Whale Rider tells the story of a Māori girl who challenges generations of cultural tradition and assumptions about gender. Introduce students to Aotearoa / New Zealand and Māori culture, with lessons and class activities across the curriculum.
For a film-book pairing, teach the Whale Rider movie with the book it was based on, The Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera.
Watch it on Amazon and other streaming platforms. Or buy the Blu-ray or DVD.
Lesson 1: Who Are the Maori?
Subject: Social Studies
Lesson Grades: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Lesson 2: Viewing Whale Rider
Subject: Film Literacy, Media Literacy
Lesson Grades: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Lesson 3 The World Outside, The Spirit Within
Subject: Social Studies
Lesson Grades: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Lesson 4: Māori Roles and Relationships
Subject: Social Studies
Lesson Grades: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Lesson 5: Insights Into Māori Culture
Subject: Geography, Social Studies
Lesson Grades: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Lesson 6: Culture and Gender
Subject: Social Studies, Sociology
Lesson Grades: 7, 8, 9, 10
Lesson 7: Special Effects and Music
Subject: Film Literacy, Media Literacy, Music, Visual Literacy
Lesson Grades: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Lesson 8: Echolocation
Subject: Science
Lesson Grades: 7, 8, 9, 10
Lesson 9: Counting the Uncountable
Subject: Math
Lesson Grades: 7, 8, 9, 10
Lesson 10: Markings of the Māori
Subject: Visual Arts
Lesson Grades: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
These tips can help you create safe space for classroom engagement on the themes and subjects of this film.
The Glossary of Film Terms is useful for the Film Literacy lessons that are part of this curriculum guide.
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