Lesson 9: Navigating Emotions with Aroha (Love) and Whanaungatanga (Relationships)

Age Group: 8-year-olds
Duration: 45–60 minutes

Learning Objectives

  1. Identify emotions as “helpful” (attractive) or “unhelpful” (repulsive).
  2. Understand how words and actions shape our feelings and connections.
  3. Practice using kindness (manaakitanga) to build positive relationships.

Materials

  • Emotion Cards: Images of faces (happy, angry, scared) + Māori symbols (heart = aroha, koru = growth).
  • Waka Model (canoe) or drawing to represent “our journey.”
  • “Emotion Garden” Poster with paper flowers and weeds.
  • Natural Materials: Leaves, feathers, pebbles for a calming sensory activity.

Lesson Structure

1. Storytime: Tama the Tui’s Forest Journey (10 mins)

  • Story: Tama the Tui flies through a NZ forest. He meets:
    • Kiki the Kiwi (scared of noises) → Repulsive (fear).
    • Hana the Hoiho (penguin who shares fish) → Attractive (love).
  • Ask: “When do YOU feel like Kiki or Hana? How does sharing make you feel?”
  • Māori Connection: Aroha (love) helps us connect like Hana!

2. Activity: Sort the Seeds (Emotions) (15 mins)

  • Emotion Cards: Sort into two baskets:
    • Attractive Seeds (helpful): Kindness, sharing, courage (add aroha hearts).
    • Repulsive Weeds (unhelpful): Anger, loneliness, greed (add thorn images).
  • Discuss: “Which seeds make our ‘garden’ (classroom) grow strong?”

3. Role-Play: Paddling Our Waka Together (15 mins)

  • Scenario Cards:
    • Example 1: A classmate drops their lunch. Do you help (attractive) or walk away (repulsive)?
    • Example 2: Someone takes your toy. Do you shout (repulsive) or talk calmly (attractive)?
  • Act It Out: Use the waka model – kids “paddle” when they choose kindness.

4. Craft: Grow an “Emotion Garden” (10 mins)

  • Collaborative Poster:
    • Glue “attractive” flowers (write/draw kind actions) and pull out “weeds.”
    • Add natural materials (leaves/feathers) for texture.
  • Key Message: “We choose which seeds to grow in our garden!”

5. Reflection: Karakia for Kind Hearts (5 mins)

  • Recap: “Like Tama the Tui, we can choose aroha to make our waka sail smoothly.”
  • Karakia: “Kia hora te marino” (May peace be widespread).

Curriculum Links

  • Health & PE: Emotional well-being, interpersonal skills.
  • Te Ao Māori: Aroha, manaakitanga, and whanaungatanga.
  • Science: Observing how actions (like planting seeds) have effects.

Assessment

  • Observe participation in sorting and role-play.
  • Review “Emotion Garden” for understanding of positive choices.

🌟 Take-Home Task: Share a story with whānau about a time you chose aroha.

Why This Works:

  • Uses NZ flora/fauna and Māori concepts for relatability.
  • Turns abstract ideas into tactile, play-based learning.
  • Encourages teamwork and empathy through the waka metaphor.