Age Group: 8-year-olds (Year 3–4, New Zealand)
Duration: 45–60 minutes
Learning Objectives
- Understand that our choices (thoughts/actions) are guided by an “inner driver” (will).
- Practice using focus and kindness to make decisions that help ourselves and others.
- Connect personal choices to Māori values like whanaungatanga (relationships) and kaitiakitanga (guardianship).
Materials
- A toy waka (canoe) or image of a waka.
- “Emotion cards” (happy, angry, calm, excited).
- A “Will Wheel” craft template (paper plate divided into sections).
- A mindfulness bell or app for a focus exercise.
Lesson Structure
1. Introduction: The Waka Inside Us (10 mins)
- Story: “Imagine your body is a waka! You’re the navigator steering it. Sometimes waves (feelings) try to push you, but YOU choose the direction!”
- Ask: “What choices did you make today? Did you share? Listen? Take turns?”
- Māori Connection: Introduce whanaungatanga – “Our choices affect our whānau and friends!”
2. Activity: Steering Through Emotions (15 mins)
- Emotion Cards: Hold up cards and ask:
- “If you feel angry, how can you steer your waka calmly?” (e.g., take deep breaths, talk to a friend).
- “If you feel happy, how can you share that joy?” (e.g., smile, help someone).
- Role-Play: In pairs, act out scenarios like resolving a disagreement over toys.
3. Mindfulness: Strengthening Our “Focus Muscle” (10 mins)
- Breathing Exercise:
- Ring a bell. “Close your eyes. Listen until the sound fades. Focus on your breath – in (ha) and out (oho).”
- Discuss: “How does focusing help us make better choices?”
- Key Idea: “Just like paddling a waka takes practice, focusing our mind takes practice too!”
4. Craft: Create a “Will Wheel” (15 mins)
- Template: Decorate a paper plate with:
- Positive Choices: Draw/write kind actions (e.g., sharing, listening).
- Māori Patterns: Add koru designs to symbolize growth and harmony.
- Share: “Spin your wheel and pick one action to try today!”
5. Conclusion: Karakia for Strong Choices (5 mins)
- Recap: “We’re all navigators! Our choices help our waka (and our community) sail smoothly.”
- Karakia: Say a short Māori blessing, e.g., “Kia hora te marino” (May peace be widespread).
Curriculum Links
- Health & PE: Identity, resilience, and interpersonal skills.
- Social Sciences: Roles and responsibilities in communities.
- Te Ao Māori: Whanaungatanga, manaakitanga (kindness), and kotahitanga (unity).
Assessment
- Observe participation in role-play and mindfulness activity.
- Review “Will Wheels” for understanding of positive choices.
🌟 Take-Home Task: Teach a whānau member the breathing exercise or share your “Will Wheel.”
This lesson uses storytelling, play, and Māori cultural concepts to make abstract ideas tangible. 😊