Maori Myths

In Room 5 we have been reading and learning about Maori myths such as Tane and the Stars and Kahu and the Taniwha. We then created our own myths influenced by Maori culture and language.

The Fight by Sherlyn 

How the Volcanoes and Mountains came to be by Sativa

How Rugby was created by Eli

How the Moa became extinct by Torres

The was an old man....

We created our very own limericks.

The Accident

We used the storyboard below as inspiration for a short narrative focussing on dialogue.

The Accident By Sherlyn

One chaotic Monday morning in Auckland City a man named Bob was zooming to work. He sped past all the other cars. “Move on you lazy people , don’t you know I’m late for work! ’’ mumbled the grumpy grouch Bob. He couldn't stop thinking why his wife didn’t let the kids just walk to school !

The thought kept on filling up in his head and wouldn’t let go. He just couldn’t concentrate on the road . Suddenly an old man began to stroll across the road . Grumpy old Bob braked. ‘’Hurry up you stupid old man’’ he screamed. But the man just couldn’t hear Bob, maybe he was deaf.

“Boom, Zam, Splat, Kapow” A crack raised up Bob’s car. He turned around furiously . A Tow Truck caught his eye. “This day has gone from bad to worse” Bob frowned. “Don’t you worry sir we will call a tow truck’’ giggled the Tow Truck drivers.

The Accident by Torres

“Move along you old timer!” On a Monday morning at 8:45, the city was overloaded with busy citizens. The old timer had just woken up and was ready to have a little walk in the city. “beep!”,”vroom!” A car zoomed passed. Just as the car was about to go over the lights the old timer stepped out onto the road. “Shreeeeeeek!” the car stopped suddenly but the old man just kept walking like nothing had happened. “Hey, use your eyes!” The truck behind didn’t see the commotion and crashed into the car. “BANGGGG!” “THUD!” the man turned around shouted. “WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU!” “I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR!” “S-S-S-S-S-Sorry” said the driver of the truck. “Gees...wait aren’t you a tow truck!?”

 The Accident by Priscilla

Honk, honk! “Get out of the way!” It was a busy Friday afternoon. (I guess everybody wanted to get home quickly.) Jake had just finished work. Now he had to pick up the kids Bella and Ella. At the crossroads where Jake was about to cross, an old man stepped out onto the road. The old man Douglas was covered with wrinkles. He had big round glasses because he was almost blind. Jake was looking around for a lavatory because he suddenly needed to go. Then there was shouting, the next moment everything was just screeches and honks. Tyre marks marked the black road. Douglas just kept walking through without one hesitation through the whole situation. Then, CRASH!!!  The tow-truck behind Jake’s car splintered the back of his car. It felt like the biggest bump from a bumper car. Finally the old man finished crossing. Jake could not move, so he had to call a tow-truck. "I thought tow-trucks were supposed to tow cars away?"

Describing Settings

In writing we have been working on describing a variety of different settings

What a dump!

As part of narrative writing we described the setting below.

The Dump!

I was rummaging through the dump searching for my long lost teddy bear. Flocks of screeching seagulls searched the landfill as if it was their restaurant. On the menu our food scraps. A rotten smell caught my nose and would not let go. Ravenous rats and creepy cockroaches scattered everywhere as I walked along. Chicken, cow and pig bones lay on the ground like an animal cemetery. Plastic bags were flying around doing cartwheels and dancing in the air. Rusty cans with the labels peeled off sat amongst snotty used tissues. Maggots squirmed out of mouldy old pizza boxes. This was possibly the worst day of my life.

Kahu and the Taniwha

After reading Gavin Bishop's 'Kahu and the Taniwha' we retold this Maori myth using our own words. We focussed on describing the setting, characters and problem in the narrative.

Kahu and the Taniwha by Eli

Between Rotorua and Waikato stood a maunga. On this foggy maunga were two paths. One was a short and skinny path and the other was long and wide. When people took the short path they saw smoke rising in front of thousands of broken bones and dead trees. The short path led to a cold damp ana with no people to be seen.

