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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10 items - Showing 1 - 10
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Kaitiaki of the Stream
by Pātaka Moore and Monique Lagan
This non-fiction article is based on the work of Pātaka Moore of Te Wānanga-o-Raukawa in Ōtaki. In a talk to local students, he explains the history and significance of the Mangapōuri Stream. He also discusses how the stream, which is now unhealthy, might be restored.
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Kūtai
by Ross Calman
As a companion piece to “Kūtai Fritters” from the same Journal, “Kūtai” provides information about the origins, guardians (kaitiaki), uses, and habitats of this shellfish, which could once be found in many parts of New Zealand.
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The Pā That Matawhero Built
by Mark Peters
When people visit Pakeke o Whirikoka, the pā Matawhero Lloyd built, they enter a world that existed hundreds of years ago … Pakeke o Whirikoka is in Whatatutu, a small kāinga north of Gisborne. The original pā, which overlooked the Waipaoa and Mangatū rivers, was once home to Ngāi Tamatea. Matawhero’s tīpuna lived on this land. He wanted to reclaim his people’s heritage by building a living memorial to the past.
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Rātā me te Rākau
retold by André Ngāpō
illustrated by Andrew Burdan
This is a retelling of the traditional Māori tale of Rātā and his quest to find a tree to make a waka. In his haste, Rātā forgets to ask permission from Tāne-mahuta, the god of the forest, and finds that each time he chops down his chosen tree, it is mysteriously restored the next day.
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Kaitiakitanga
by Susan Paris and Daniel Hikuroa
Most people think of a kaitiaki as someone who guards or protects the natural world. Maybe they look after a stream or beach, a native species under threat, or a local reserve. The term kaitiakitanga (the act of being a kaitiaki) comes from te ao Māori. It can mean each generation teaches the next about protecting taonga tuku iho – precious resources passed on by the ancestors.
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School Journal Level 2, October 2013
Teacher support materials (TSM) and audio are available for the following texts in this issue of the School Journal:
TSM Audio Stories Shipwrecked ✔ Articles Kaitiaki of the Stream ✔ ✔ Nasty Nits ✔ ✔ Look inside this issue
Kaitiaki of the Stream
by Pātaka Moore and Monique Lagan
This non-fiction article is based on the work of Pātaka Moore of Te Wānanga-o-Raukawa in Ōtaki. In a talk to local students, he explains the history and significance of the Mangapōuri Stream. He also discusses how the stream, which is now unhealthy, might be restored.
Nasty Nits
by Sylvia Thomas
All children know about head lice, and most will want to find out more about them. The detailed information will have a “yuck” appeal to children, but the text doesn’t make judgments about students who might be suffering from head lice.
Shipwrecked
by Sharon Udy
Using a graphic novel format, the narrator tells a story about her father. Many students will identify with the narrator who thinks her parents are a bit boring – until she finds an old newspaper clipping.
Information and tips for using comics in the classroom:
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School Journal Level 3 November 2022
There is a theme of kaitiakitanga in some of the content.
PDFs of all the texts in this issue of the School Journal are available online as well as teacher support materials (TSM) and audio for the following:
Audio TSM Articles The Kaukalaikiki Girl Living by the Maramataka ✔ ✔ Stories Balancing Act Best Wedding Ever ✔ Kāinga Poem A Good Kaitiaki Student writing Sumner Beach Play All Rise Look inside this issue
The Kaukalaikiki Girl
by Olive Wilson
Pusi Urale’s journey from cheeky girl to artist.
When she was a girl, Pusi Urale was often told she was kaukalaikiki. The word is informal Samoan and means cheeky or naughty. Mostly it’s used to describe girls who don’t quite behave the way society expects them to. But Pusi doesn’t see being kaukalaikiki as a bad thing.
Living by the Maramataka
by Haukura Jones
Heeni Hoterene is a kaitiaki of maramataka.
Heeni Hoterene grew up in Horowhenua. (On her mother’s side, one of her iwi is Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga.) The area is famous for its good climate and good soil, and Heeni’s whānau had a big vegie garden. Heeni learnt a lot about gardening from her koro. He traced what he knew back to their tūpuna, who lived on the same land.
Balancing Act
by Sarah Penwarden; illustrations by Lisa Baudry
“Hana’s mum says she’s always wanted to get things right.”
Hana’s in her room with the door closed. She’s dancing in bare feet. There’s just enough space. She turns carefully, feels her calf muscles, strong and tight; concentrates on using her core strength. It’s a classic move, the arabesque. But it can be hard without a bar.
