Unlocking Resilience

Curriculum Details

Subject: Health
Year Level: 9
Curriculum Area: Health and Physical Education – Level 4
Strand: Personal Health and Development
Achievement Objective:

• Personal Identity and Resilience: Students will investigate and describe lifestyle factors and media influences that contribute to their sense of self, and explore ways of developing resilience as they experience change and challenge.

Lesson Duration

Total Time: 45 minutes
Class Size: 25 students

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Learning Intention

Students will be able to:

• Define resilience in a relevant and age-appropriate context
• Identify challenges that affect young people emotionally and socially
• Develop strategies to respond to those challenges in a resilient and positive manner

Success Criteria

Students will:

• Participate in group and individual reflection around personal and shared challenges
• Show understanding of resilience through creative thinking
• Accurately complete the student “Brain Power” booklet with examples and reflections regarding developing resilience in their everyday lives

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Resources Needed

• Whiteboard + Markers
• “Brain Power” booklets for each student
• Sticky notes
• 4 large A3 posters with challenge scenarios
• Printed quote cards
• Oranga Whakapapa wheel (simplified model of Te Whare Tapa Whā with a focus on taha hinengaro – mental/emotional wellbeing)

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Lesson Breakdown

1. Whakawhanaungatanga Circle – Warm-up (5 minutes)

Purpose: Settle the class, build relational trust
Instructions:

• Form a standing circle
• Ask: “What is one thing that made you feel good this week?”
• Teacher models with a positive and honest example
  Note: Encourage participation but allow pass option

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2. Introduction to Resilience (7 minutes)

Purpose: Define resilience, connect to prior experiences
Instructions:

• Ask: “What does the word resilience mean to you?” Write student responses on the board
• Share simplified definition:

  “Resilience is the ability to bounce back from tough situations and keep going”

• Relate to taha hinengaro from the Oranga Whakapapa wheel. Ask: “Which part of the whare does resilience connect with?” (Encourage answers: taha hinengaro – our thoughts and emotions)
• Invite a brief discussion on the types of challenges teens might face (bullying, friendship changes, academic stress, online pressure)

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3. Poster Activity: Walk with Challenge (15 minutes)

Purpose: Develop group problem-solving and empathy
Setup: Four A3-size posters placed around the classroom with the following scenarios:

1. Your best friend starts ignoring you
2. You have a test tomorrow and feel overwhelmed
3. You shared something online you now regret
4. Your parents are fighting, and home feels tense

Instructions:

• Divide class into 4 rotating groups (6–7 students per group)
• At each poster, students discuss:
  • What’s the emotion here?
  • What could be a resilient response?
  • What support systems might help?
• Use sticky notes to record answers and post on each poster
• Rotate every 3 minutes

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4. Class Debrief – Kōrero Time (8 minutes)

Purpose: Encourage reflection and consolidate learning through discussion
Instructions:

• Return to seats
• Briefly review sticky note answers from each poster
• Discuss common themes – What builds strength in hard times?
• Introduce Māori whakataukī for resilience:

  "He toka tū moana, arā he toa rongonui."
  (A rock standing in raging water is a great warrior.)

• Ask students what this means to them in terms of resilience

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5. Brain Power Booklet Task (8 minutes)

Purpose: Reinforce learning and provide personal connection
Instructions:
Students complete the following entries:

• Define resilience in your own words
• Describe a small challenge you've faced and how you responded
• After today, what actions can you take to show resilience more often?
• Optional: Which whakataukī or quote reminds you to stay strong?

Encourage honest and thoughtful writing – this is not marked, but used for student self-awareness

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Wrap-Up and Karakia Whakamutunga (2 minutes)

Teacher closes with positivity and encouragement:
"You are learning to stand strong, like a rock in a current—you don't have to be unbreakable, just willing to try again."

Finish with a short class karakia or mindful pause

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Teacher Notes

• Next lesson will explore relationships and effective communication in challenging situations
• Revisit Brain Power booklets regularly – provide feedback and encouragement
• Use student responses to inform future wellbeing topics

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Extension Ideas

• Invite a peer support leader or counsellor to speak about resilience
• Introduce a class Resilience Wall with inspirational messages and quotes
• Connect to learning pathways and key competencies:
  • Managing Self
  • Relating to Others
  • Thinking

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Ka pai tō mahi! Let resilience begin…