Teaching Resources

Other

Matariki Unit (Years 7–8)

This is a full cross-curricular unit for Years 7–8 that covers the topic properly. It moves through Science, Maths, English, Social Science, Arts, Music, and Food Tech in a way that actually hangs together rather than feeling like a bunch of separate activities stapled together to try and suit a theme. Use it as a two to three week unit or pick and choose what fits your programme. Everything is ready to project, print, and hand out. What's included: • 20+ slide presentation • 10 matching worksheets • Short fiction story about grief and Matariki, with five response questions • Research worksheet and fact sheet (no internet needed) • Coordinate geometry activity using the nine stars • Music worksheet imagining a soundscape for each star • Night sky pastel art with step-by-step visuals • Traditional instruments slides with listening links • Bread recipe and evaluation worksheet • Star biscuits recipe with design planning • Writing reflection with prompts for remembrance, connection, and goals • Word search with 20 key vocab words Why teachers like it: • Saves hours of planning • Covers multiple curriculum areas without feeling forced • Good mix of discussion, research, creativity, hands-on, and reflection • Flexible enough to suit any timetable Years 7–8 | NZ Curriculum aligned | PDF and editable Canva links

Writing

Poetry Bundle — New Zealand Edition (Years 5–8)

A 5-week poetry unit designed for New Zealand classrooms, with 33 engaging slides and 9 printable worksheets. It covers similes, metaphors, personification, rhyme, non-sense, haiku & sensory poems, and performance tasks. Plus more! Students explore a range of poetic styles and study the work of well-known poets to inspire their own writing. Classroom-tested and ready to go — just follow the slides and print the matching worksheets when prompted.

Science

Exploring Elements — Interactive Periodic Table (Years 5–8)

This interactive resource helps students build curiosity and confidence when learning about the elements. The interactive periodic table lets students click on any of the first 20 elements to learn more about them in a fun and engaging way. Start by exploring it together as a class, which works especially well for guiding students through the key properties of each element. Once they have had a chance to explore, encourage them to do this again more independently at a later date. After exploring, students can match each element to its description, which include some examples connected to everyday life. Once matched, they can glue the pairs together to create their own flashcards or use them to play a matching game like "pairs." Whether used for whole-class exploration or independent extension, this resource brings science to life in a way that is visual, hands-on, and easy to differentiate.

Other

Te Reo Māori Weather — Slides, Matching Game & Flashcards

A simple, engaging way to teach te reo Māori weather vocabulary in your classroom. This ready-to-use resource helps students build confidence using everyday weather words through clear visuals, structured practice, and hands-on activities. Everything is designed to be easy to implement and work for a range of learners, whether you're introducing weather words for the first time or reinforcing prior learning. Use the slides to introduce each weather word, display the poster for ongoing reference, and reinforce learning through flashcards and the matching game. Perfect for whole-class lessons, small group work, or independent practice.

Writing

Descriptive Writing Bundle — Slides, Worksheets & Writing Prompts (Years 5–8)

This descriptive writing bundle gives you everything you need to teach and practise descriptive writing in one place. With clear teaching slides, scaffolded worksheets, and engaging writing prompts, it's designed to build confidence and improve student writing step by step. The slides introduce key concepts like show don't tell, similes, metaphors, and personification in a clear, student-friendly way. The worksheets provide structured follow-up activities with examples and support, while the prompts give students engaging images paired with four sentence starters to help them get ideas down and expand their writing. This bundle works across a range of levels — students who need support can use the scaffolds provided, while more confident writers can extend and build on their ideas independently.

Writing

Explanation Writing Unit — New Zealand Edition (Years 5–8)

This explanation writing unit is designed for New Zealand classrooms, with 14 engaging slides and 27 printable worksheets, examples and scaffolds. Covers the structure and features of explanation texts, topic sentences, technical vocabulary, structure, and linking ideas — with real-life topics like our native environment and science. Students learn to explain how and why things happen using clear structure and subject-specific language. Classroom-tested and easy to follow — just work through the slides and use the worksheets when prompted.

Maths

Practise to Progress — Year 5 Term 2 Daily Maths Warm-Ups

Practise to Progress is a daily maths warm-up designed to help Year 5 students revisit key skills regularly, so learning has a better chance of moving into long-term memory. Each day includes six quick questions: four Number questions and two Strand questions. The questions provide regular, low-pressure practice with previously taught concepts, helping students build confidence, strengthen recall, and retain important maths skills over time. This Term 2 version is aligned with where Year 5 students should be tracking by this stage of the year. It can also be used with older students who need extra consolidation or classes that benefit from regular revision. Term 1, 3 and 4 versions are coming soon, so the practice can continue across the year.

Environmental

Predator Free NZ Bundle — Native Wildlife & Pests

Explore how introduced predators affect New Zealand's native wildlife, and what we can do to help. This Years 5-8 bundle pairs engaging teaching slides with hands-on worksheets, reading activities, word searches and matching games — perfect for a science or environmental inquiry unit. Digital, printable and editable.