Year 4 - English
Learning about the context of 'Whale Rider'
'Whale Rider': narrative writing
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Study Guides
This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupils write a range of narrative outcomes based on the film 'Whale Rider'. They analyse sections of the film carefully, from which they write an opening, an emotive scene and a resolution. Pupils also practise using speech punctuation accurately in their narratives.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to understand the context of 'Whale Rider'.
Key Notes
- Maori people were the first people to settle in New Zealand.
- Maori culture and tradition play a significant role in national identity.
- Maori people have a strong spiritual connection to the land and environment.
- 'Whale Rider' is a novel by Witi Ihimaera and it has been adapted into a film.
- 'Whale Rider' is a powerful story of tradition and it has themes of courage and breaking down barriers.
Vocabulary To Learn
- culture: the way people live according to their beliefs, language, history or shared values
- Maori: the indigenous Polynesian people of New Zealand
- New Zealand: an island country located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Maori culture is confined to historical practices and traditions only. It is not present in contemporary society.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.
Maori people were the first people to settle in New Zealand. Maori culture and tradition play a significant role in national identity.
2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'culture'
the way people live according to their beliefs, language, history or shared values.
3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.
Mistake: Maori culture is confined to historical practices and traditions only. It is not present in contemporary society. Correction: Maori culture continues to adapt and thrive in contemporary society. Maori people are active in politics, arts, business and academia, contributing to the broader New Zealand society and global community.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Editing paragraphs of a narrative in 'Whale Rider' Study Guide
- Exploring characters' perspectives Study Guide
- Planning a narrative scene with direct speech in 'Whale Rider' Study Guide
- Planning an emotive narrative scene in 'Whale Rider' Study Guide
- Planning the opening of 'Whale Rider' Study Guide
- Planning the resolution of 'Whale Rider' Study Guide
- Practising writing direct speech for 'Whale Rider' Study Guide
- Publishing and reading my 'Whale Rider' narrative aloud Study Guide
- Retelling the story of 'Whale Rider' Study Guide
- Writing a narrative scene with direct speech in 'Whale Rider' Study Guide
- Writing paragraph one of an emotive narrative scene in 'Whale Rider' Study Guide
- Writing paragraph two of an emotive narrative scene in 'Whale Rider' Study Guide
- Writing the opening of 'Whale Rider' Study Guide
- Writing the resolution of 'Whale Rider' Study Guide
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