Pānui - Reading

Learning about Whina Cooper and the Māori Land March is an important part of understanding New Zealand’s history. The march reminds us how people stood up for their rights and worked together to protect Māori land for future generations. It shows that even peaceful actions, like walking together, can create big changes. Knowing this story helps us appreciate the struggles Māori faced and the importance of fairness and justice. It also teaches us about courage, leadership, and the power of unity. By learning this history, we connect with Aotearoa’s past and help build a more respectful future.

Reading to understand is important because it helps us learn skills and ideas we can apply in real life. Just like Henri learning to build a castle in France or Eleanor running a construction business in New Zealand, understanding instructions, plans, and measurements is essential. By reading carefully, we can follow steps, solve problems, and make decisions. Strong reading comprehension builds knowledge, improves critical thinking, and allows us to tackle challenges—whether constructing walls, calculating materials, or planning projects successfully.

Reading and understanding texts is important because it helps us learn about the world and think critically. When we read about important building sites, like the Eiffel Tower, the Sky Tower, or the Obelisk, we learn not only about history but also about engineering, teamwork, and problem-solving. These buildings show how people use planning, skill, and creativity to achieve great things. Understanding how and why they were built helps us appreciate different cultures and innovations. By reading carefully, we can discover lessons that apply to our own learning, projects, and future challenges.

Understanding what we read is an important skill, especially when learning about topics like the production of timber. By carefully reading texts, we can identify the main ideas, follow processes, and understand how trees are grown, harvested, and turned into timber products. This helps us see the connection between forests, the environment, and human industries. Reading closely allows us to notice details about sustainable practices, safety in forestry work, and economic importance. Developing this skill ensures we can interpret information correctly, make informed decisions, and appreciate the role of timber in New Zealand and around the world.

This week in English, we will focus on reading comprehension through texts about the production of vegetables. Vegetables are an important part of New Zealand’s economy and our everyday lives. By reading about how they are grown, harvested, and distributed, we will not only learn new information but also practise skills that help us understand texts more deeply. We will look for main ideas, supporting details, and make connections to real life. Reading about vegetables will also show us how food production connects people, communities, and the environment, helping us think critically about what we read.

Cheese production is an important part of Aotearoa’s dairy industry, which is known worldwide for its high-quality products. Understanding how cheese is made helps us appreciate the work of farmers, factory workers, and cheesemakers who turn fresh milk into something delicious and valuable. It also shows us how dairy contributes to our economy, supports rural communities, and connects New Zealand to global food markets. Learning about cheese production helps us see the link between the land, the animals, and the food on our tables.

Learning how leather is made helps us appreciate the journey from raw material to finished product. It teaches us about traditional skills, sustainability, and how natural resources are used. In Aotearoa—and especially in Whanganui, where leather production has deep historical roots—this knowledge connects us to local industry, Māori and settler traditions, and the region’s economic growth. Understanding leather’s story encourages us to value craftsmanship, think critically about our choices, and recognise Whanganui’s ongoing role in New Zealand’s heritage.

We start this term with new reading challenges!