Instructional Series
Welcome to the English medium literacy instructional series teaching and learning resources for years 1 to 8.

- Gold
- Purple
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- Green
- Yellow
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- 3
- 8
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- 2
- 1
- English
- Social Sciences
- Science
- Health and Physical Education
- Technology
- The Arts
- Mathematics and Statistics
- Fiction
- Non-fiction
- None
- Nature of science
- Living world
- Nature of technology
- Statistics
- Geometry and Measurement
- Planet Earth and beyond
- Physical world
- Technological knowledge
- Number and Algebra
- Material world
- Technological practice
- Gather and interpret data
- Use evidence
- Critique evidence
- Engage with science
- Interpret representations
- Articles
- Stories
- Poems
- Plays
Search results
994 items - Showing 1 - 10
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A Good Idea
by Bill Nagelkerke
illustrated by Jeffy James
On a hot day, four African animals are inspired with good ideas but need to cooperate so that they can all get what they want. This text is available as a big book.
#LFH
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Undersea Gardens
by Julie Ellis
This report provides information about seaweeds found in New Zealand waters and how they are used. There is a quiz activity that helps children to apply knowledge from diagrams to actual examples. The rich content means that this text is best read over more than one session and shared before being used for guided reading.
Gold 2
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The Water Slide
by Jane Buxton
illustrated by Scott Pearson
In this simple but action-packed story, a child describes her experience of playing on a water slide with her dad, including her attempt to involve the family cat.
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The New Cat
by Joy Cowley
illustrated by Robyn Belton
This story is about Greedy Cat arriving at Katie’s house as a kitten, and it describes how he gets his name. The New Cat is best read after you have shared the big book Greedy Cat so the students are already familiar with his personality and with the concept of “greediness”.
Magenta
#LFH
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Shoes for the King
by Dot Meharry
illustrated by Philip Webb
In this humorous narrative, the King has some trouble deciding which royal shoes to wear. Students will enjoy making connections to their prior knowledge of the King from the shared text The Hole in the King’s Sock.
Red 3.
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Late for the Race
by Dawn McMillan
illustrated by Ali Teo
Everyone is ready to start the bike race except for the bossy and demanding Princess. The Queen helps the Princess gather the things she needs – but this is one time the Princess will not be allowed to wear her crown.
Red 3
This title is also available as a NZ Sign Language e-book on iTunes and GooglePlay
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Where is Aunty?
by Susan Paris
illustrated by Adele Jackson
Mum, Tara, and Luke need to pick Aunty up from the airport, but they are running late. When they arrive, they can’t find her. Eventually, Mum decides to use her cellphone to solve the problem.
Yellow 3
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Simi Helps
by Feana Tu‘akoi
illustrated by Samuel Sakaria
Simi's family is preparing an ‘umu and Simi wants to help but nobody has a job for him. As he sits under a tree thinking it’s not fair, he notices there is no smoke coming up from the ‘umu. When he alerts Dad and Papa, they realise the fire has gone out and that they needed his help after all.
Yellow 3
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The Night the House Shook
by Maria Hansen
illustrated by Kelly Spencer
This story, narrated by a young boy, is based on an actual experience during the Christchurch earthquake of September 2010. An earthquake wakes the boy. When the shaking stops, his parents check on the children and discover that his little brother, Lenny, has slept through the whole thing. When Lenny wakes, he can’t understand why his room is so messy.
Blue 3
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The Hissing Bush
by Trish Puharich
illustrated by Richard Hoit
Two children come across a bush that makes hissing sounds, and they gradually get close enough to discover a goose guarding her nest.
Blue 3