Māori Gods and Deities: Treaty of Waitangi | Social Studies

Welcome to another post. In Social Studies, we moved on from World at War to a new topic: Treaty of Waitangi/Te Tiriti o Te Waitangi. A few lessons ago, we were looking at Māori gods and deities. One of the tasks given was to create a poster of one of the Māori deities given. 

Here is the poster I've created. 

'Not doing anything' - Greta Thunberg criticises Ardern - Reflection Section | Wānanga

Text title: 'Not doing anything' - Greta Thunberg criticises Ardern's lack of climate action 

Text type: Article  

Text creator: 1 News

Text purpose: Thunberg criticising Jacinda Ardern on climate action.

Critical literacy question: What views of the world is the text presenting?

Date: 27 September 2021 

Greta Thunberg - a Sweedish environmental activist.
Adapted by Getty/1 News

What views of the world is the text presenting?

I think the views of the world in this text are manifesting that politicians are idle towards climate change - which is true according to Greta Thunberg. She says that people assume that Ardern and people like her are climate leaders, but that's little people know about the climate crisis.

Brief:

Thunberg asserts that “it’s funny that people believe Jacinda Ardern and people like that are climate leaders. That just tells you how little people know about the climate crisis”.

“Obviously the emissions haven’t fallen. It goes without saying that these people are not doing anything.” 

Despite Ardern calling it a "life and death" issue, after the Climate Change Commission’s decisive guidance to the Government was allotted, the report has shown that New Zealand was not on track for the 2050 emission targets.

Adapted from: https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/not-doing-anything-greta-thunberg-criticises-arderns-lack-climate-action

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (Pre-reading Questions) | English

Welcome to another post. Yesterday for English, we've started a new short story for English, 'The Secret Life of Walter Mitty'. In this post, I am sharing the pre-reading questions relating to the story.

• Is it normal for a person to have secrets?
• Yes, basically, everyone has secrets.
• Even from their spouse?
• No, I don't think so. 
• What sort of secret of Walter Mitty hiding?
• About their life
• Magic
• A big dark secret
• What kind of person do you think Walter Mitty will be in the story based solely of off the title?
• A lonely and secretive person, who doesn't want to share their secrets.
• Make a prediction about what will happen to Walter Mitty in the text.
• He might be lucky and something good will happen in the text.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
Adapted from: https://www.kobo.com/ww/en/ebook/the-secret-life-of-walter-mitty-1

Penguins Killed by Swarm of Bees - Reflection Section | Wānanga

Text title: Endangered penguins killed by swarm of bees in a rare attack near Cape Town

Text type: News article

Text creator: Liz McDonald

Critical Literacy Question: What does the author of this text want us to know?

Date: 21st September 2021

The African Penguins at Boulder Beach, South Africa.
Adapted from Stuff

Brief:

Sixty-three endangered penguins have been killed by a swarm of bees near Cape Town. The bodies were found at the shore at Boulders Beach, South Africa. They were killed with multiple bee stings and no other physical injuries. BBC reported that one of the penguins had been stung 27 times. It is thought that a bee hive was disturbed and caused a bee to swarm and become aggressive.

The Guardian has reported that “This is a very rare occurrence. We do not expect it to happen often, it’s a fluke".

These African penguins are found in the coastal areas of South Africa and Nambia and are considered with declining populations. 

Adapted from: Stuff

Critical literacy:

The article briefs about endangered African Penguins attacked and killed by a swarm of bees. It states that the bees were disturbed and attacked the penguins aggressively. This is shown by a point in the article, "One of the penguins had been stung 27 times, the BBC reported." The article ended saying that it was a rare occurrence and think it is a fluke. The African Penguins are on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s red list - endangered.

The Lake - Language Features

Welcome to another post. For English, we moved on from looking at the Yellow Brick Road to another short story, The Lake. After reading the short story, we were given a few language features and give their own definition and an example from the story.

This is a post from 16 September 2021 (last week).

