Finding Purpose

Lesson Plan: Hauora – Holistic Health Exploration (Lesson 5 of 5)

Level: NZ Curriculum Level 4 (Year 9, Health Learning Area)
Big Idea: Hauora needs to be approached through a holistic understanding.
Focus: Te taha wairua – Spiritual Well-being

---

Learning Intentions

1. Students will understand the spiritual dimension of Hauora (Te taha wairua) and its connection to overall well-being.
2. Students will identify personal values and how they shape purpose and balance in their lives.

Success Criteria

• Students can define Te taha wairua and explain its relevance to Hauora.
• Students can identify key personal values and relate these to their sense of purpose.
• Students feel confident reflecting on their own spiritual well-being through a guided activity.

Lesson Duration: 60 minutes

Class Size: 25 students

---

Lesson Outline

1. Settling in and Warm-Up (5 minutes)

• Karakia/Waiata: Begin with a short karakia (prayer) or waiata, acknowledging the importance of centring and grounding ourselves. If culturally appropriate and students are familiar, invite student participants to lead.
• Check-In Circle: Students briefly share one thing they are grateful for today. This introduces the concept of mindfulness, a key part of wairua.

2. Te Taha Wairua Discussion (10 minutes)

• Teacher Talk (3-4 mins):
  • Explain that this lesson focuses on Te taha wairua – the spiritual dimension of Hauora.
  • Define spiritual well-being as having a sense of purpose, connection, and understanding of values and beliefs that guide our lives. Mention that it’s personal – it may or may not have anything to do with religion.
  • Include examples, e.g., feeling connected to nature, participating in cultural traditions, or pursuing a goal with deeper meaning.
• Small Group Short Discussion (6 mins):
  • In groups of 3-4, students discuss: What makes you feel calm, fulfilled, or inspired?
  • Groups share one or two key ideas with the class.

3. Values and Purpose Activity (20 minutes)

Step 1: Defining Values (10 mins)

1. Teacher Instructions (2-3 mins):
   Distribute a worksheet featuring a list of 15-20 personal values and blank spaces for adding their own (examples: honesty, kindness, family, learning, creativity, adventure, gratitude).
   Ask students to:

   • Circle 5 values most important to them.
   • Star the 1 they identify most strongly with – this is their core value.

2. Partner Share (3 mins):

   • Students pair up and explain why they chose their core value. Encourage active listening.

3. Class Debrief (4 mins):

   • Facilitate a brief discussion:
     What happens when we act in a way that aligns with our values? What happens when we don’t?

Step 2: Finding Purpose (10 mins)

1. Silent Reflection (5 mins):

   • Provide students with three reflective questions (on the board or printed worksheet):
     1. What activities or goals bring you the most joy and fulfilment?
     2. How do the things you enjoy align with your values?
     3. What are some ways you could bring more balance or purpose into your daily life?
   • Students write their responses privately in their journals or notebooks.

2. Optional Class Sharing (5 mins):

   • For those who feel comfortable, invite students to share one reflection from their journal. (Ensure the environment feels safe and no one is pressured.)

---

4. Creative Visualisation Activity (15 minutes)

Purpose: Help students connect with their sense of purpose using imagination.

1. Guided Visualisation (approx. 7 mins):

   • The teacher (or through an audio recording) guides the class through a calm mindfulness and visualisation exercise. Script example:
     “Close your eyes. Imagine a moment where you are truly happy and at peace. Notice where you are, who is around you (if anyone), and what you are doing. Think about why this moment feels so meaningful. What values are reflected in this moment?”
   • Background options: soft instrumental music or nature sounds.

2. Creative Representation (8 mins):

   • Students draw or write about what they visualised. They can create a short poem, describe the scene, or sketch an image that reflects their sense of purpose and balance.
   • Remind students there’s no “right” answer – this is about personal meaning.

---

5. Closing Reflection and Wrap-Up (10 minutes)

• Class Sharing Circle (5 minutes):
  • Arrange students in a circle. Everyone shares one takeaway about Te taha wairua or their reflections on the activity.
• Exit Ticket (5 minutes):
  • Each student writes one action they will take in their life to honour their values and nurture their wairua. Collect these as they leave.

---

Teacher Notes

• Use a strengths-based approach: Reinforce that spiritual well-being is unique to everyone and there’s no “right” way to connect with it.
• Allow for cultural diversity by being sensitive to differing perspectives about spirituality, and encourage inclusive discussion where all views are respected.
• Keep the environment calm, supportive, and non-judgemental during reflective activities.

---

Assessment Opportunities

• Formative Assessment:

  • Observe student participation in the group discussions and circle check-ins.
  • Review their worksheets and reflections to gauge understanding of their values and sense of purpose.

• Summative Assessment:

  • This lesson ties into Achievement Standard 1.1: Demonstrate understanding of hauora in a health-related context through the application of a model of health.

---

Resources Needed

• A list of personal values (printed or on board).
• Paper/journals and pens for reflection and creative activity.
• Optional: calming background music for visualisation.

---

Reflection for Future Lessons

• Note any challenges students faced with abstract concepts like values and purpose. Adapt future lessons to offer more examples or alternative ways for reflection.
• Gather feedback from students on what parts of the lesson they found most meaningful.

By focusing on Te taha wairua, this lesson completes the unit on holistic health and provides students with lifelong tools for maintaining balanced well-being. Students will leave with a clearer sense of purpose and strategies to live in alignment with their values.