Making meaning resources

Students describe what a thesaurus is, and label the features of a thesaurus.

Students complete a cloze passage on how forests prevent erosion. They add words to create well-formed sentences.

Students complete a cloze passage with 25 blanks on octopuses. A scoring guide with replacement words/synonyms and guidelines for interpretation are included.

Students complete a cloze passage with 24 blanks on insects. A scoring guide with replacement words/synonyms and guidelines for interpretation are included.

The traditional fable of 'Hare and Tortoise' is presented as a cloze article in this resource. Students draw on their knowledge of grammar and vocabulary to create well-formed sentences.

Students complete a cloze passage about a type of beetle to create well-formed sentences.

This resource comprises a report on the control of traffic in the Holland Tunnel in New York presented as a cloze exercise. Students use comprehension skills to complete the gaps with their own vocabulary.

Students look at a cartoon and make interpretations in looking at visual features.

Students read a visual presentation about manufacturing processes and identify information in the text and why certain visual techniques are used.

Students study a brochure and identify the visual features that link to its purpose.

This assessment takes the context of the New Zealand flag and has questions that focus on presenting, layout, symbols, and visual cues.

In Part 1 students identify visual techniques used within a static image and describe how they support the meaning of the poem. In Part 2, students create a text to communicate ideas visually. Annotated student work samples of Part 2 are provided.

Students identify the visual techniques used within a static image and describe how they support the meaning of the written text.

The parts of a book provide the context for this resource with 12 questions on the various components of a book.

Students are assessed on their ability to identify the main idea of a text that recounts one person's experience of a Tryathlon.

Students are assessed on their ability to identify the main idea of a narrative concerning one child's experience of White Sunday in Sāmoa.

This comprehension task assesses a student's ability to use evidence in a text to work out what a poem could be about as it is disclosed in stages.

A tale about a character who resolves a problem creatively provides the context for this cloze exercise. Students use their vocabulary and knowledge of grammar to fill in the missing words.

Assessment focus: ability to use contextual clues to infer meaning of a word. (There is a link to the text used for this resource in the Using this Resource section.) Reading age 9.5-10.5. SJ-2-2006. Text provided.

Students read a poem then retrieve information to answer comprehension questions. SJ-1-1-1999. Text not provided.

Students are assessed on knowing how to use a contents page. SJ-1-1-1999. Text provided.

This listening comprehension assessment is based on a short extract from a school journal on moving an old house. SJ-2-3-1995. Text not provided.

Students listen to a text about cacti and recall information from it in multiple-choice questions. SJ-2-3-1993. Text not provided.

Students read an extract from a drama script and answer questions on props, dialogue, and stage sets. (The text used is reproduced in the the Teacher information pages.) SJ-4-1-2000. Text provided.

The native bird the kakapo is the subject of this listening comprehension assessment. SJ-2-3-1992. Text not provided.