In this terrible ana their lived a terrifying taniwha crunching on bones and skulls. The taniwha had wings like an enormous bat and dragon eyes. His scales deflected spears and arrows. His eyes gave people nightmares when the darkness entered their souls. His fiery breath burned the trees as he searched out his prey. His claws caught and grabbed at flesh. He cared for no one but himself.

Kahu was a young Waikato chief. He was fed up with having to take the long path to see his girlfriend, Koka in Rotorua. One day Kahu said to Koka’s father “If I convince the taniwha to go to the other side of the maunga could I marry your daughter?” In a deep voice Koka’s father replied, “Yes, let me help you. That taniwha likes scratches on his back”. The strong, smart Kahu to the taniwha’s ana and started scratching his back. “Oohh, Aargh” said the taniwha. Kahu said “If I find you a wife to scratch your back whenever you want will you move to the other side of the maunga?” The taniwha growled calmly and said “I will”.

Kahu returned to his village to find Pukaka. Pukaka was a lazy scruffy woman who had not combed her hair for over twenty years. Pukaka’a hair was messy and tangled with fleas. Kahu said “I have found you a husband, he lives on the short path to Rotorua. Pukaka replied “but there’s only a taniwha that lives there”. “That’s him” said Kahu. Pukaka thought fro a while and said “well living with that beast must be better than living in this pig sty”. So Pukaka went to the taniwha’s ana, sneaked up and started scratching his back. The taniwha said “oohh, that’s nice” when he looked he saw a revolting, dirty woman scratching his back. The taniwha said in disgust “Yuck”. Pukaka replied “but I will scratch your back whenever you want”. The taniwha then lifted up Pukaka  and went to the long path to make up his part of the deal with Kahu.

A dew weeks later Kahu married Koka in Rotorua. Kahu and Koka’s whanau celebrated with them. They all had a feast of kumara, fish and chicken. They were so happy until out of the sky the taniwha’s claws snatched Koka out of jealousy. Kahu had ferocious anger in his eyes. He gathered a group of young men to kill the taniwha. They set up a trap in the trees to finally kill the beast. Kahu went to the taniwha’s ana and mocked him. His fierce eyes stared at the taniwha and he pulled a pukana. The scaly giant chased Kahu down the maunga. As they got near the trap Kahu shouted “now”. The men pulled as hard as they could and ropes tore the taniwha’s neck.

Kahu carried Koka to her village and the people of Rotorua and the Waikato rejoiced.

Kahu and the Taniwha by Torres

Between Rotorua and Waikato stood a maunga. On this maunga there was two paths, one short and one long. On the long foggy path there was broken trees and terrified screams hung in the air. The cold misty air blew everywhere. The crows flapped furiously. They sent warning calls. On the short path there was a never ending cave. Inside that cave there was scattered and crushed bones. Outside burnt, dead grass. On the cold freezing floor lay piles of chewed clothes left with huge globs of saliva. In that terrifying ana there was a horrifying monster. It’s terribly long falcon like head could tear open a whole house. His enormous bat like wings spread from one side of the cave to the other. It’s crocodile body and tail was nearly too long for it’s habitat. His gigantic ram horns so strong, they could butt down three trees at once. His large fiery eyes were so hot with rage that they could make your body sweat with fright.

In a nearby village there lived a young Waikato chief named Kahu. Kahu was a handsome, strong and brave man. He was a very wise and fast chief. He was sick of going on the long path to visit his girlfriend Koka. One day when he was visiting Koka. He asked her father “If I persuade the taniwha to move to the other side of the mountain, will you let me marry your daughter?’’ “Very well, yes” said Koka’s father surprised that a young man could be so brave ”but let me tell you something, the taniwha likes to have it’s back scratched” So with hearing this, Kahu slowly crept towards the taniwha’s ana. Kahu slowly started to scratch his scaly back. “OOhhhhhh, a bit lower please - mmmmmm” he growled. “I can find you a wife to scratch your back everyday” said Kahu “but you must promise to move to the long path on the other side of the maunga”. “Yes, yes” replied the taniwha.