The Lake by Ray Bradbury
Adapted from: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18068093-the-lake

Listing

Definition: A grouping of three or more things.

Example: "Then the wave gave me back to the sky, the sand, the children yelling."

Figurative Language

Simile

Definition: Comparing two things using like or as.

Example: "It was like nailing summer into a series of coffins."

Metaphor

Definition: 

Example: "There was a moment of green silence."

Personification

Definition: Metaphor giving a human characteristic that is not human.

Example:

Dialogue

Definition: A conversation.

Example: "Wait'll I watch my goose-bumps".

Emotive language

Definition: The usage of emotive words to influence the reader. Ex. joyful, happy, sad, exciting, cheerful.

Example: "All of the hot-dog stands were boarded up with strips of golden planking, sealing in all the mustard, onion, meat odors of the long, joyful summer."

Allusions

Definition: Indirect reference to another well-known text.

Example: "I stood there, watching the sun take away the water beads on my arms. I replaced them with goose-pimples."

Yellow Brick Road (Post-reading Questions)

Welcome to another post. For English, I've read an interesting story, "Yellow Brick Road". In my previous post, I've answered pre-reading questions before reading the story. But in this post, I will be answering questions after I've read the story, post-reading (as mentioned in the title). 

Adapted from: https://mrstupaeasays.wordpress.com/category/uncategorized/

1. Why does the narrator (speaker) believe they are moving to Wellington?

As stated by the narrator, Matiu states that "Wellington is where the money is. And you have to go where the money is, ay Dad. No use staying in Waituhi and being poor all the time, ay Dad."

2. On page 1, what big difference between Waituhi and Wellington does the narrator mention?

Matiu says to their dad that, "We'll make lots of money and be rich as anything because Wellington is where the money is. And you have to go where the money is, ay Dad. No use staying in Waituhi and being poor all the time, ay."

3. On page 3, we find out that Dad told Uncle Sam they were moving to Wellington because…?

Matiu's Dad said to Uncle Sam, "No more jobs back home." He added with, "Plenty of the seasonal work, yes, but me and Hine had enough of that. We had enough of shearing, the fruit-picking and the going down South to shear some more. No, plenty of work in Wellington. Plenty of factories."

Furthermore, Matiu's Dad said, "I want us to have a good life, a new start, Dad tried to explain. A new start for my kids. Me and Hine, we've always had nothing. But my kids? They're going to grow up with everything. I'll fight for it, because they must have it."

4. How does the narrator’s attitude towards moving change once they draw nearer to the city?

This is due to the signs. Before and during the trip, Matiu was feeling exciting and curious. But as they get closer to the city, Matiu sees many signs making him scared and bewildered. 

5. Emerald City, Yellow Brick Road, Flying Monkeys, scarecrow, tinman and cowardly lion, are all allusions (references) to what famous book? Why do you think the author made this comparison?

The Wizard Of Oz. I think Witi Ihimaera made this comparison from the Wizard Of Oz to show the journey of people into a different place, where they will face problems with lots of twists. 

The Wizard Of Oz
Adapted from: https://www.warnerbros.com/movies/wizard-oz

Yellow Brick Road (Pre-reading Questions) | English

Welcome to another post. For English, we've moved on towards a new interesting topic, "Yellow Brick Road" (as mentioned in the title), and answering some pre-reading questions (also mentioned in the title). 

Witi Ihimaera
Credit: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/62911.Witi_Ihimaera

Witi Ihimaera is a Māori author, novelist, short story writer, anthologist and librettist. He was born in Gisborne, the east coast of the North Island. Ihimaera was the first Māori to publish both a book and a novel; a few of his novels have been adapted into films; Whale Rider (2002), Kawa (2010), White Lies (2013),  Déwé Gorodé: Écrire Le Pays (2015) and Mahana (2016).

Adapted from: https://www.penguin.co.nz/authors/witi-ihimaera

In my opinion, I think the story Yellow Brick Road by Witi Ihimaera is about a cool and exciting journey. I don't have much to explain, but I think it's going to be an interesting story.