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Practicing Reading Comprehension Skillls Year 7-13

Year 7 Reading Comprehension Worksheet Focus Skills: Skimming, Scanning, Vocabulary, Inference, Summarising Reading Text: The School Garden Project Read the text carefully. You will use different reading strategies to answer the questions. Last year, our school started a vegetable garden behind the science block. At first, many students were unsure why the school needed it. However, the garden quickly became an important part of school life. Each class takes turns looking after the garden. Students water the plants, remove weeds, and record how fast the vegetables grow. Science teachers use the garden to teach lessons about plants and ecosystems, while health classes focus on nutrition and healthy eating. The garden has also helped students work together. Some students enjoy planning what to plant, while others prefer doing the physical work. At the end of each term, vegetables from the garden are used in cooking lessons or donated to the local food bank. Overall, the scho...
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🧱 How to Write a Short Essay (All Years)

  Universal Persuasive Essay Template (Years 7–13) 1. Introduction Introduce the topic Show that there are different viewpoints Clearly state your opinion Sentence starters: Many people believe… while others think… This topic is often debated because… In my opinion, I believe that… 📘 TEXAS Body Paragraph Model Each body paragraph should follow TEXAS : T – Topic sentence Clearly state the main idea of the paragraph E – Explain Explain what you mean Give more detail about the idea X – Example Give an example, detail, or evidence A – Analyse Explain why the example matters Link back to the question S – Summarise Sum up the paragraph Link back to your opinion 2. Body Paragraph 1 – Reason One (TEXAS) Sentence starters: One important reason is… This means that… For example… This shows that… Overall, this suggests that… 3. Body Paragraph 2 – Reason Two (TEXAS) Sentence starters: Another key reason is… This is important because… One clear example is… As a result… Therefore, this shows th...

NCEA Level 2 Persuasive Writing: Are Books better Than Movies? Model Answers

🟡 Merit-Level Essay Are Books Better Than Movies? (NCEA Level 2 – Merit) Many people argue about whether books are better than movies. While movies are popular because they are easy to watch and entertaining, books are often seen as more detailed. This essay will explain why books are generally better than movies. One reason books are better is because they include more detail . Books can describe characters’ thoughts and feelings clearly, which helps readers understand the story. In contrast , movies often leave out important parts because they have limited time. As a result , some stories lose meaning when they are turned into films. Another reason books are better is that they allow readers to use their imagination . When reading, people can picture the characters and settings in their own way. This makes the experience more personal than watching a movie, where everything is already shown. However , movies also have advantages. They can use special effects, music, and...

Model Essay: Are Books Better Than Movies?

  Model Essay: Are Books Better Than Movies? (Year 8 – Excellence style) Many people believe that books are better than movies. However , others think movies are more enjoyable because they are easier to watch. In my opinion , books are better than movies, although both have their strengths. Firstly , books allow readers to use their imagination . When reading a book, you can picture the characters, settings, and events in your own way. This makes reading more personal , because everyone imagines the story differently. Unlike movies , books do not show everything for you, which can make the story more interesting. Another reason books are better is that they usually include more detail . Books can explain characters’ thoughts and feelings in depth, which helps readers understand the story better. In comparison , movies often leave out important parts to fit the story into a short time. Because of this , books can feel more complete and meaningful. On the other hand , movies ...

Model Essay: Are Football Players Paid Too Much?

  Model Essay: Are Football Players Paid Too Much? (Year 8 – Excellence style) Many people think football players are paid too much money for playing a sport. However , others believe their high pay is fair . In my opinion , football players are paid a lot, but there are good reasons for this. Firstly , football players help make a huge amount of money for clubs and competitions. Millions of fans watch games on TV, go to stadiums, and buy team shirts. Because of this , football clubs earn large amounts of money, and the players are the main reason people watch. If there were no talented players , football would not be as exciting or popular. Another reason football players are paid so much is because their job is very physical and risky . Players train almost every day and have to stay very fit. Injuries can happen easily and can sometimes end a player’s career early. Most football careers are short , so players need to earn their money while they can. On the other hand ,...

🟥English: Writing a Recount

How to Write a Recount What is a recount? A recount is a piece of writing that tells what happened. It tells events in time order (first, next, then, finally). We usually write a recount to: tell a story share an experience explain what we did Structure of a Recount 1. Orientation (Beginning) Tell: Who was there? Where did it happen? When did it happen? 👉 Example: Last Saturday, I went to the park with my family. 2. Events (Middle) Tell what happened in order. Use time words: first next then after that finally 👉 Example: First, we had a picnic. Then we played football. After that, we went home. 3. Ending (Conclusion) Tell how you felt or what you thought. 👉 Example: I felt happy and tired. It was a great day. Language to Use in a Recount ✔ Past tense verbs: went, played, saw, ate, had, enjoyed ✔ Time words: first, next, then, after that, finally ✔ Personal words: I, we, my, our  ✏️ Let’s Practise! 1. Put the sentences in order (1–4) ☐ We ate ice cream. ☐ I went to th...

🟦Doing Something New: How to Focus on What Really Matters

Simple Homemaking: How to Focus on What Really Matters Inside: There are a million things you could be doing at home, but only a few that you need to be doing. Here’s how to strip away all the fluff and keep your schedule simple. What are those must-dos for homemakers? What are things you do and know that you got enough done? Not the bare minimum, but enough? What if you don’t want a multistep morning routine or a big garden, and you need to focus on foundations? 1. A Load of Laundry, Start to Finish 1. Having a laundry day can be overwhelming because the problem is now huge. And if you miss it…chaos. But doing a load of laundry every single day is simple. When you wake up, start it. After breakfast, move it to the dryer. Before lunch, fold it and put it away. If it’s one of your children’s baskets, have them put it away. Don’t sort into lights and darks. Have everyone keep a basket in their room for dirty clothes. Wash them all as one load. Then you never have to sort by person. They’...

🟨Exploring Christchurch: World Buskers Festival

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