FLYING DIAMONDS LEVI TAVITA EVALEON RESOURCE
To the founding class
Vasega Samoa 2009 Kowhai Intermediate
Acknowledgements: photo contributors see back page proofreaders - Daphne, Tuvaa, Isaac, Hawaiiki
c LPS Tavita 2010 Copyright O
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owners.
Published by EVALEON BOOKS & EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
National Library of New Zealand cataloguing in publication data
ISBN 978-0-473-16720-2 Typeset in Rockwell 18 Printed by Niupac Print, Auckland
I am a seed that is a little bit different. Not like the normal seeds you’ve seen. You may think that I’m a little umbrella, or some kind of a miniature parachute. But I’m not. I am a seed of a normal plant.
3
The plant is called dandelion. From French it means, lion’s teeth. It’s flower is also called by the same name. The dandelion flower has a sharp, bright look of golden yellow petals (teeth - if you like). But you need to get closer to admire its looks. Like other field plants, a dandelion goes through a number of changes. First, a single seed turns into a seedling. It produces a flower mainly in spring. Then it goes on to produce more new seeds. 4
So it goes like this:
When its flower ripens, then changes in colour and form will soon follow. Can you see the change! From bright yellow petals to greyish white feathers! Together, we look like a freaky dot;
a tiny model of a future spacecraft or perhaps, Mother Nature’s little wheel of fortune! 5
It was early morning when Mr Breez whistled by. “Hey, better watch out! You may blow away somebody!” I warned. “Hey! Wait!” I shouted. Lucy the cardinal saw me. I know Lucy. She usually hangs around our turf. “I’m coming,” she called. ‘Will she rescue me?’ ‘I hope!’ 6
Lucy reached for my tufts. She took me with her. ‘Kind neighbour, isn’t she?’ ‘Can you see the worm in her mouth?’ But then she opened her claws. ‘What’s she doing?’ “Wait a minute! Am I flying or what? Thank you Mr Breez!” 7
I looked down and saw the ocean. Cool, calm, peaceful. ‘Have I seen anything yet?’ “Wait! Hang on! Oh my - I’m falling! Where are you, Mr Breez?” “Help! Help! Somebody help!” SPLASH!! ! “Oh, wait! Hang on. Now I’m sinking! No, I’m not! Oh, I can float. Yes, I’m drifting. No, I’m not. Hey, I’m surfing.” 8
This is cool, man! Now I know that seeds can surf. I’ll do this more often, And I’ll bring the others along the whole family, definitely! Wow! I like this!
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Oh, the tuna! She’s looking at me! She’s coming! Oh my goodness! There’s nothing friendly about that look! “Help! Help! Somebody help!”
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I’m dead right! She’s not a friend. Before I made a move, the tuna’s big mouth is right before my eyes. GULP!! !
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Suddenly, I heard a gruelling sound of wings flapping. It is Baldwin the eagle! He must have seen me and the tuna. ‘Is he trying to save me or what?’ ‘Oh no! It doesn’t look like - does it?’
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Baldwin flew up high in the sky until he reached the first cloud. He set his eyes on a nearby mountain. That must be where he lives. Fastened to his massive claws is the tuna, while I am stuck in the tuna’s gill.
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It is lunch time for Baldwin! Raw fish served on a spongy plate of snow. On a cold mountain that is home. He started to peck and pull at the tuna’s flesh. He threw away the head and the skeleton - which he wouldn’t eat.
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What Baldwin - and Kaisi the vulture that came after, didn’t know, I was there - still stuck in the tuna’s gill. I thought that the tuna was the worse, but then I found out that the vulture is the real scavenger. He ate the head and all. Luckily, his bill pushed me deep into the ground. 15
Long after the vulture left then I heard the rain tapping. ‘Now, what next?’ Soon it poured down on the hard ground. It softened the soil which now covers me like a mud blanket.
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The sun showed up the next morning. But there was no wind. So it was partly cloudy for most of the day.
Oh! You may wonder what a buried seed knows from underneath the soil! Well, I know because I am part of nature. I can still feel and respond to things that come my way.
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Then about a week later, something really bothered me. My pod has cracked open. ‘Now what next? Am I going to turn into a little chook?’ None of that! Rather it’s something far more exciting.
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A tiny blade comes out of the ground. It is the first leaf. Then comes the second. And the third - and more. The sunlight warms me up as I keep on growing. Yes, I’m changed from a seed into a seedling! Absolutely! Soon, the stem that holds my flower will appear. This is amazing! 19
Summer came and I have become a big plant in the fields. One among hundreds of others. I am open to the sunlight and the wind. My golden looks attract honeybees and other insects. ‘Can’t these creatures leave us alone!’
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Some days later, my flower is ready for the next change. This time, it will turn into a fluffy ball of white. With the sun behind, it looks like a gem of glittery diamond on Mother Nature’s green dress. Up closer, you’ll find the seeds. Yes, it’s us, bundling together as always. Scrum freaks! Diamond seeds! Call it whatever you like. 21
One morning we saw Mr Breez whistling by. “What are you going to do now?” we asked. “It’s time,” he replied. “What do you mean, it’s time?” “Time to go - you know!” he said, pointing into the air. “Don’t you know the saying, there’s a time for everything?” he added. “Not ready,” we replied. “Are you sure? Well, let’s see!” Without another word he blew into the diamonds. “Good luck!” he sighed. 22
Into the sky the diamond seeds scatter. “I’m coming,” Lucy shouted. ‘Here we go! Another crazy journey into the unknown. But hey! Who cares!’ 23
Word study miniature - smaller than usual, tiny p.3
gill - breathing organ of fish p.13
produce - to make something p.4
flesh - meat of animals p.14
seedling - a young plant grown from a seed p.4
skeleton - bones of person or animal p.14
petals - coloured part of a flower p.4
scavenger - an animal or bird that feeds on rotting flesh or food scraps p.15
ripens - becomes ripe or ready, mature p.5 freaky - unusual p.5
bill - a bird’s mouth parts; same as beak; ~ of a bird
model - copy of a real object, example
bothered - disturb, make someone worry p.18
fortune - good luck p.5
chook - young chicken p.18
Mother Nature - force(s) of blade - thin leaf p.19 nature that care or destroy p.5 stem - long slim part that holds a bud or flower p.19 whistled - to move fast with a shrill sound p.6 attract - draw somebody’s attention p.20 turf - area, territory p.6 tufts - a small bunch of hair, grass, etc held together at the base p.7
creatures - living beings p.20
surfing - riding waves on a surfboard p.8
gem - jewel, precious stone p.21
gruelling - requiring great effort p.12
glittery - sparkling, twinkly
flapping - move wings up and down p.12
saying - a piece of advice or information p.22
later - after p.21