The Jumper.

SCHOOL JOURNAL PART 4 NUMBER 3, 1999, PAGES 38 - 43

The Jumper by Feana Tu’akoi

WALT: Use inferencing strategy to find answers to questions based on the text. Success Criteria: I know I have used the inferencing strategy when I have done the following to look for an answer: *look for clues around the text, *re-read the text, * sound out the question and look for key words in the question, *discuss with a buddy. * form a picture of the question and then try and answer it. * read on while looking for the correct answer.

Activity 1 - Reading Response

Read the story and then answer the questions based on the text.

1. What is this story about?

This story is about a girl named Rangi. She was too excited to go to sleep because it was her birthday on the next day. While she was falling asleep, she heard big footsteps outside her window. When she opened her window curtains, she caught a shadowy figure jumping in front of her fence. Dad saw him and chased him everywhere he went. A taxi driver helped dad out because he didn’t pay for his fare. Then he said that the person that ran through his backyard is a jumper. Rangi saw what was happening, so she rang the cops and told them what happened then she waited for the cops to come, and while she was talking to the operator she saw dad and the taxi driver with the jumper calming down, then the police came and took the jumper to the police station.

2. Describe the main character in this story.

In this story the main character is Rangi. Rangi was a girl who saw a jumper run past her fence and dialed 111.

3. Who are the other characters in this story?

The other characters in this story is dad. Who chased after the jumper down the street.

The taxi driver, who helped dad chase after the jumper and drives taxi for living.

The Jumper, who ran away from the taxi drive, jumped over Rangi’s fence and punched dad in the face.

The Police were solving the problem.

4. Describe the setting for this story.

The setting for this story is the neighbourhood. The neighbourhood was dark and quiet until dad and the taxi driver chased the jumper.

5. What were the problems faced by the characters in this story?

The problems faced by the characters in this story was that ran away from the taxi without paying for his fair and jumped over dad and Rangis fence and punched dad in the face, and the police had to talk to the jumpers parents.

6. How did the characters in this story solve the problem

The characters in the story solved the problem by calling the cops and talking to the jumpers parents.

Activity 2 - Vocabulary

Locate these words in the text. Read around these words to find out its meaning. Use an online dictionary to find out what the words mean.

Word	Meaning
1.  pounding	Rhythmical beating or throbbing.
2.  struggling	Make forceful or violent efforts to get free of restraint or constriction.
3.  sneaked	Move or go in a furtive or stealthy way.
4.  crouching	Adopt a position where the knees are bent and the upper body is brought forward and down, typically in order to avoid detected or to defend oneself.
5. disappeared	Missing
6. swearing	To use of offensive language.
7.  smacked	A sharp slap typically one given by the palm of hand.
8.  operator	A person who operates an equipment or a machine.
9.  uniform	Wearing the same clothes at all time.
10. suspiciously	Having or showing a cautious distrust of someone or something.

ACTIVITY 3 - Story Review

 Use the Story Review Template given in the link attached to write a review of this story.

Story Review template

Title:

The Jumper.

Author:

Feana Tu’akoe

Characters:

Rangi, Dad the Taxi driver, The Jumper and the Police

Setting:

In the neighbourhood.

Problem:

The jumper ran away from the taxi driver because he didn’t have any money to pay for his tax.

How the Characters Tried to Solve the Problem:

The characters tried to solve the problem by calming the jumper down.

Solution:

Rangi called the police and the police came and took the jumper to his parents.

The Big Game.

SCHOOL JOURNAL PART 3 NUMBER 1, 2007, PAGES 23 - 27

The Big Game by Sue Gibbison

WALT: Use inferencing strategy to find answers to questions based on the text. Success Criteria: I know I have used the inferencing strategy when I have done the following to look for an answer: *look for clues around the text, *re-read the text, * sound out the question and look for key words in the question, *discuss with a buddy. * form a picture of the question and then try and answer it. * read on while looking for the correct answer.

Activity 1 - Reading Response

Read the story and then answer the questions based on the text.

1. Why did mum wish that there was a big game held in their town more often?

Mum wished that there was a big game held in their town more often because their town misses out on a lot of things.

2. Why did mum and the children go to the park ?

Mum and the children went to the park to see the big game.

3. Why did the author feel her stomach flipping like crazy?

The author felt that her stomach was flipping like crazy because it felt like it was her about to play.