Kahu returned to his village in the Waikato to find Pukaka. She lived in a disgusting hovel with fleas hopping and mosquitoes buzzing around. Her hideous hair was covered with flies and lice crawling all over. Kahu was nearly sick just looking at her, she was the most revolting woman in his village. “I’ve found you a husband” said Kahu. “He lives on the short path to Rotorua. “But only a taniwha lives there” said Pukaka. “Mmmmmm” thought Pukaka “I suppose living with a taniwha must be better than living in this dump”. So Kahu led Pukaka to the taniwha’s cave. “Now go in and start scratching it’s back” Kahu whispered. “OOOOHhhh, Arghhhh”. The taniwha turned around to see who was scratching his back. “Oh Yuck, you are disgusting I can’t even bear to look at you” shouted the taniwha. “But I will scratch your back, whenever you want me to” said Pukaka. “Well OK” said the taniwha. So to keep his side of the bargain he flew to the long path to make a new home.

A few weeks later Kahu married Koka in Rotorua. Kahu, Koka and whanau had a fine feast of hangi and roast pork. After the wedding they headed back to Waikato. The taniwha heard the noise and flew up to see what it was. The taniwha spotted the beautiful Koka. He was jealous. He thought about the ugly Pukaka, Koka was so much more beautiful than her. So with an enormous roar the taniwha swooped down and grabbed Koka in his claws soaring back to his old ana.

Kahu was furious and heartbroken. He sent out a mob of muscular young men that had hearts brave enough to rescue Koka from the man-eating beast. When they reached the ana Kahu ran up to the taniwha. “I’ve come to get Koka” he shouted in fury. “Mwa hahahaha, don’t make me cry with laughter” said the taniwha. Kahu shot out his tongue in a pukana. Then at the speed of light he raced down the maunga. The taniwha ran after him with his terrible jaws gaping wide. Then Kahu reached the bottom of the maunga and ran into the bush. “Now” shouted Kahu and the men pulled the trap around the taniwha’s neck and chopped the beast’s head off. As soon as the monster was dead Kahu carried Koka out of the ana. The whanau was overjoyed.

Guess Who?

In shared writing we worked on describing characters. Our aim was to 'show not tell' who the characters are. Can you guess what the following characters do for a profession?

Character 1

He enters the room in the morning with his cup of tea. He sits at his messy desk filled with tests and papers. Whiteboard markers tucked into his pockets. Six hours of signing, testing and also marking ahead. He drinks his tea to soothe his sore throat from yelling. His patience strained as he hears kids yelling in the playground. Patches of his greying hair missing from him pulling it out. “Only 8 more weeks till Christmas!”

Character 2

She patrols the streets, working hard day and night. The crackle of the walkie talkie alerts her to danger. The sound of sirens wailing, her colleagues in fast pursuit. Her fierce, snarling canine sniffing tracks ahead. The light shines above from the helicopter. She is getting close...

Character 3

I sit in the chair and wait in terror. He is feared by many. He makes bridges and crowns. The drilling sound haunts my nights. He hates treats and sweets. His waiting room is very busy after Halloween and Easter. His strong coffee breath overwhelms me as he tells me to “open wide”. He wears a mask and shines a light on my quivering chompers. Sharp silver tools scrape the inside of my mouth, causing my tongue to shudder.  “Oh why did I eat all that chocolate?”

Awesome Alliteration

In writing we discussed how we can use alliteration as a way to describe characters. Enjoy our attempts at awesome alliteration.

WALT – Use alliteration to describe characters

Arav – Metal monkeys are mental on Monday mornings.

Kishan – Stubborn slugs slither slowly in September.

Ansh – A Lovely, little lonely leprechaun loved luscious lilies.

Dev – Mischievous monkeys munch on Moro and Mars bars. 

Priscilla – Loyal Larry likes to lick luscious lollipops.

Amelia – The mischievous mummy makes a mess in the museum.

