to their advantage.
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The Polterheist
by James Brown, illustrations by Josh Morgan
“The Polterheist” is a comic story, deftly handled and with a tight focus, spinning great entertainment from a context many students will recognise – a school gala day. It provides a good model for student writing: taking the everyday and exploring its imaginative possibilities, with closely observed characterisation and a heavy reliance on dialogue to move the plot forward.
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Born to Run
by Lucy Corry
Arthur Lydiard was a New Zealand runner and athletics coach whose approach to training has left a lasting impact on the sporting world. Using speed and endurance-building techniques that he developed through trial and error, Lydiard coached several high-performance runners to Olympic success. A firm believer that anyone could be a champion, Lydiard played an important role in popularising jogging in Aotearoa New Zealand and internationally. “Born to Run” includes a profile of Lilly Taulelei, a year 10 student who has played for the New Zealand basketball team. She was also selected for an Asia-Pacific basketball team that played at the Global Championships in 2019. She shares her thoughts about what makes a good coach.
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Roar
by Kathryn Mercer
Hunting is hugely popular in New Zealand’s rural communities, and it’s often done within families. This article will be welcome reading for students who already hunt, giving them the opportunity to share their knowledge with classmates. Those unfamiliar with the past-time are introduced to the basics, especially the “why” of hunting and the different skills and pleasures involved.
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Trouble in the Foodlands
by Johanna Knox, illustrations by Toby Morris
This detective story is another instalment in the Minnie Sharp series, the only continued storyline at this level. The distinctive tone – hard-boiled detective noir – ensures the story has an entertaining surface, and this is matched with an equally satisfying plot: Minnie is required to solve conflict in the Foodlands, the main farming district on Mars. The character, setting, voice, and themes will be familiar to those who’ve met Minnie Sharp, allowing for reading activities across multiple texts – but the story also stands alone.
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The Coprolite Hunters
by Neil Silverwood
Photographer Neil Silverwood has documented the work of New Zealand scientists before. This time, they’re hunting for coprolites – fossilised animal faeces. Analysing this “treasure from the past” allows scientists to learn more about our endangered native bird species, including the kinds of habitats that once supported them. This is another useful article about the work scientists do and the many ways in which they continue to learn about our world.
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Huia
by Bill Manhire, illustration by Rachel Walker
This item complements the article about coprolites in the same Journal, providing a more emotive response to the idea that extinction is permanent – and often caused by the actions of people. The poem might be called a mōteatea – a lament.
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An Interesting Situation
by Jo Randerson, illustration by Ali Teo
This play links to the concept of financial capability learning. Jo Randerson has created a situation that is humorous and relatable, with a clear context that allows for a careful explanation of credit and interest – and a great twist at the end.
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Kura Huna: The Art of Reweti Arapere
by Stephanie Tibble
Reweti Arapere learnt that the art he wanted to make was the art that emerged when he looked at the world through his Māori eyes. His giant cardboard and felt-pen figures help him to tell the stories of his whakapapa and of Aotearoa.
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Mauri Mahi, Mauri Ora
by Kate Paris; illustrations by Paul Beavis
A humorous play with an intriguing setting and multiple features that allow students interested in drama to hone their performances.
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