Fresh by Amy McDaid is a reflective fiction text that explores identity, belonging, and intergenerational relationships through a family trip to the beach at Point Chevalier. Told from the perspective of Emily, the story captures her initial disappointment and embarrassment as the day unfolds in unexpected ways — from polluted water and missed swimming to awkward encounters with strangers. Through the presence of her confident, expressive Cook Islands Māori grandmother (Māmā), the narrative gradually shifts, showing how music, language, dance, and shared kai transform discomfort into connection. Rich in humour and cultural detail, the text highlights how cultural pride, resilience, and openness can reshape how we see ourselves and others. 

The text is ideal for integrated learning across literacy and social sciences, supporting inquiry into cultural identity, family relationships, belonging, environmental awareness, and community life in Aotearoa New Zealand.

This pack contains a range of response activities complete with activity explainer videos for exploring thinking skills and developing emotional understandings and compassionate inquiry including:

• Blooms Higher Order Thinking activities
• Book Club guide for deepening text discussion
• A range of activities to explore emotional understanding, compassionate inquiry, empathy development, vocabulary and developing skills for self and co-regulation.

Curriculum Phase: Phase 3

Year Level: Year 5

English (NZC Levels 3–4):
reading for meaning and critical thinking, analysing narrative voice and character perspective, understanding theme and humour, making connections to personal experience, exploring dialogue and cultural language

Social Sciences – Aotearoa New Zealand Histories:
identity and belonging, cultural heritage, continuity and change, community interaction, relationships between people and place

Text type:
Fiction, narrative story, reflective narrative

Key words include:
beach, Point Chevalier, community, Cook Islands Māori, Māori Kūki ‘Āirani, cultural identity, family, whānau, grandparents, intergenerational relationships, humour, embarrassment, belonging, resilience, language, dance, ‘ura, music, pollution, Safeswim, environment, shared kai, ika mata, neighbours, acceptance, Aotearoa New Zealand