Chantelle – Grouchy, greedy goats catch chubby Chihuahua’s in Chile.

Sherlyn – The stubborn starfish stared strangely at the sea serpeant.

Risa – Adventurous Andy ate angry apes

Kalani – The bouncy blowfish blows bubbles in his bathtub

Eli – Clever crocodiles catch canaries and carry the carcasses to the contest.

Israel – Clever and confident Caleb climbs cliffs for cash

Sebastian – Evil Eli the elephant eats eagle’s eggs at Easter.

Jolui – A rusty robot raced to the river without reversing.

Espen – Cautious Chris carried his cookies carefully

Torres – The puffy pigeon pooped pulverised pears

Kevin – Common Californian cobras are clever at catching cats.

Hemish – Angry American apes attack Auckland

Anthony – Silly Sherlyn spoiled Santa’s sleigh

Samarah – Clever Clara fixes cuckoo clocks

Nuha – The perfectly polite pirate had the potential to be president of Peru

Sativa - Mean Mrs Marshall made me make a mistake

Aaliya – The wicked witch whipped her wand at the wizard

My Mechanical Creation by Israel

Here is Israel's narrative inspired by the animation 'Girl and Robot'

My Mechanical Creation by Israel

“Clunk, Clunk” I put some screws and bolts in place. Then I stared at the bulky mechanical creation. It stood in the middle of the laboratory staring blankly at me with its eyes flickering on and off. The ten ft high mechanical oval had short stumpy legs. The hatch in it let me operate and fix him.

My father's plans were scattered all over his wooden tool box. I asked myself “what could have gone wrong?” All those hours spent in the laboratory wasted. I threw the plans across the lab. The plans just bounced off the giant's face. “AARRGGHH” I screeched in frustration.

I twisted the wheel to release steam from the steam tank then went to push the lever again on full pressure. Everything was on full throttle. I thought it was a bit too chaotic so I tried to pull the lever down a rank but the lever snapped. I fell back and hit my head really hard on the steam tank and passed out.

I woke up. A look of terror and confusion formed on my face. I was in the gigantic robot’s hand. The robot's eyes were on but then flickered off. I reached out to touch his face. Its face was as cold as ice. A girder had penetrated the robots back. It struggled to hold the weight of the girder. He had sacrificed his life for me. My mechanical creation was lifeless again.

The First Robot by Kevin

Here is Kevin's narrative inspired by the animation 'Girl and Robot'

The First Robot

“Bang bang” I just finished tightening the compartments of my newest creation. Viewing my creation I thought “stupendous!”

Limb to limb bulky titanium patches were attached and tightened chain pulleys were placed inside of the iron patches. The plans were placed on my father's work table. The basement was filled with dirt and sand.

Hopefully all these rough months of loneliness and working late nights would pay off. I longed to have created the first man made robot that would change the human race. “It all comes down to this” I thought. “This is for you dad”.

“Shreech” I loosened the wheel to release steam. I pushed the lever to full blast. The cold lifeless eyes flickered on. Suddenly a cold chill ran down my spine. The light bulb eyes stared blankly at me just as before. “No, no, no, no this can’t be”, all the months just for a piece of rubbish.  “There must be an issue somewhere” I thought. I hesitated “here goes again but this time a bit more pressure might just do the trick”.

“Click, click, click, click”, “bang”, “what was that?” I exclaimed. “Turn it off, turn it off!” I thought. A huge screw barely missed me as it burst from the pipe. The last thing I remember was collapsing.

I opened my eyes. I was devastated to see that the robot had sacrificed himself to save me. “But why?” I thought. “Pfff” a huge patch of titanium fell on the ground and created a dust storm. I was looking directly into his flickering lightbulb eyes. “Sorry dad, I failed you”.

Girl and Robot by Kalani

Here is Kalani's narrative inspired by the animation 'Girl and Robot'

Girl and Robot By Kalani.

