Year 7 English Lesson: Heroes, Myths & Modern Storytelling

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Year 7 English Lesson: Heroes, Myths & Modern Storytelling

🟥 Warm-Up – Speaking Practice

Discuss with a partner:

What makes someone a hero in real life?
Who is your favourite hero from a book, movie, or game? Why?
Do you think myths and legends are still important today? Why?
If you could create your own hero, what special abilities would they have?

🟧 Vocabulary and Reading

🌱 Key Terms

Word	Meaning
myth	a traditional story explaining a belief, event, or natural phenomenon
hero	a main character who shows courage or strength
quest	a journey with a goal or challenge
antagonist	a character or force that opposes the hero
prophecy	a prediction about the future
theme	a main idea explored in a story

📚 Reading: Summary of “Maui and the Sun” (NZ Myth)

Read this short summary:

Maui and the Sun is a well-known Māori myth that explains why the sun moves slowly across the sky. In the story, people complain that the days are too short and they cannot get enough work done. Maui, the clever and determined hero, comes up with a bold plan. He gathers his brothers and convinces them to help him slow the sun down.

Together, they weave strong ropes and travel to the edge of the world. At dawn, they trap the sun and command it to slow its pace. Although the sun fights back fiercely, Maui stands strong. At last, the sun agrees to travel more slowly, giving people longer days. This story highlights Maui’s courage, leadership, and quick thinking.

🟨 Comprehension Questions – Answer in Full Sentences

Why did Maui want to slow down the sun?
How did Maui convince his brothers to help him?
What did the group use to trap the sun?
What qualities does Maui show in this myth?
What message does the story teach about courage or teamwork?

🟩 Grammar / Vocabulary Application – Gap Fill

Use the words: myth – prophecy – quest – antagonist – theme – hero

A ______ often includes magical creatures and challenges.
The main ______ in many stories is a brave character who solves problems.
A common ______ in myths is the battle between courage and fear.
A ______ might warn characters about future danger.
Every good story has an ______ who creates conflict.
Maui’s story is a famous Māori ______.

🎭 Drama Activity

Choose one moment from Maui and the Sun:

convincing the brothers
weaving the ropes
capturing the sun

Act it out with your group. Focus on voice, movement, and teamwork.

🟦 Listening Task

Teacher plays a short video or audio on:

What myths are and why they exist
Heroes in different cultures
How storytellers create quests and challenges

✍️ Task:

Write down any new words you hear related to myths or storytelling.

🟪 Creative Activity: Rewrite a Myth in Modern NZ English

Choose a short part of Maui and the Sun or another myth.
Rewrite it using modern New Zealand English and a present-day setting.

Example:

Original: “Maui crept to the edge of the world.”
NZ English: “Maui wandered down to the end of the beach, right where the sea and sky looked like they were touching.”

Steps:

Choose a moment.
Rewrite 5–10 lines in your own words.
Read it aloud with a partner.

🟫 Gap Fill – Modernised Summary

Word bank: quest – teamwork – challenge – Aotearoa – sunrise – strength – solution – courage

Maui begins a ______ to fix the problem of short days.
His brothers show ______ by helping him.
They work together using ______.
The story is set in ______.
Maui searches for a ______ to the problem.
The biggest ______ is trapping the sun.
This version begins at ______.
Maui’s ______ helps him succeed.

⬛ Writing Task – 5–6 Sentences

Write a short summary of Maui and the Sun, using the words:

hero, quest, challenge, theme, courage

⬛ Class Review: I Write – We Write – You Write

Word: Hero

I Write

A hero in a story often faces challenges with bravery.
Maui is a hero because he helps his people by slowing the sun.
Heroes show that ordinary people can do extraordinary things.

We Write
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2.
3.

You Write
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2.
3.

Word: Quest

I Write

A quest is a journey where a character must complete a task.
Maui’s quest is to make the days longer for everyone.
Quests help characters grow and learn important lessons.

We Write
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2.
3.

You Write
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2.
3.

Word: Theme

I Write

A theme is the main idea or message in a story.
One theme in Maui’s story is the power of teamwork.
Stories often use themes to teach lessons about life.