4. Who came forward after the game to the children?

It was Shane that came forward after the game to the children.

5. Why did Karla’s mum ask when was the famous player playing again?

Karla’s mum asked when the famous player is playing again because she wanted her children to do chores.

6. Why were the children so keen to go to the big game?

The children were so keen to go to the big game because it was a preseason match.

7. What could have been the reason for mum agreeing to let the children go to the games?

The reason for mum agreeing to let the children go to the games under conditions.

8. In your opinion, why do you think Shane was famous?

I think Shane was famous because he is from their small town.

9. Was mum feeling happy for the children to go to the games? Why?

Mum wasn't feeling happy for the children to go to the games because she wanted to keep them safe.

10. Why was soccer their favourite sport?

Soccer was their favourite sport because they can be kicking off, throwing in, dribbling and heading the soccer ball.

Activity 2 - Vocabulary

Make sentences with these words

1.  muscles - The players were stretching their muscles.

2. mention - My mum knew who we were talking about when we mention all the big names.

3. touring - When a band is touring we have to buy the CD.

4. pollution - She reminds us of pollution and traffic and crime.

5. interesting - But sometimes I think I wouldn’t mind a traffic jam if that what it takes for something interesting to happen round here.

6. famous - But we’d never seen anyone famous before.

7. watched - We stood and watched as one famous player after another get off the bus

8. arriving - For a town full of rugby fanatics, people were taking their time arriving.

9. laughed - Mum laughed “ What did you expect, an alien?”

10. allowed - Finally we were allowed on the field.

ACTIVITY 3 - STORY REVIEW

Write an article review for this article and take a screenshot of a picture from the article and put it up on your Blog after it has been checked by your teacher.

The Big Game.

This story is about

ACTIVITY 4:  Click on the Link below and then read the information on Japan Tsunamis.

Japan Tsunami

After you have read the information, write an Information Report on The Japan Tsunami. Put your information report on your individual Blog.

Japan Tsunami.

The Kyoto Kumaru fishing vessel was swept away from a port Kesennuma, Miyagi prefecture.

This was the scene on March 12 2011.

This is what it looked like after the clean up.

Matariki Returns.

CONNECTED 3, 2003, PAGES 8 - 11

MATARIKI RETURNS BY MOIRA WAIRAMA AND RUPERT ALCHIN

WALT: Learning to make predictions on what is going to happen next in the text by using the keywords in the preceding sentences and paragraphs.

SUCCESS CRITERIA: I am able to predict as to what is going to happen next in the text.

Activity 1 - Read the article and then answer these questions

1. What is Matariki made up of?

Matariki is made out of several hundred stars.

2. Traditionally, what was the dawn rising of Matariki a sign of?

The dawn rising of Matariki was a sign to Maori that the hunting season was coming to an end and the planting season was beginning.

3. Which star is the brightest star in the sky?

The brightest star in the sky is the Sirius star.

4. Why is Matariki star cluster special to people all over the world?

The matariki star cluster is special to people all over the world because the ancient Greeks named it Pleiades, after the seven mythical daughters of Atlas and Pleione.

5. How was Matariki important to the ancient Greeks?

Matariki was important to the ancient Greeks because they named it Pleiades, after the seven mythical daughters of Atlas and Pleione.  

Activity 2 - Dictionary and Vocabulary

1.  Locate these words in the text and then use an online dictionary to find the meanings

    of these words.

2.  Make sentences with these words.

Word	Meaning	Sentences
1. recent	Having, happened, begun or been done not long ago, belonging to a past period comparatively close to the present.	Ben had his recent visit to Britain.
2. several	Separate or respective.	The two government sort out their several responsibilities.
3. disappear	Cease to be visible.	He disappeared into the trees.
4. enough	As much or as many as required.	There was just enough room for two cars.
5. spotted	Marked or decorated with spots.	A red spotted handkerchief.
6. exactly	Used to emphasize the accuracy of a figure or description.	It was to painful and distressing for me to describe in detail exactly what happened.
7. invisible	Unable to be seen.	This invisible gas is present to some extent in every home.
8. hunting	The activity of hunting wild animals or games.	Whale hunting is unnecessary.
9. season	A fixed time in the year when a particular activity is pursued.	The cricket season is starting.
10. involved	Difficult to understand.	This was a long conversation that I was involved in.