“Clink, clink, clink!” I put on the finishing touches onto my grandpa’s latest invention. The circular light bulb eye’s stared blankly as I test drove it. His enormous square strong arms stood relaxed without moving. The short steady legs stood silently, stable as I looked at how perfect it was. But my grandpa’s latest invention was not working. I looked back at the plan’s I didn’t see anything wrong” “What could be missing?” I asked.

I carefully looked at the plan’s one more time, but I couldn’t understand the plan’s now, “AHHH, I’ve done EVERYTHING!” I shouted in frustration. I didn’t want to look at the plan’s anymore so I carelessly crumpled up the plan’s and across the laboratory it went.

“Cling!” As I pulled the lever forward, “Boom, boom” went the pumps. The robot’s eye’s flickered on and off. “ZZZZZ, roo” went the eye’s. No matter how much I tried, The robot kept on shutting down. After all my tries, I pushed the lever as far as it could go. The pumps went faster than my heartbeat, and the steam escaped like  from a broken down car. I felt happier at this point because the eye’s started turning on faster. But what I didn’t recognise was that the steam inside the pipes was filling up. The dial went up to the highest level 500, so I tried to yank the lever back but the lever slipped out of my hand and I fell. The last thing I remember was passing out.

I could feel the warmth that came from the robot’s eye’s. I slowly woke up, and I realised that I was lying in his hand. The first thing I saw was his metal face. I carefully reached out and touched his warm face. I felt very upset because I had broken my grandpa and mine’s invention. After, I looked at the lab, it looked like a tornado had struck it. As soon as I saw the girder on the robot’s back, I felt so sorry for him, because I knew he was struggling to hold on. My robot was now lifeless. “What can I do now?” I cried.

My Robot by Ansh

Here is Ansh's narrative inspired by the animation 'Girl and Robot'.

My Robot by Ansh

“Crrr, crrr, clunk, clunk” I tightened the bolts on my creation.  His lightbulb eyes stared at me blankly.  He was a ten feet tall metal giant.  His enormous metal body was held together by bolts and screws.  His stumpy legs held up this one tonne monster.  When I touched his cold, powerless body a shiver ran down my spine.

I walked over to my plans thinking “what have I done wrong?” I sat down, looking at my great-grandfather's unfinished invention.  I crumpled up the plans and threw them onto my ancestors creation.  I started kicking cogs and wrenches in frustration as I slowly walked over to my great-grandfather’s old steam powered car.  “He could make this car but not this stupid robot”. I turned the wheel to power the steam engines and pulled the lever to make the robot start.  However the eyes just flickered on and off.

I didn’t waste any time, I turned the wheel to full power and pulled the lever.  My machine turned on, the steam came out like steam from a geyser.  I started smiling and laughing, but then I noticed that the power I had unleashed was breaking everything apart.  I tried to pull back the lever but it came off and flew out of my hand.  I ran for cover but my machine exploded before I could get to cover, the last thing I remember before passing out was smelling steam from the pipes, and falling headfirst onto a giant cog.

When I came to I saw my robot cradling me in his cracked, shattered hands.  I could feel the heat of his bulbs on my face.  My heart felt like it had been hit with a hammer and then ripped apart.  I started to slowly rub his face in tears, as I did I saw his eyes flicker off and his body fall apart. I looked around in misery looking at my demolished laboratory. I looked up,  I realised that the robot had sacrificed his life for my own.  He had stopped a giant girder from squashing me like a bug.  Depression conquered every other feeling in my body.  My creation now again lay in his cold, powerless form.

Girl and Robot by Chantelle

Here is Chantelle's narrative inspired by the animation 'Girl and Robot'

Girl and Robot by Chantelle

“Crr, crr, crr, clunk, clunk”, I tightened the bolts on my creation. I walked over to the control panel. I looked over at my grey, two toed creation once more time from top to bottom. Layer after layer of metal covered the circuit of my creation. The lightbulb eyes flickered on and off.

I looked around the floor of my lab scattered all over the metal floor were cogs and unused screws. Slowly I walked over to the plans. The scattered cogs made a ‘clank’ when I kicked them. I checked the plans “grr” I scrumpled the paper up in sheer frustration and threw it at the invention.

