Rātā and the Tōtara Tree - Myths and Legends - ZAEEDA

This morning we had a literacy google meet. We at another Maori Myth, called Rata and the Totara tree. It was about a Maori man who was looking for a tree to craft a waka for his village. He wanted to get away from the island as Tangaroa and Tawhirimatea we going to have a war which would destroy the village. Rata found a large Totara tree but forgot to follow to recite a karakia of invocation for Tane Mahuta, this lead many birds and insects to restore the tree to its original state. 

We had to create a storyboard which I quite enjoyed doing, because it helped me get a good idea of what happened in order. Next we had to break up a portion of a text into word groups, we then had to record ourselves reading it fluently. I had to re-record this last time so I tried extra hard to tell the story well and fluently. Next we had to do word groups, I wasn't sure how many we had to choose and use in sentences but I did two of the ones I found most interesting. 

We then had to do our create task we could choose 1 out of 2 activities, I decided to try making a movie review as I loved the message the clip on slide 3 explained. Overall I enjoyed this task and like how there we 2 parts to our literacy task, looking forward to doing more!

Leave a comment for Zaeeda on her blog.

Rona and the Moon - Video Review - LEILANI

Read Leilani's review of a short video based on the myth about Rona and the Moon - does her review make you want to watch the video for yourself - click on this link here. Leave a comment for Leilani on her blog

READING: Te Ika A Maui (Myths and Legends) - Pisirina

This week we learnt read different versions of the traditional Māori story of how Maui used a magic hook to fished up the North Island of Aotearoa/New Zealand. 

Read through the slideshow from Pisirina - check out slide 4 and listen to her fluent and expressive reading of an excerpt from one of the texts.

Below is Pisirina's CREATE task - a review of the short film about Te Ika A Maui.

Visit her blog and leave a comment about her work this week.

 

Blog of the Week: LEILANI - Tsuru no Ongaeshi/The Grateful Crane

This week's blog post is from Leilani in Room 2's Literacy class.

This week we are reading a new book called " Tsuru no ongaeshi , The grateful crane." I re wrote the story to share with younger kids at my school. 

Read Leilani's retold story below. What do you think the main message that this old folk tale from Japan is?

Blog of the Week: PISIRINA - Revew - SOMETHING ALIVE by Jem Yoshioka

The Waititi reading group read the story, Something Alive this week. It lead to a lively discussion around the issues of being bi-racial and the importance of knowing your culture and doing your best to keep it alive. Read Pisirina's thoughtful review of the text.

Title: Something Alive      

Author: Jem Yoshioka     Genre: Fiction - Based on real story

Summary of book: It is about this girl and her unknown heritage. When I say ‘unknown heritage’, I mean she doesn’t know much about her Japanese side. She gets comments and question that questions her identity and she can’t answer any of them because she doesn’t know enough about her japanese culture. She doesn’t fit in the crowd with her controversial appearance. She then is encouraged by her Grandmother to learn more about her heritage because there is something alive in her that is starting growing.

My thoughts: I liked this book because it shows the point of view of a person who struggles from everyone’s comments on she really is and how she looks. I can somehow relate to this, because at first impression most people think I’m tongan from the way I look. I might look tongan but just because I look tongan it doesn’t mean I’m tongan. I think that’s how I can connect with this character with some experience.

Recommendations :  I personally would recommend this to those in the age group from 9 years to 13 years of age because I think it would be good to read this at the age of 9 so that if this ever happens to you then you can have an idea on what to do and you can just carry on as normal. It is also good to help you develop a good skill which is being empathetic and it is easy to read because it is a comic book.

I’ve learnt … : I learnt that we should be respectful of each other not just by actions but verbally. We never know if just a small question like ‘Where are you from’ can be harsh for the person you are asking. I think if we just think before we talk then there will be less hate comments on others and it will bring peace to the world!