Influences on Relationships

Year 10 | 45 Minutes | Class of 30 Students

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WALT (We Are Learning To)

• Analyse various factors that influence inclusivity, equality, and respect in relationships, including influences from family, peers, and societal norms.

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NSW Curriculum Alignment

Outcomes:

• PDHPE (Personal Development, Health and Physical Education) Stage 5

• Develop understanding of respectful relationships and factors influencing them (consistent with NSW PDHPE syllabus and cross-curriculum priorities on respectful relationships and wellbeing).

• Specifically addressing aspects relevant to Year 10 students about social influences on inclusivity, equality, and respect.

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Success Criteria

Students will be able to:

• Identify different influences on relationships from family, peers, and society.

• Categorise these influences under inclusivity, equality, and respect.

• Reflect critically on how these influences shape relationships.

• Communicate their thinking clearly in group discussions and written work.

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Differentiation Strategies

• For Diverse Learners: Provide sentence starters and graphic organisers for brainstorming and categorising influences. Use visual aids during explanations.

• For English Language Learners: Pre-teach key vocabulary (e.g., inclusivity, equality, respect, societal norms). Use paired discussions.

• For Students with Learning Difficulties: Allow alternative verbal responses or drawing to express ideas during brainstorming.

• For Students Needing Extension: Challenge them to find examples of how media and cultural norms influence relationships, with rationale.

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Lesson Plan Breakdown

Time	Activity	Description	Resources	Differentiation
0–5 min	Introduction & WALT	Teacher introduces lesson focus and shares WALT and success criteria with class.	Whiteboard, projector	Clear language, display WALT visually
5–10 min	Warm-up: Think-Pair-Share	Students individually think about influences on their own relationships, then discuss with a partner.	None	Support cards on relationship influences for prompts
10–20 min	Group Brainstorm	In groups of 4–5, students brainstorm influences on inclusivity, equality and respect in relationships, categorising into Family, Peers, Societal Norms.	Large paper, markers	Graphic organiser templates; advance learners create additional categories like Media, Culture
20–30 min	Class Sharing & Categorisation	Each group presents key brainstorm points; teacher records main influences on the board under categories, highlighting overlaps and contrasts.	Whiteboard/Smartboard	Scaffold sentence frames for sharing ideas
30–40 min	Reflective Discussion & Deepening Understanding	Whole-class discussion on how these influences can positively or negatively impact relationships, with examples. Teacher prompts with questions like “How does peer pressure affect respect in friendships?”	Prompt cards	Encourage advanced students to explain complex societal influences
40–45 min	Plenary & Homework Explanation	Recap lesson objectives. Assignment: Students are to identify and describe three influences on their own relationships at home or outside school. Write brief paragraph for each.	Homework sheet	Students may choose oral or written submission

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Teaching Notes

• Emphasise respectful language and maintain a safe, inclusive environment for discussions.

• Use questioning to encourage self-awareness and critical thinking about social influences.

• Incorporate culturally responsive examples relatable to the Australian student context.

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Homework

• Identify and describe three influences on your personal relationships (e.g., family expectations, peer groups, cultural values).

• Write a short paragraph for each influence explaining how it shapes inclusivity, equality, or respect in your relationships.

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Extension Activities

• Analyse media advertisements or social media posts to identify messages about relationships and respect.

• Research a notable Australian figure or community group promoting respectful relationships and prepare a brief presentation.

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This lesson thoroughly aligns with NSW PDHPE Curriculum priorities for Year 10, focusing on building respectful, inclusive relationships by critically analysing social and personal influences. It includes explicit objectives, differentiation, discussion, reflection, and homework, supporting learner engagement and curriculum standards.

If you would like, I can also help you develop the worksheet for the homework or detailed teacher prompts for discussion.