Vocabulary and Inference Worksheet

He Rāhui — School Journal, June 2023, Level 3

Name:

Date:

🎯 WALT & Success Criteria

We Are Learning To use context clues and prior knowledge to understand new vocabulary and make inferences about the text.

I can:

✅ Identify unfamiliar words and infer their meaning using context clues

✅ Justify my inferences with evidence from the text

✅ Reflect on my reasoning and consider different interpretations

📖 Part 1: Vocabulary Exploration

Find two unfamiliar words from He Rāhui. Use the words around them (context clues) to work out what they might mean.

1. Write an unfamiliar word from the text:

Word: _______________________

The sentence or phrase where I found it:

What I think it means (use context clues):

2. Write a second unfamiliar word from the text:

Word: _______________________

The sentence or phrase where I found it:

What I think it means (use context clues):

3. The word rāhui comes from te reo Māori. Based on the text, what does rāhui mean in your own words?

🔍 Part 2: Inference Questions

Answer each question using evidence from the text. Start your answer with "I think… because the text says…"

4. Why might a rāhui be important for sea life? Use evidence from the text to support your answer.

5. How does a rāhui show respect for the environment? What clues in the text helped you work this out?

6. Why do you think the author chose to write about rāhui? What might they want readers to think or do after reading?

7. Think about your own community or whānau. Does your family or community have any rules or practices that protect nature or resources? How is this similar to or different from rāhui?

8. Which inference did you find most challenging or interesting to make? Explain your reasoning — what made it tricky or surprising?

⭐ Extension Activity (Advanced Learners)

Research one other conservation method used in Aotearoa New Zealand or another part of the world (e.g., marine reserves, predator-free programmes, or a cultural practice from another community).

9. Name the conservation method you researched and write 2–3 key facts about it:

10. Prepare a short verbal summary (2–3 sentences) to share with the group in the next lesson. Practise saying it out loud. What will you say?

💬 Be ready to share your summary in Lesson 3 and compare your conservation method with rāhui!