I had enough. I pushed the lever for maximum power “screech, pump, pump” I felt my heartbeat in time to the pistons. “My marvelous invention” I thought as the eyes came on at last. But there was too much pressure the pipes burst open. I tried to turn the steam off with the lever but it snapped in half. I felt myself falling - that was the last thing I remembered.

As I slowly opened my eyes I saw light coming from in front of me. Once my eyes were fully open I saw where the light was coming from. It came from a large rectangular shape that was connected to an egg shaped body. I firmly but gently grasped the cold metal hand. I reached up to touch his face. His eyes stayed on briefly before the light faded. His body was lifeless once more.

The Iron Giant by Sativa

Here is Sativa's narrative inspired by the animation "Girl and Robot".

The Iron Giant by Sativa

“Crr, Crrr” the light bulb eyes stared at me blankly. Strong, massive, square arms hung lifeless. I pulled the handle to release the steam needed to power my iron giant. His cold, metal, grey oval body was powerless.

I walked over to my uncle’s dusty work bench. I pulled the lever “sss, sss,sss”. The iron giant’s light bulb eyes flickered on then off. “What did I do wrong?”

I looked back at the plans but nothing was missing. I scrunched the plans and threw them with anger. I couldn’t explain how furious I was. I pulled the lever harder this time, and this time it actually worked. The steam burst out from the pipes like a train leaving the station. The pistons went faster and faster, steam covered the room like a thick fog. The pipes began to rattle and rumble. I tried to pull the lever but it got stuck and snapped. I fell backwards onto the floor. The last thing I remember was passing out.

I opened my eyes. I felt a giant steel hand under me. His eyes shone on my face. I touched his hard, metal face. The laboratory was covered in debris. A heavy girder lay in the robot’s back. He was my hero.

The Iron Giant by Priscilla

Here is Priscilla's narrative inspired by the animation 'Girl and Robot'

The Iron Giant by Priscilla

“Crrr, crrr, clink, clank” My excitement bubbled inside me as I tightened the last bolts. I sighed as my creation stared blankly back at me with its light bulb eyes. Looking at this enormous metal giant, with a rectangular head and a round body made me think “will my creation help the city, country or even the whole world?” I thought it really could. The large strong arms hung lifeless on its sides. The short but sturdy legs were still, powerless. I pulled the lever and the steam came out. The bulky giant’s eyes flickered on then off.

I went back to my grandfather’s plans. Even the plans seemed useless. I scrunched the plans and threw them towards the lifeless steel giant. I kicked a cog as I went to my toolbox, finally I found my welding torch. I went and got my ladder to fix the iron giant. After I fixed the massive iron creation I went back to the control panel. I pushed the lever to make the colossal giant move.

“Sttt, stttt, pssst” steam left the pipes. The giant’s light bulb eyes flickered on then off. “I’m not giving up!” I told myself. “I’m going to try again!” So once again I turned the wheel to release the steam, the sound reminded me of my grandfather leaving the train station for the last time.

I pushed the lever harder than before. The invention’s eyes flickered and stayed on. The excitement bubbled inside of me! But then came the disaster. The dial’s arrow rose to maximum, the pistons ran up and down faster than before. The steam rushed out as if from a pressure cooker. The dial’s popped open, the pipes started to loosen. I tried yanking the lever back but it was jammed. My head knocked on something hard and then that was it. Blackness.

As I woke up I felt something cold and hard on my back. I opened my eyes and I suddenly felt shocked to see the same lightbulb eyes staring back at me. I realised that it was my steel robot. I couldn’t believe the robot had sacrificed himself his life for mine. I reached out my hand and touched his warm face. I looked beyond my robot and I saw my laboratory covered with debris. Suddenly I saw a girder in the giant’s back. Slowly his twinkling yellow eyes faded away. He couldn’t hold it anymore, he collapsed. My iron giant was once again lifeless.