Activity 3 -  Click on the link below and read about Matariki. After you have read the article, write down at least eight facts you have read about Matariki.

Matariki for Schools

Facts about Matariki.

• Matariki is also the sighting of the new moon.
• Depending on your religion or ethnicity, New Year can come at different times of the year and be celebrated in many ways.
• Maori also have their own New Year which is marked by the rise of Matariki (the group of stars also known as Pleiades star cluster or The Seven Sisters.)
• Traditionally Matariki was used to determine the coming season’s crop.
• A warmer season, and therefore a more productive crop yield, was indicated by how bright the stars were.
• Matariki provides an ideal opportunity to explore the ways that people pass on and sustain aspects of their culture and heritage.
• The beginning of the 21st century has seen a rival in Matariki celebrations.
• In 2014, Matariki began on 28th June.

The Mountain.

SCHOOL JOURNAL PART 4 NUMBER 2, 1999, PAGES 8 - 13

The Mountain by Rhonda Bartle

WALT: Learning to make predictions on what is going to happen next in the text by using the keywords in the preceding sentences and paragraphs.

SUCCESS CRITERIA: I am able to predict as to what is going to happen next in the text.

Activity 1 - Read the article and then answer these questions

1. Where was the narrator when Gran dragged her down to her chair?

The narrator was at the kitchen.

2. Why did mum ask the narrator to prepare tea?

Mum asked the narrator to prepare tea because she left unavoidable instructions.

3. Where were Gran and her parents when Mount Tarawera erupted?

Gran and her parents was at the door of the hotel.

4. What did the hotel-keeper do to help his guests?

The hotel-keeper helped his guests by giving them the hotel’s cook and telling them to go.

5. Why was Hinerangi said to be the most famous woman in Rotorua?

Hinerangi was the most famous woman in Rotorua because she was the best guide for the Pink and White Terraces.

6. How did Gran know so much about the eruption of the Mount Tarawera and the Tarawera Lake even though she was not born when all those events happened?

Gran knew so much about the eruption of Mt Tarawera and Tarawera Lake because she was dreaming.

Activity 2 - Dictionary and Vocabulary

1.  Locate these words in the text and then use an online dictionary to find the meanings

    of these words.

2.  Make sentences with these words.

Word	Meaning	Sentences
1.   instructions	A direction or order.	Mum has left unavoidable instructions.
2.   challenge	A task or situation to test someone’s abilities.	Gran grins like I’ve thrown her a challenge.
3.   suddenly	Quickly or unexpectedly.	Suddenly I was sitting up and then standing.
4.   without	In the absence of.	Through sleepy eyes, I saw Mam struggling into her corsets under her nightgown, dropping a dress on top without worrying about her bustle.
5.   swayed	Move or cause to move slowly or rhythmically backwards and forward and side to side.	The wooden floor went this way and that, beneath my reluctant feet as we swayed downstairs.
6.   impossible	Not able to occur, exist or be done.	Three columns of fire, so high that it was impossible to see where they finished.
7.   urgent	Requiring immediate attention or action.	We became a tribe of urgent travellers.
8.   beneath	Extending or directly underneath.	It was a poupou on a gatepost, and beneath it gaped the dark mouth of a low building.
9.   terrible	Extremely bad or serious.	The air grew hotter as time passed, and we all had a terrible thirst that could not be quenched.
10. floated	Rest or move on or near the surface of a liquid sinking.	She relaxed floating gently through the water.

Activity 3 -  Click on the link below and read about Earthquakes. After you have read the article, write down at least eight facts you have read about Earthquakes. Edit your work and put it up on your Blog

What causes Earthquakes?

• Earthquakes happen every day in New Zealand.
• Instruments record the ground shaking from over 14,000 earthquakes in and around the country each year.
• Earthquakes are most frequent in regions where two moving plates meet and press against each other.
• Earthquakes usually occur along faults, which are existing fractures in the crust.
• The most powerful New Zealand earthquake on record occurred in the Wairarapa in 1855.
• Sometimes the blocks of rock on either side of a fault abruptly shift to a new position in just a few seconds.
• New Zealand is in such a region, it straddles the boundary between the pacific plate.
• Most earthquakes are too small to be noticed but between 150 and 200 are big enough to be felt.