Papa’s Donuts
by Kate Moetaua
This is a story about Nika, a young Kiwi girl, and her Cook Island family. With a Kiwi mum and a Cook Island dad, Nika talks about how special she feels having cousins all over the world. Nika has an extra special relationship with her Papa. In the story she describes the night before a family wedding, when all the family stay together at her Papa’s house talking, playing cards and laughing together. In the middle of the night, Nika sneaks out of bed and down into the basement, where Papa is busy making his famous donuts for the family. Nika stays up all night, talking with Papa and helping him with his donuts. Papa’s Donuts is a special story about the importance of family and time together. There is emphasis on the multiculturalism of New Zealand.
This book was nominated because it is extremely popular with young children, and emphasises the importance of intergenerational connections. The book was also recommended for the collection because of how the story shows the reader “the daily lives of Pacific families… the flower in the hair, all the grandmas, the busyness… and where they’re all sleeping in the sitting room.”
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).
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Activity: FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS: A Special Person (English/ Health & Physical Education) |
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Curriculum Level |
1 & 2 (see curriculum links at the end of the activity) |
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NZC Key Competencies |
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Description |
1.Read the story with the children. After reading, talk about the girl in the story and the special relationships she has with the people in her family – in particular, her Papa. Ask:
2.Encourage the children to think about one special person in their family… it might be a parent, a grandparent, aunty or uncle, brother, sister or cousin.
3. Take children through a visualization, so that they are able to bring up a very clear, vivid memory of one special time with their family member (like the girls ‘donut’ experience with her Papa): I want you to think of one really special time that you had with this person in your family. Just one time. Where are you? What are you doing? How old are you? What are you saying to each other? How are you feeling at this time? Is anyone else there? Children may wish to share their memory with a buddy, or with the class. Being able to share their thoughts will help them to organise their ideas for writing.
4. This could lead on to writing about their special family memory. Children could write about what happened and how they felt at the time. The children’s writing could be published and put together in a class book, if appropriate, for children to look back over. |
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Materials |
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Curriculum Links |
English Listening, Reading and Viewing
Speaking, Writing and Presenting
Health & Physical Education Personal Health & Physical Development Personal Identity
Relationships with Other People Relationships
Interpersonal Skills
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Links to other PPBC books |
Tulevai and the Sea by Joy Cowley
A Quilt for Kiri by Don Long Selafina by Catherine Hannken Fiapule by Catherine Hannken Talia by Catherine Hannken The Pipi Swing by Sarona Aiono-Iosefa Papa’s Jandals by Lino Nelisi Turtle Songs: A Tale for Mothers and Daughters by Margaret Olivia Wolfson – all of these books describe close family relationships. |
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Other Ideas |
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