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Year 4

Learning about the context of 'Whale Rider'

I can understand the context of 'Whale Rider'.

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New
New
Year 4

Learning about the context of 'Whale Rider'

I can understand the context of 'Whale Rider'.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Link copied to clipboard

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

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These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Maori people were the first people to settle in New Zealand.
  2. Maori culture and tradition play a significant role in national identity.
  3. Maori people have a strong spiritual connection to the land and environment.
  4. ‘Whale Rider’ is a novel by Witi Ihimaera and it has been adapted into a film.
  5. ‘Whale Rider’ is a powerful story of tradition and it has themes of courage and breaking down barriers.

Keywords

  • 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 misconception

Maori culture is confined to historical practices and traditions only. It is not present in contemporary society.

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.


To help you plan your year 4 english lesson on: Learning about the context of 'Whale Rider', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Pupils need to have watched the whole film 'Whale Rider' before starting this unit. Add images of the characters from the film 'Whale Rider' (South Pacific Pictures, 2002) to enhance understanding of the plot.
Teacher tip

Equipment

You must have access to the film 'Whale Rider' (South Pacific Pictures, 2002) to complete this unit. Images of the characters from the film will be helpful.

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following best describes the term 'narrative'?
factual information arranged in a logical order
Correct answer: spoken or written connected events like a story
text that presents arguments and evidence
sequence of images that depict a series of actions without words
Q2.
Which of these devices involves giving human characteristics to non-human objects or animals in a narrative?
metaphor
simile
Correct answer: personification
repetition
Q3.
Which sentence uses the past tense correctly?
They is playing outside.
She runned to the store.
Correct answer: He wrote a letter to his friend.
I eated my lunch quickly.
Q4.
Which sentence correctly uses an apostrophe to show possession?
Correct answer: The cat's toy is under the sofa.
The cats' are playing outside.
The boys books are on the table.
The dogs barking is loud.
Q5.
Which of the following is an example of a sentence you would find in a first person narrative?
She walked down the street, enjoying the sunny day.
You walk into the room and you see a mysterious box on the table.
Correct answer: I found an old diary in the attic and I decided to read it.
They travelled across the country in a small van.
Q6.
Which sentence correctly uses an apostrophe for contraction?
They are going to the beach on Saturday.
I cant wait to see the new movie.
The dog's tail wagged happily.
Correct answer: It's raining outside right now.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
True or false? New Zealand is made up of two main islands: the North Island and the South Island.
Correct Answer: true, True
Q2.
New Zealand has a diverse cultural heritage with influences from Maori, Pacific Island and which other cultures?
Correct answer: Asian
Correct answer: European
Antarctican
African
Q3.
Which of the following forms of artistic expression are Maori people renowned for?
Correct answer: tattooing
Correct answer: carving
origami
Correct answer: weaving
pop art
Q4.
In the story of 'Whale Rider', who rode on the back of the whale?
Correct answer: Paikea
Koro
Nanny Flowers
Uncle Rawiri
Q5.
Fill in the blanks with the following. 'A __________ becomes stranded on a beach near the village.'
Correct answer: pod of whales
pod of dolphins
bale of turtles
colony of seals
Q6.
When does Paikea's grandfather, Koro, finally recognise her as the next leader and his successor?
when she learns the skills and knowedge of a male leader
when she completes her first piece of art
Correct answer: when she rides on the back of a whale
when she sings and performs in a show