Writing

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.

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.