The Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera
Lesson plans and teaching resources

This unit plan includes a study guide and answers, a Jeopardy-style game (requires MS-Powerpoint or compatible application), other projects, tests, and an extension activity connecting Antigone with The Whale Rider .

The analysis here focuses on the 2002 film version. Many of the observations also apply to the novel.

These teaching resources emphasize the film version. Included: synopsis, glossary of Maori words, discussion questions and extended learning projects based on 4 themes. 13 pages; Adobe Reader required.

A variety of approaches to the film. Access to this 5-page document requires MS-Word or compatible application.

The Whale Rider Reading Skills and Strategies. Access requires Adobe Reader.

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  Background information, character summary, vocabulary words.
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  Practice with summarizing, vocabulary, predicting.
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  Graphic organizer for making predictions. Page 2: practice with synonyms.
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  Graphic organizers for making inferences, practice with word analogies, extending the novel (problem solving) question.
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  Graphic organizer for practice with first- and third-person point of view.
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  Graphic organizer to gather details about the setting.
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  Graphic organizer to gather details/evidence from the text about each character.
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  7 discussion questions and 2 post-reading activities.
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  10 questions.

This resource focuses on the film version and offers lots of suggestions for discussion. This 4-page document requires Adobe Reader or compatible application for access.