Grandad
by Janet Pereira
This story tells of a young Maori girl who is coming to terms with the death of her beloved Grandad. She tells of the things that make her Grandad special, and of how she struggles to accept the idea of him getting older and becoming more and more sick and frail. When he eventually dies, the story beautifully interweaves the responses of Maori, Pacific Island and Pakeha into the grieving process, as different family members find different ways to express their beliefs and traditions.
A story about love and loss, which has been exquisitely illustrated by Bruce Potter. His watercolour images show clearly the emotion in the faces of Grandad’s grieving family.
This book was nominated because it represents multicultural New Zealand.
Please note that these activities are suggestions which have not yet been trialled. We welcome any feedback on how they play out in the classroom (see the feedback section).
Activity: LOSING A LOVED ONE (English) |
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Curriculum Level | 1, 2 & 3(see curriculum links at the end of the activity) |
NZC Key Competencies |
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Activity |
1. Read the story with the children. After reading, establish that the narrator is a young girl whose Grandad has just died.Ask:
The illustrations show a lot of emotion.
2. Discuss how sad it is when we lose someone we really love. Ask:
Children may talk about things like: seeing and being able to talk to him, picking flowers to put beside his bed, helping to scatter his ashes, crying, choosing clothes for him to wear… etc. 3. Encourage the children to share their own thoughts about losing a loved person or pet. Some may have already experienced this, some may not have.
4. This could lead on to writing about losing a loved person or pet. Children could write about what happened and how they felt at the time. How did others feel and act? What helped you to change the way you were feeling? How do you remember that person or pet now?
5. The children’s writing could be published and put together in a class book, if appropriate, for children to look back over. They will see that everyone grieves the loss of a loved one in different ways – both culturally and personally. |
Taking it further |
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Materials |
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Links to other books in PPBC |
The Pipi Swing by Sarona Aiono-Iosefa
A Quilt for Kiriby Don Long – both of these books deal with the death of a close family member |
Curriculum Links | English Listening, Reading and Viewing
Speaking, Writing and Presenting
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Other Ideas |
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