Lesson Plan: Describing Holidays in New Zealand

Curriculum Area and Level

• Subject: English
• Year Group: Year 5 (Ages 9-10)
• Curriculum: New Zealand Curriculum
• Level: Level 2 (Year 5)
• Strand: Listening, Reading, and Viewing
• Key Competencies: Using language, symbols, and texts; Thinking

Lesson Duration

• Total Duration: 50 minutes
• Class Size: 25 students

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

1. Describe various New Zealand holidays using appropriate vocabulary and descriptive phrases.
2. Identify and explain the significance of each holiday discussed.
3. Create a short written or oral description of their favourite New Zealand holiday.

Materials Needed

• Internet access for viewing online resources
• Whiteboard and markers
• Handouts with descriptions of various NZ holidays
• Worksheets for writing exercises
• NZQA website for referencing holiday significance (Optional) NZ Curriculum Online

Lesson Outline

Introduction (10 minutes)

1. Greeting and Overview:

   • Briefly outline the objectives of today's lesson.
   • Discuss the concept of public holidays and cultural celebrations in New Zealand.

2. Engagement Activity:

   • Ask students to quickly name any New Zealand holiday they know and what they like about it.

Main Activity (30 minutes)

1. Group Discussion and Research (15 minutes):

   • Divide the students into groups of 5.
   • Assign each group a specific New Zealand holiday (e.g., Waitangi Day, ANZAC Day, Matariki).
   • Provide resource links/handouts about these holidays for quick research.
   • Ask them to discuss within their group what the holiday celebrates, how it is celebrated, and any unique traditions or food associated with it.

2. Writing/Oral Presentation Exercise (15 minutes):

   • Each group creates a short presentation or written summary describing their assigned holiday.
   • Focus on using descriptive language and covering the key aspects discovered during their research.

Conclusion and Reflection (10 minutes)

1. Group Presentations:

   • Allow each group to present their findings to the class either through a short speech or a written display.
   • Encourage students to ask questions to their peers about the holidays discussed.

2. Reflection:

   • Discuss as a class: How do these holidays contribute to the culture and identity of New Zealand?
   • Ask students to write down or verbally share which holiday they found most interesting and why.

Assessment

• Evaluate the group presentations or written summaries focusing on accuracy, use of descriptive language, and overall understanding of the holiday's significance.
• Observe student participation during discussions and their engagement with the research and presentation tasks.

Extension Activities

• Students can create an informational brochure or a digital presentation about their favourite New Zealand holiday to share with the school community or on the school's website.

Notes for Future Improvement

• Collect feedback from students about what worked well and what could be improved in the lesson.
• Consider integrating multimedia resources like videos or virtual tours in future sessions for more interactive learning.

Teacher Resources:

• TKI - Holiday Education Resources
• NZ History - Public Holidays for additional background information.

This lesson plan aligns with the New Zealand Curriculum and aims to engage Year 5 students in a comprehensive exploration of the cultural significance of national holidays through group work and expressive language tasks.