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Lighthouses of New Zealand

Discover why lighthouses were built around New Zealand’s long coastline and learn useful coastal vocabulary.

A240–50 minutesNew Zealand CollectionPrintable

Teacher lesson: Look at the picture and title. What do you already know about this topic? Write two ideas, then compare with a partner. Work through the nine panels in order, or choose the sections that suit your class. Teacher answers and the listening script are stored separately.

Teacher Answers Back to New Zealand Collection

1 Lesson Goals

By the end of this lesson, I will be able to:

understand the main ideas and key details in Lighthouses of New Zealand .
use important vocabulary from the lesson.
share ideas in speaking and writing.

Start here: Look at the picture and title. What do you already know about this topic? Tell a partner one idea.

2 Reading

Before you read:

Look at the picture and title. What do you already know about this topic? Write two ideas, then compare with a partner.

New Zealand has a long coastline, and for many years lighthouses helped ships travel safely near rocks, cliffs and harbour entrances. A lighthouse sends a strong light out to sea so sailors can recognise dangerous areas or important points on the coast. Some well-known New Zealand lighthouses stand in dramatic places. Pencarrow Head, near Wellington, has an important place in New Zealand lighthouse history. Cape Reinga lighthouse stands near the northern end of the country, high above the sea. Nugget Point in Otago is surrounded by rocky coastal scenery, while Castlepoint lighthouse in Wairarapa looks over a beach and reef. Modern navigation technology has changed the work of lighthouses, but many are still important landmarks and popular places to visit.

3 Vocabulary

Words: coastline · beacon · cliff · harbour · landmark

Write a short meaning or synonym for each word.

4 Check Your Understanding

1. Why were lighthouses built?

2. What does a lighthouse send out to sea?

3. Which lighthouse is near Wellington?

4. Which lighthouse is near the northern end of New Zealand?

5. Why do people still visit lighthouses today?

5 Language Focus

Complete with was or were: 1. Lighthouses ___ built to help ships. 2. Strong lights ___ used as signals. 3. Pencarrow Head ___ important in lighthouse history. 4. Many coastal routes ___ dangerous in bad weather.

6 Listen & Speak

Listen: Your teacher will read the text twice. Answer the questions.

1. What is the weather like?

2. What can the family see below?

3. Why do they stay outside the lighthouse?

4. What boat do they watch?

Speak: Would you enjoy visiting a lighthouse? What would you like to see there?

A Visit to the Library — Continued

7 Use Your English

Write: Write 6–8 sentences about a lighthouse or another coastal landmark. Describe its location and purpose.

8 Puzzle or Game

Coast Word Match: Match each word — coastline, cliff, harbour, beacon, landmark — with a simple definition or drawing made by your partner.