We Write
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2.
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You Write
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🐂 Year 7 English Lesson: Heroes, Myths & Modern Storytelling

(Theseus and the Minotaur)

🟥 Warm-Up – Speaking Practice

Discuss with a partner:

What qualities make someone a hero?
Why do stories about heroes still exist today?
What challenges might a hero face in a story?
Would you ever volunteer to save a group of people? Why or why not?

🟧 Vocabulary and Reading

🌱 Key Terms

Word	Meaning
labyrinth	a maze that is difficult to escape
beast	a dangerous creature
sacrifice	something given up, often to avoid harm
destiny	something that is believed will happen to a person
courage	the ability to face fear or difficulty
deception	tricking someone

📚 Reading: Summary of Theseus and the Minotaur

Read this short summary:

In ancient Greece, the city of Athens was forced each year to send young people to Crete as a sacrifice to the Minotaur, a fierce half-man, half-bull monster that lived in a dark labyrinth. Theseus, the brave prince of Athens, volunteered to go so he could end the suffering of his people.

When he arrived in Crete, Princess Ariadne secretly gave him a ball of string and a sword. She advised him to tie the string to the entrance so he could find his way out again. Theseus entered the labyrinth, followed the twisting tunnels, and finally faced the terrible Minotaur.

After a fierce battle, Theseus defeated the beast and used the string to guide himself and the other youths back to safety. His bravery ended the cycle of sacrifice and brought hope to Athens. The myth teaches the importance of courage, clever planning, and standing up for others.

🟨 Comprehension Questions – Answer in Full Sentences

Why did Theseus volunteer to go to Crete?
What was the Minotaur and where did it live?
How did Ariadne help Theseus?
What challenge did Theseus face inside the labyrinth?
What lesson or message does this myth teach?

🟩 Grammar / Vocabulary Application – Gap Fill

Use the words: labyrinth – courage – sacrifice – destiny – deception – beast

The Minotaur is a dangerous ______ that lives in the maze.
Theseus shows great ______ by facing the Minotaur.
The Athenians were forced to send a yearly ______ to Crete.
Ariadne helps Theseus escape the ______ after defeating the monster.
Some people believed it was Theseus’s ______ to save his people.
Ariadne uses ______ to help Theseus succeed.

🎭 Drama Activity

Choose one moment from the myth:

Theseus volunteering to face the Minotaur
Ariadne giving Theseus the string
The battle in the labyrinth

Act it out with your group. Focus on movement, suspense, and expression.

🟦 Listening Task

Teacher plays a short video or audio on:

Greek myths
Heroes in ancient stories
How myths explained fear, bravery, or the unknown

✍️ Task:

Write down any new words you hear related to myths or adventure stories.

🟪 Creative Activity: Rewrite Part of the Myth in Modern NZ English

Choose a short part of the story and rewrite it in modern language.

Example:

Original: “Theseus prepared himself to enter the dark and endless labyrinth.”
NZ English: “Theseus took a deep breath and stepped into the pitch-black maze, hoping he wouldn’t get lost forever.”

Steps:

Pick a moment.
Rewrite 5–10 lines in your own words.
Read it aloud with a partner.

🟫 Gap Fill – Modernised Summary

Word bank: hero – maze – danger – teamwork – challenge – escape – courage – plan

Theseus becomes a ______ when he faces the Minotaur.
The labyrinth is a confusing ______.
The biggest ______ is defeating the Minotaur.
Ariadne helps Theseus by giving him a smart ______.
The story shows how ______ can lead to success.
Theseus risks ______ to save others.
The string helps him ______ the labyrinth.
Together, they show the power of ______.

⬛ Writing Task – 5–6 Sentences

Write a summary of Theseus and the Minotaur, using:

hero, challenge, courage, labyrinth, defeat

⬛ Class Review: I Write – We Write – You Write

Word: Courage

I Write

Courage means doing something even when you feel scared.
Theseus shows courage when he enters the labyrinth alone.
Stories use courage to show how people can overcome difficult challenges.

We Write
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2.
3.

You Write
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2.
3.

Word: Challenge

I Write

A challenge is something difficult that must be overcome.
The labyrinth is the greatest challenge Theseus faces.
Challenges help characters grow and become stronger.

We Write
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2.
3.

You Write
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2.
3.

Word: Hero

I Write

A hero is someone who risks something to help others.
Theseus becomes a hero when he ends the sacrifices.
Heroes often use bravery and clever thinking.

We Write
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You Write
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Peppermints and Diamonds