Thinking resources

This is a resource on sentence types. Students use four definitions of sentence types to classify six sentences.

Students read an extract from the narrative 'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn' and answer a combination of multiple-choice and short answer questions.

This practical task has two parts. The first part of this practical requires students to observe the effects of different indicators on different substances. Students use these results to identify if some other substances are acid, alkali, or neutral.

This practical task consists of two parts. Students test various substances with hydrochloric acid, iodine solution, and universal indicator, and then complete a table with their observations. The second part requires students to identify four unknown solids using their tests and results from part one.

From visual stimuli and a series of simple statements that describe physical attributes, students identify which animal is being described.

Assessment focus: finding important information and the main idea of an informational text. The text used is about an introduced species of fish which has become a pest. SJ-2-4-2005. Text provided.

Students read a text on shoplifting to answer retrieval and inferential questions.

Students read a poem, 'My Other Jandal', then answer inferential questions. The poem is provided with this resource. SJ-2-4-1994. Text not provided.

A joke about a parrot is the context for this resource that assesses understanding of idioms and the interpretation of humour.

Students read about a visit to the islands of Kiribati by a New Zealand flight inspection team to answer retrieval and inferential questions.

Students read a narrative about how a character copes with changes in her family dynamics. Students then complete three tasks focusing on that character. Assessment focus: an evaluation of a character and the author's construction of her. (The text used for this resource is reproduced under the "Working with Students" tab.) Reading age 10-12. SJ-4-2-2000. Text not provided.

This resource explores a poem written for two voices about a windy night. Text provided.

A recount about a whale watch is the context for comprehension questions that require making inferences. The recount is reproduced in the resource. SJ-1-1-1998. Text provided.

Students read a report on a fisheries officer's work and make mainly short written responses. The assessment focus is on comprehension and vocabulary. SJ-3-3-1990. Text provided.

Students create character vignettes with a focus on writing pieces that are brief, descriptive and set in one point in time. They should not be concerned with plot. As the emphasis is on quality rather than quantity, students need to show a controlled and elegant skill in writing, and to use figurative language to 'show' rather than 'tell'.

Students look at two diagrams. The first shows iron nails in test tubes with boiled water or tap water, the second shows iron nails with moisture either present or absent. Students answer five questions about these investigations.

Students evaluate a fair test about whether salt or sugar solution dissolves faster.

The assessment focus is on students' abilities to identify the details in a text that support a given, main idea.

Students read an extract about gathering water in Sāmoa to find information to fill in a chart. SJ-3-3-1999. Text provided.

Students interpret a back-to-back bar graph about apples picked by comparing and identifying patterns.

Decide whether the photographed animals are reptiles or not, and justify responses. (A fact file giving the features of reptiles is given.) Answer a question about why scientists have an agreed way of grouping living things. Assessment focus: using science-based classifications.

Students are required to compare sales represented on line graphs of the total sales and the pattern of sales over time.

For this practical task students construct a composite strip graph of the nutrient groups found in three different food products.

Students display data on a back-to-back stem-and-leaf graph to show the times taken to complete two walks. The longer of the two walks is then identified.

Students conduct a practical, statistical investigation. They decide on a question, categories, conduct the survey, tally and graph the results on a bar graph.