I Am Unique!

Year Level

Foundation (Prep/Foundation Year) — Australian Curriculum v9

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Unit

"I Am Special, Healthy, and Strong"
Lesson 1 of 10

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Duration

40 Minutes

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Learning Area

Health and Physical Education

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Lesson Description

Students explore their unique identities by creating a 'Connections Map' that visually represents their family, culture, and special places. This activity fosters self-awareness and an appreciation of diversity, foundational to their social and emotional wellbeing.

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Australian Curriculum Connections

Learning Outcome (Content Description)

• AC9HPFM02: Experiment with different ways of moving their body safely and manipulating objects and space (Physical aspect of health)
• Relevant social/emotional development foundation: Developing a sense of personal identity and belonging is embedded in the Health curriculum's emphasis on wellbeing, relationships, and diversity.

Specific Learning Objective for this Lesson

AC9HPFM framework:

• Recognise and describe aspects of their personal identity and cultural background.
• Value and appreciate diversity in themselves and their peers.
• Create a visual representation (Connections Map) of their family, culture, and places important to them.

While AC9HPFM02 primarily addresses fundamental movement, this lesson integrates the Health curriculum's cross-curriculum priorities: self-awareness, respectful relationships, and identity awareness common in Foundation year (implicit in AC9HPFM content and elaborations around wellbeing) , .

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General Capabilities Addressed

• Personal and social capability: Being aware of personal identity and developing empathy for others.
• Intercultural understanding: Appreciating cultural diversity and family backgrounds.
• Critical and creative thinking: Creating and explaining their Connections Map.

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Resources Needed

• Large paper sheets (A3 size recommended) for each student
• Coloured markers, crayons, or pencils
• Stickers or images representing family, culture, and places (optional)
• Photos or drawings of home, family members (optional)
• A comfortable space for discussion and sharing

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Lesson Structure

1. Introduction (5 minutes)

• Purpose: Welcome and establish the lesson's focus on personal uniqueness and identity.
• Begin with a brief classroom circle time sharing: "What makes you special or unique?"
• Teacher models by sharing their own example mentioning family, culture, or a special place.
• Explain that today, students will make a Connections Map showing special people and places in their lives.

2. Explore Personal Identity & Diversity (10 minutes)

• Prompt students to think about:
  • Who is in their family? (Parents, siblings, grandparents, pets)
  • What special places do they know or like? (Home, park, grandparent’s house)
  • Are there special things in their culture or family traditions they want to share?
• Encourage inclusive respect and curiosity about differences without pressure to share personal stories aloud at this point.
• Using simple language, reinforce that everyone's family and culture is unique and important.

3. Connection Map Activity (15 minutes)

• Each student receives an A3 sheet and art materials.
• Instructions for the Connections Map:
  • Draw a picture of yourself in the centre.
  • Around yourself, draw or stick pictures/names of family members.
  • Add symbols or drawings representing your culture or traditions (could be flags, food, clothes, festivals).
  • Add special places that are important to you.
• Teachers circulate, asking open questions gently, e.g., "Can you tell me about this place?" or "Who is this person?" to support language development and social interaction.

4. Sharing & Reflection (7 minutes)

• Invite students to share their Connections Map with a partner or small group.
• Encourage positive feedback and noticing differences and similarities respectfully.
• Reinforce that being unique is wonderful and helps us all learn from each other.

5. Conclusion (3 minutes)

• Recap: "We all have special families and cultures that make us unique."
• Teachers link this to the wider unit: “Over the next weeks, we will learn how to stay healthy and strong by knowing who we are and respecting others.”
• Praise effort and creativity.

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Assessment

Formative Assessment

• Observe students' participation in the activity and discussions.
• Listen to students’ sharing to assess understanding of personal identity and appreciation of diversity.
• Check their Connections Maps for inclusion of family, culture, and special places, indicating recognition of these concepts.

Feedback

• Provide positive, specific feedback about the creativity and effort.
• Highlight respectful listening during partner sharing.
• Record anecdotal notes for future unit planning, especially for supporting individual diversity or language needs.

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Differentiation

• Provide extra support with drawing or writing for students who need assistance.
• Use photos or stickers for students with fine motor challenges.
• Encourage students who find it hard to express verbally by allowing alternative expression like pointing or using words in home languages.
• Facilitate peer support and small group work for social learners.

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Inclusion & Cultural Responsiveness

• Acknowledge and celebrate all family shapes and cultural backgrounds during discussions.
• Integrate First Nations perspectives by acknowledging students’ connection to Country/Place if shared.
• Foster an environment where all cultural identities are respected and valued.

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Classroom Management Tips

• Maintain a calm, supportive atmosphere, allowing students to work at their own pace.
• Use positive reinforcement and model respectful language around diversity.
• Prepare materials in advance to maximise active time for students.

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Links to the Australian Curriculum (v9)

• Health and Physical Education (Foundation): AC9HPFM02 "Experiment with different ways of moving their body safely and manipulating objects and space" (skill development connected to wellbeing).
• Personal and social capability: Foster identity development and social skills through sharing and connection activities.
• Cross-curriculum priorities: Respect for diversity and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures (implicitly addressed with cultural sharing and inclusion).

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This lesson plan ensures Foundation students experience an engaging, identity-building start to the unit "I Am Special, Healthy, and Strong" focusing on uniqueness, family, culture, and special places, aligned with the Australian Curriculum v9 Health content and general capabilities.