Best Wedding Ever
by Victor Rodger; illustrations by Paul Beavis
Levi’s dads are getting married, but he has other things on his mind.
Kāinga
by Paul Mason; illustrations by Leilani Isara
We push up the slope, hands held tight, the sweat like oil between our palms. I squeeze harder. If Grace gets away, she’ll break free and dash up the track. The ground’s hard as concrete. She can run faster than me.
A Good Kaitiaki
by Amy McDaid; illustration by Anna Crichton
When I was six, I got the kaitiaki award for saving a bee that landed in the school pool, and Mum’s held it over me ever since.
Sumner Beach
by Elise Mackay, year 5, Russley School
Gentle waves brush onto my feet.
Grey sand crunches between my toes.
Chunks of driftwood lie like lazy cats.
All Rise
by Simon Cooke; illustrations by Zak Komene
Everyone knows the story of the Little Red Hen. Undervalued. Overworked. A feathery legend from down on the farm...
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School Journal Level 2 November 2022
There is a theme of kaitiakitanga in some of the content.
PDFs of all the texts in this issue of the School Journal are available online as well as teacher support materials (TSM) and audio for the following:
Audio TSM Articles Estuaries Kaitiaki of the Estuary Saving the Lizards ✔ ✔ Taniwha Stories Tree Talk Hukarere and Hine Tai ✔ Interview Protecting the Waterways Student writing Harbour View Look inside this issue
Estuaries
by Ursula Cochran
Estuaries are home to many kinds of birds, fish, and plants. An estuary is a place where fresh water from a river or stream mixes with salt water from the sea. Estuaries are different from lakes and rivers because they have tides and salty water.
Saving the Lizards
by Iona McNaughton
In 2015, eighty native lizards were moved to Ngā Manu Nature Reserve because their homes were in the path of the new Transmission Gully motorway. The lizards stayed at Ngā Manu until new homes were made for them near the motorway.
Taniwha
by Monique and Pātaka Moore; illustrations by Isobel Joy Te Aho-White
Taniwha have a special relationship with Māori, who tell many stories about them. Taniwha have different roles – and one of these is as kaitiaki. Many taniwha live in or near lakes, rivers, or the sea and help to protect and keep these places safe.
Tree Talk
by Simon Cooke; illustrations by Scott Pearson
“We’re lost!” Ruby exclaimed, as she struggled to keep up with her brother. They were trying to find their way back to the campground, but the forest looked the same in every direction. “If we’re lost, it’s your fault,” Sefa said. “You ran off after that pīwakawaka.”
Hukarere and Hine Tai
by Apirana Taylor; illustrations by Andrew Burdan
Can Hukarere see Hine Tai – the taniwha who lives in the rock pool?
Protecting the Waterways
by Keri Welham
Des Heke Kaiawha was a student at Maungatapu School in the 1980s. Since then, he has helped build knowledge of te ao Māori in the school. He spoke to Keri Welham about the waterways of Tauranga and his work to protect them.
Harbour View
by Eden Rose, age 8, Year 4, Oteha Valley School
I live near the sea, north of Auckland. Above my house, there is a small but welcoming hill. It has a wooden chair and a breathtaking view of the sparkling ocean.
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A Special Visit to Koro and Nanny
by Herehere Titoko
illustrated by Jennifer Cooper
In this narrative, Ani and her parents travel to the countryside to visit Koro and Nanny. Ani wakes up in the night and is frightened of the dark. Koro hears her calling out and comes to comfort her. He takes her outside to show her the stars and tells her they are kaitiaki – guardians to watch over her and keep her safe.
Orange 1
This title is also available as a NZ Sign Language e-book on iTunes and GooglePlay.
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The Story of the Ventnor
by Kirsten Wong
In 1902, thirteen lives were lost when the SS Ventnor sank off the Hokianga coast in Northland. The ship was carrying the carefully packaged bones of almost five hundred Chinese goldminers on their way home for burial. Despite immediate efforts to retrieve the bones, the ship and its precious cargo were lost. Over the following months, some of the bones washed up on Hokianga beaches. Most of these bones were collected and cared for by local iwi, with the stories of the shipwreck and the Chinese kōiwi passed down across generations of Māori. Over one hundred years later, some of the decendants of the goldminers discovered the fate of the bones and the kindness that iwi had shown and travelled north to learn more. A shared respect for the ancestors has since drawn together Chinese New Zealand communities and the iwi who are now kaitiaki of the goldminers’ remains.
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