The Whale Rider

From HyogoAJET

"The Whale Rider" is a short story presented in the LET'S READ 1 section of the 3rd year book.

Background

The story was originally a novel which was then adapted into a movie in 2002. The still pictures in the book come from that movie. The basic story is of a village leader (Koro) who lacks a male heir in his family and is searching for a new leader for the village. Koro's only grandchild, a girl named Kahu (Pai in the movie), is determined to prove her worth to her grandfather and become village leader. He devises a test to find a new leader by throwing a stone into the sea. None of the boys can retrieve but Kahu secretly does. Later, she is able to finally prove her worth by leading a group of beached whales back to sea (i.e., riding one) and almost dying in the process.

Introducing to Students

I had to introduce the story to my students using the picture cards provided with the textbook. I tell the story by asking a series of questions that follow this basic progression (I try to use the new vocab words in my presentation and ask them about the meanings):

1. Who is the village leader? (Koro)
2. His only grandchild is Kahu (Pai in the film)
3. There is a test for the new leader: find the stone.
4. Kahu finds the stone, but that is a secret.
5. She only tells her Nanny (slang for Grandmother).
6. Beached whales (whales that swam onto the beach).
7. Kahu saves the whales and becomes leader.

The story itself is pretty straightforward and dry, so I branch off into other interesting, related topics, such as:

• The Maori people live in New Zealand. Maori are Polynesian people. Hawaiians are Polynesian people too. Show a map of the Polynesian region.
• Who makes a better leader? Girls? Boys? They are the same? Get their opinions and see how they relate to those of Koro.
• I mention that this story was also a movie. I have heard of some classes that actually watch the movie.

Trivia

• The movie was apparently well received and the actress who portrayed Kahu actually received an Academy Award Nomination for her performance (Best Actress). She was the youngest actress to ever be nominated in that category.
• The actress who plays Kahu actually had a small part in Star Wars III. She played the new Queen of Naboo. Perhaps your kids will be able to recognize her from that.

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1st Year	I Am Tanaka Kumi ・ Ming's House ・ I Play Football ・ At a Nature Park ・ My Friends in Okinawa ・ Assistance Dogs ・ Students in the USA ・ Language Games ・ A Letter from the UK
2nd Year	Life in Australia ・ School Web Reports ・ At the Zoo ・ Ainu ・ Speech - 'My Dream' ・ Ratna Talks about India ・ How Can We Find Out? ・ Landmines and Children
3rd Year	Wonder Rings ・ Interview with Ms Kileo ・ Kumi Visits China ・ Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes ・ The Whale Rider ・ Places to Go, Things to Do ・ I Have a Dream ・ A Vulture and a Child ・ Sharing with Language
Misc	Englipedia (1st Year) ・ Englipedia (2nd Year) ・ Englipedia (3rd Year)