Clowning Around – School Journal Level 3 August 2015
An article on Doctor U Who, one of the clown doctors at Starship Children’s Hospital. This story shows the benefits of laughter and positivity in a health setting.
2015
No Rhyme – School Journal Level 3 August 2015
In this playful and imaginative poem, Tim Upperton showcases poetry without the use of rhyme. This is a great example of this poetic form, and encourages readers and writers to be free and creative.
Boost – School Journal Level 3 August 2015
In this futuristic story, where the ‘Boost Clinic’ can make you smart, fast, or even grow a tail. Students learn the value of spending time rather than spending money, and to celebrate creativity and individuality.
The Leather Satchel – School Journal Level 3 August 2015
Set during the Great Depression, this story follows Mary, a young girl who feels overshadowed by her eldest sister, Gladys, the family’s star pupil and the only one with a coveted leather satchel. While Mary grapples with envy over passed-down clothes and her sister’s academic success, the harsh reality of their family’s poverty suddenly shifts…
Thirst – School Journal Level 3 August 2015
In a realistic story set in the not-too-distant future, Paul Mason conveys a message that has increasing relevance today. The plot involves a family that cannot afford to buy water during a severe drought. Through implication, it appears that a single company owns the water and employs the parents of the family. When their neighbours…
School Journal Level 3 August 2015
Inside this school journal are four stories (Spirit of the Bird; Thirst; The Leather Satchel; Boost), one poem (No Rhyme), and two articles (Clowning Around and Richard Owen’s Giant Mystery).
Meeting Katherine Mansfield – School Journal Level 2 August 2015
Tim Upperton’s poem celebrating the New Zealand writer Katherine Mansfield.
Tū – School Journal Level 2 August 2015
In this story, a young boy named Jake tries to save his new dog, Tū, after the mischievous pet destroys his mother’s vegetable patch. When they take the dog back to the pound, they discover Tū isn’t “wild”—he simply only responds to commands in te reo Māori. With the help of a school friend and…
Best Mates – School Journal Level 2 August 2015
In this story, a young boy named Mana is devastated to learn that his best mate, Jackson, is moving to Auckland. Feeling as though his world has been knocked over, Mana struggles with the news while also processing the surprise announcement that his dad and Sharon are expecting a new baby. Through the support of…
The Old Trunk – School Journal Level 2 August 2015
This article explores the life and legacy of Jill McDonald, a celebrated New Zealand children’s book illustrator whose work is preserved in a colorful old trunk kept by her son. It traces her career from her early talent for drawing in Wellington to her famous collaborations with writer Margaret Mahy and her iconic work for…
Starting with Strings – School Journal Level 2 August 2015
This article explores Sistema Aotearoa, a children’s orchestra based in Otara, Auckland, which provides local primary school students the opportunity to learn stringed, woodwind, brass, and percussion instruments. The program emphasises group practice and responsibility, requiring students to first master “whisper instruments” made of cardboard to prove they can care for an instrument before receiving…
Making a Road – Junior Journal 50 Level 2 2015
“Making a Road” describes the process of constructing a road, from planning through to sealing and road marking. This information text is well supported by clear subheadings and other visual language features such as labelled photographs and diagrams.
Seeds – Junior Journal 50 Level 2 2015
Nearly all plants produce seeds. Seeds come in many shapes, colours, and sizes.
The Inventor – Junior Journal 50 Level 2 2015
As a baby, the dump-truck driver would tip his food onto the floor.
Kākano – Junior Journal 50 Level 2 2015
This poem describes a kākano (a seed) as taonga and explains what makes it special. “Kākano” is inspired by the Māori proverb: Ahakoa he iti, he pounamu – although small, it is precious.
Helpful – Junior Journal 50 Level 2 2015
Grandad wants Vika and Kele to help him in the garden, but they don’t share his enthusiasm. Vika manages to come up with an excuse, leaving Kele with all the work, but then the tables are turned, and Vika becomes the one who has to help Grandad. The humour in this story arises from the…
I Spy – Junior Journal 50 Level 2 2015
This humorous science fiction story is about two creatures, Pebble and Stone, who live on the planet Rock 2.
Benny – School Journal Level 4 October 2015
In Benny, two polar-opposite best friends navigate their final summer together by executing a routine at the beach where they prank kayakers so the narrator can play the “hero”. Their dynamic shatters when Benny, feeling stung by academic streaming at his new school and tired of being seen as “stupid,” forces the narrator to take…
School Journal Level 4 May 2015
Inside this School Journal are four stories (Mata i Pusi; The Promise; Badge of Honou; and Fever), one poem (‘Afakasi Chameleon) and two articles (Underground Explorers; and Hakaraia: Warrior Peacemaker).
‘Afakasi Chameleon – School Journal Level 4 May 2015
A creative and touching poem by Selina Tusitala Marsh that celebrates mixed ancestry.
Fever – School Journal Level 4 May 2015
In Fever, a young girl named Carly attends a school camp at a former tuberculosis sanatorium, despite suffering from a worsening sore throat and a deep-seated fear of ghosts. As her illness peaks into a delirium, she is visited by the spirit of a thin, pale girl who has waited a century to share her…
Badge of Honour – School Journal Level 4 May 2015
In this story, Isaac’s thrilled to be made school captain; his friend Tomasi isn’t so sure.
The Promise – School Journal Level 4 May 2015
In this story, five kids in a bunker have a crucial decision to make.
Mata i Pusi – School Journal Level 4 May 2015
Si’aula, a young girl of mixed Samoan and Pālagi heritage, struggles with her identity and the teasing she receives for her striking green eyes. While her mother embraces their Samoan culture, Si’aula feels “mixed up” and embarrassed by her family’s traditions, such as her grandmother’s insistence on covering mirrors at night to hide from spirits….
Hakaraia: Warrior Peacemaker – School Journal Level 4 May 2015
In this article, the life of an important Māori leader, Hakaraia, is remembered.
Underground Explorers – School Journal Level 4 May 2015
Extreme cavers Marcus Thomas and Neil Silverwood lead a team deep into the belly of Mount Owen to prove a mind-boggling theory: that a hidden waterway connects the south and north sides of the mountain. By tracking a fluorescent-green dye through the freezing, labyrinthine passages of Bulmer Cavern, the explorers risk a grueling five-day underground…
Spirit of the Bird – School Journal Level 3 August 2015
The bird of the title is the moa, and this fictional story is set in the time of the early Māori moa hunters. Little is known of this era, but the author conveys (often indirectly) the hardships of a subsistence lifestyle and the impact of human settlement on the moa.
School Journal Level 3 May 2015
Inside this School Journal are two articles (Boy on a Bike; Bright Fine Gold), there are four stories (Bok Choy; The Red Ball; Grandparents’ Day; Tautai) and one poem (Following Gold).
Following Gold – School Journal Level 2 May 2015
A poem that captures the often hard and lonely journeys of migrant Chinese gold miners in New Zealand history. I left my home for a new story, my heart heavy with questions…
Tautai – School Journal Level 3 May 2015
This contemporary story is about a boy and his love of planes. But students will also read about the importance of his name and how a chance meeting helped him gain confidence. Samoan students will identify with Lagi, and all students will enjoy his enthusiasm and excitement as he sets off on his first trip…
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