Maui's Fish & Island Beginnings 25-26

Maui's Fish and Island Beginnings deliver a rich cross-curricular experience through myth and science. In Maui's Fish, students encounter the Hawaiian myth that explains how Maui pulled up islands from the sea with his magical hook. Retold with narrative clarity and cultural respect, this story introduces readers to oral storytelling traditions and the power of myth to explain the natural world. Island Beginnings, the accompanying non-fiction, presents scientific explanations of island formation, from volcanic eruptions to glacial activity. Through comparative analysis, detailed diagrams, and vibrant images, this text supports student understanding of natural geography and ecosystems. Together, these texts allow students to explore the different ways humans explain and understand the environment-through stories and science.

Educational Benefits:

• Promotes understanding of narrative and mythic structures.
• Develops scientific knowledge of island formation and ecosystems.
• Enhances cultural literacy through traditional storytelling.
• Encourages analytical thinking through comparison of myth and fact.

Classroom Ideas:

• Have students compare the myth's version of island formation with real geological processes.
• Create a myth based on a natural phenomenon in students' local environment.
• Construct a diorama or map showing different types of island formations.
• Use the glossary in Island Beginnings for a vocabulary scavenger hunt.

Safety & Information:

• Ages: 8-10
• Book size: 200mm x 210mm
• Text type: Fiction (myth), Non-fiction (science report)
• Supports integrated literacy and science learning