Who Am I?

Curriculum Area: Social Sciences (Te Takanga o Te Wā)

Level: NZC Level 1-2
Duration: 60 minutes
Class Size: 21 students
Unit: Kindness and Resilience Journey (Lesson 1 of 15)

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Lesson Overview

This lesson introduces students to the concept of personal identity and self-reflection. Through a combination of storytelling, discussion, and hands-on creative activities, students will explore their interests, values, and experiences. The key goal is for students to recognise how their identity shapes their interactions and relationships with others. By the end of this lesson, students will have created a Personal Identity Collage as a representation of who they are.

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Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students will:

• Understand what identity means and why it is unique to each person
• Recognise elements that contribute to their identity, such as interests, culture, family, and values
• Create a Personal Identity Collage to express who they are visually
• Share aspects of their identity with their peers in a supportive environment

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Key Competencies

This lesson integrates key competencies from the New Zealand Curriculum:

• Thinking – Reflecting on their identity and what makes them unique
• Using Language, Symbols, and Texts – Creating a visual representation of themselves
• Relating to Others – Sharing and celebrating differences with classmates
• Participating and Contributing – Engaging in discussion and collaborative activities

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Lesson Breakdown (60 Minutes)

1. Mihi and Whakataukī (10 mins)

Purpose: To set a positive tone and introduce the concept of identity.

• Begin with a brief mihi (welcome) to reinforce the importance of whanaungatanga (relationships).
• Introduce the whakataukī:
  “Ko au ko koe, ko koe ko au.” (I am you, you are me.)
  • Discuss how this proverb relates to identity and connections with others.
• Allow students to share something small about themselves (e.g. their favourite food or colour) in a quick round-robin.

2. Storytime and Discussion (15 mins)

Purpose: To introduce students to identity through storytelling.

• Read aloud a picture book relevant to identity and self-expression (e.g. Tama the Kiwi Tūī – a story about a bird discovering who they really are).
• Facilitate a discussion with guiding questions:
  • What makes the main character special?
  • How do they discover their identity?
  • What makes you special?

3. Brainstorming Our Identity (10 mins)

Purpose: To help students think about different aspects of their identity.

• On the whiteboard, write the categories:
  • Interests & Hobbies
  • Culture & Whānau
  • Favourite Places & Foods
  • Things That Make Me Happy
• Collaboratively brainstorm ideas for each category. Encourage students to think about their daily life, family traditions, and personal feelings.

4. Personal Identity Collage Activity (20 mins)

Purpose: To create a visual representation of identity.

• Each student receives an A3 piece of paper.
• Provide art materials: markers, coloured pencils, magazines, glue, and scissors.
• Instructions:
  • Draw or cut out images that represent personal interests, whānau, favourite activities, and values.
  • Encourage creativity—use colours, symbols, and pictures!
• Soft background music can be played for a calm, creative atmosphere.

5. Showcase and Reflection (5 mins)

Purpose: To celebrate uniqueness and build confidence in sharing identity.

• Each student shares ONE element from their collage with the group.
• Conclude with a reflection:
  • What did you learn about yourself?
  • How are we similar and different from one another?

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Assessment & Reflection

• Formative Assessment: Observe student participation in discussions and creativity in collages.
• Student Reflection: Ask students to complete the sentence, "Today, I learned that I am…".

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Follow-up Activity:

• Classroom Identity Wall – Collect all collages to create a display celebrating class diversity.
• Homework Extension – Ask students to talk with whānau about a special family tradition to share in the next lesson.

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Teacher Notes:

• Be supportive in helping students articulate personal aspects of their identity.
• Some students may find it difficult to identify unique things about themselves—prompt them with questions or use one-on-one discussion.
• Keep the lesson light and fun; the goal is for every child to feel valued and proud of who they are.

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Ka Mihi! 💛

This first lesson in the Kindness and Resilience Journey sets a strong foundation for understanding identity and inclusion. Ka pai!