Introduction:

This book is called A Farmyard Party
In this story a whole lot of farm animals turn up for a party.

Probes:       Can you tell me about...

1. ...the animals in the story.

Questions:

1. How many ducks were there? Show me where it says that.
2. What were some of the party things they had at the party?
3. Think of some of the problems or troubles they might have at this party, and tell me about them.

Text:

A Farmyard Party

One horse.

Two cows.

Three sheep.

Four pigs.

Five chickens.

Six ducks.

A farmyard party.

[Whole book]

Introduction:

This story from the Under the Rainbow collection is called The Tree that Could Not be Cut Down.

In this legend we are told how Tane, Mäori god of the forests, plants his trees and asks all the birds and insects to look after them. All is well until a man named Rata wants to cut down one of these precious trees.

Probes:       Can you tell me about...

1. ...how Rata chose his tree.

2. ...what the birds and insects were worried about.

Questions:

1. Why did Rata want a canoe? Show me where it says that.

2. How do you think Tane would feel when he saw the fallen tree?

3. What things do you think will happen next in the story?

Text:

Now near the forest of Tane, there was a village of houses and people. One of the men in the village was called Rata.

One day, Rata said, "I want a canoe. If I had a canoe, I could sail out to sea and catch fish for my people. I will go to the forest. I will cut down a tree and make my canoe."

Rata took his axe and went into the forest of Tane. He found a tall, straight tree growing nearly as high as the sky. "Ah!" said Rata. "This will make a good canoe." He chopped at the tree with his axe. The sound of the blows rang through the forest. Chips from the tree flew thick and fast. Rata chopped all day, and at last the tree fell down. Rata looked at the fallen tree. "Soon it will be dark," he said. "I will not work any more today. In the morning, I will finish my canoe."

So Rata left the tree lying in the forest, and went off to his village.

As soon as he had gone, all the birds and insects crept out of the trees. "What will Tane say? What will Tane do?" The insects and birds talked and twittered, until Fantail said, "We must put the tree together again."

[Excerpt]

Introduction:

This story is called The Sea-Child and His Kite.

This is a story about a trick played by a sea-god. The sea-god turns some clothes left by the sea into a boy called Whaka. Whaka likes to play with his kite in the sea. People could see the kite but not the boy, so they thought it was magic.

Probes:       Can you tell me about...

1. ...what the boy was doing.

2. ...why the people watched and waited.

Questions:

1. Why did the people see Whaka playing? Show me where it says that.

2. What do you think would happen if the people caught Whaka?

3. Who do you think Apa-kura was and why did Whaka want her?

Text:

One day, when Whaka was flying his kite, he came to a place where the water was shallow. He came out of the sea. People saw him, running and flying his kite.

"Look!" they shouted. "It was not magic making the kite fly. It is a sea-child. Let us catch him!"

They all ran after Whaka, but he went back to the deep place. The people could not follow him. They stood on the beach, and looked at the kite.

"We will wait," said the people. "One day, the sea-child will come out of the water again. Then we will be ready, and we will catch him."

Each day, they saw Whaka's kite come out of the sea. Each day they watched and waited.

"One day, he will come out of the sea," they said.

Time went by. Then, one day, the kite came close to the beach. Soon Whaka could be seen in the shallow water.

"Now we will have him!" shouted the people.

When Whaka saw all the people, he called, "Do not run after me. You will not be able to catch me. Send Apa-kura.

" The people did not understand. "Apa-kura?" they asked.

"Yes," said the sea-child. "Apa-kura is the only one who can catch me."

So the people called Apa-kura.

"The sea-child wants you to run after him," they said. "You are the only one who can catch him.

" Apa-kura ran down the beach. She chased Whaka along the wet sand. Whaka still had his kite, so he could not run as fast as Apa-kura. At last, she caught him.

[Excerpt]

Introduction:

This story is called The Melon Raid.

Albie and his wife had a paddock of nearly ripe rock melons. Their problem was that the local kids were raiding the melon patch at night. Albie thought hard until he came up with a bright idea to prevent his melons being raided, night after night.

Probes:       Can you tell me about...

1. ...the actions Albie took to prepare for catching the melon raiders.

2. ...the weather conditions he needed.

Questions:

1. Where did Albie choose to set up his plan. Show me where it says that.

2. Why do you think he said, "But they might be a bit tired after I've finished with them!"

3. What do you think Albie planned to do to the melon raiders?

Text:

He went outside to the shed and loaded the post-hole digger and a spade into the wheel-barrow. He whistled as he trundled his load down the bumpy track to the melon paddock. "Harm those boys?" he chuckled to himself. "Never! But they might be a bit tired after I've finished with them!"

He chose a spot not too far from the gate, where the next batch of rock melons was showing signs of ripening. He parked his barrow beside the biggest vine and set to work - first with the post-hole digger and then with the spade. When he was satisfied, he wheeled away the pile of damp earth and put it under the hedge.

As he started up the track to the house, he began to laugh out loud. "By next Christmas," he chortled, "those boys should just about be slowing down to a smart gallop!"

That evening at dusk, Albie stood on the verandah and studied the sky. A great harvest moon hung there, beaming at him. Albie sighed. Too bright. Much too bright.

But the following day it drizzled, and that night the moon stayed out of sight behind a bank of cloud. From the pond, the frogs set up a raspy chorus. A lone cricket whistled a few bars of its song and was soon joined by a host of others. Albie chuckled. A perfect night for a raid.

[Excerpt]

Introduction:

This story is called Old Finchley.

It tells us about a rather unusual research scientist called Finchley whose actions caused a few problems.

Probes:       Can you tell me about...

1. ...how Old Finchley got himself into this predicament.

2. ...the sight at the end of the miscroscope.

Questions:

1. What had Dawson been studying on his microscope prior to discovering Finchley at the other end?
Show me where it says that.

2. What might have been the alternative for Finchley to hitching a ride on a dust mote?

3. How do you think Finchley might be saved from his serious predicament?

Text:

I sometimes wonder if old Finchley has the right temperament to be a research scientist. He keeps asking when he'll be coming back. After all , it was his own fault. Nobody - but nobody - tries out concoctions on themselves any more. But Finchley, well, he must've pumped about a thousand c.c.s into himself before I noticed he was shrinking. Visibly.

It was funny watching him, because his clothes didn't shrink. They simply bunched up around him so that he looked like a small boy in his father's clothes. Except he kept getting smaller and smaller. As Dawson and I watched him, he dwindled down to nothing. All we could see were Finchley's clothes on the floor. They looked so odd, because the lab coat was on top, shirt and trousers inside and, I suppose, underclothes inside again. It gave me a eerie feeling, and I think Dawson was a bit shaken, too.

Dawson was sitting at his bench in front of a microscope he'd been using to examine a culture smear of Trypanasoma gambiense. He sort of absently looked through the 'scope again and nearly passed out when he found old Finchley waving back from the other end.

Seems Finchley had hitched a ride on a dust mite and landed on the Trypanasoma culture. Of course, we didn't know till Finchley told us later. But anyhow, as I said, Dawson nearly passed out. He jumped off his stool and pointed at the microscope, too shocked to speak.

So I had a look myself - and there was old Finchley dancing up and down like a banshee.

I've always thought Finchley was skinny with his clothes on, but without his clothes - whew! he was scrawny; skin and bone and, dancing around like that, well, he looked peculiar.

[Excerpt]

Introduction:

This passage is from chapter 1 of the book Gulliver's Travels.

The author has been taken prisoner by the little people of Lilliput and there are some interesting experiences in store for him.

Probes:       Can you tell me about...

1. ...the actions of the people of Lilliput after finding Gulliver washed up on the shore.

2. ...the skills of these people in making machines.

Questions:

1. How did the Emperor receive notice of Gulliver's discovery on the shore? Show me where it says that.

2. Why do you think Gulliver considered it prudent that the people of Lilliput should treat him generously and well?

3. How do you think the "little people" might raise his huge body onto the vehicle they had built?

Text:

It seems that upon the first moment I was discovered sleeping on the ground after my landing, the Emperor had early notice of it by an express; and determined in council that I should be tied in the manner I have related (which was done in the night while I slept), that plenty of meat and drink should be sent me, and a machine prepared to carry me to the capital city.

This resolution perhaps may appear very bold and dangerous, and I am confident would not be imitated by any prince in Europe on the like occasion; however, in my opinion, it was extremely prudent, as well as generous. For supposing these people had endeavoured to kill me with their spears and arrows while I was asleep, I should certainly have awaked with the first sense of smart, which might so far have roused my rage and strength, as to have enabled me to break the strings wherewith I was tied; after which, as they were not able to make resistance, so they could expect no mercy.

These people are most excellent mathematicians, and arrived to a great perfection in mechanics by the countenance and encouragement of the Emperor, who is a renowned patron of learning. This prince hath several machines fixed on wheels for the carriage of trees and other great weights. He often builds his largest men-of-war, whereof some are nine foot long, in the woods where the timber grows, and has them carried on these engines three or four hundred yards to the sea. Five hundred carpenters and engineers were immediately set at work to prepare the greatest engine they had. It was a frame of wood raised three inches from the ground, about seven foot long and four wide, moving upon twenty-two wheels. The shout I heard was upon the arrival of this engine, which it seems set out in four hours after my landing. It was brought parallel to me as I lay. But the principal difficulty was to raise and place me in this vehicle.

[Excerpt]