Always with Us

Curriculum Information

Curriculum Area: Religious Education
Year Level: Year 2 (Ages 5–6)
Curriculum Level: New Zealand Curriculum – Level 1 (Social Sciences / Religious Education context)

Big Idea (aligned to the Religious Studies Learning Matrix, NZC Social Sciences):

• Beliefs Shape Identity – Recognising that religious beliefs can influence how people see the world and their place in it.

Key Competencies:

• Managing Self
• Relating to Others
• Thinking

Values Focus: Compassion, Faith, Belonging

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Lesson Overview

Lesson Title: God is with Me – Always
Time: 20 minutes
Class Size: 17 students
Focus: Helping children understand they can pray anytime, anywhere – that God is always with them, and they are never alone.

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Learning Intentions

Students will:

• Understand that prayer doesn’t only happen in church – we can talk to God anywhere and at any time.
• Begin to develop a personal connection to the idea of God's constant presence.
• Feel supported and reassured by the knowledge that they are never truly alone.

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Success Criteria

By the end of the session, students will:

• Participate in a group discussion about places they can pray.
• Share a time they felt happy, scared, or alone and imagine talking to God in that moment.
• Create a simple symbol (e.g. a heart) to remind them God is always with them.

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Lesson Breakdown

⏱️ 1. Karakia & Welcome (2 mins)

Purpose: Settle students and centre the class in connection, stillness, and spirituality.

• Start with your class’s morning karakia.
• Greet the tamariki warmly and use gentleness in tone to create a calm space.
• Frame today as a “wonder time” – a special time to think about God and feelings.

🧠 2. Discussion: “Where Can We Pray?” (5 mins)

Purpose: Encourage reflection and connection with the idea that God doesn’t need special places to hear us.

Teacher Asks:

• “Have you ever talked to God at home? Maybe in bed or out in the garden?”
• “What do we say to someone we love? Can we tell God things like that too?”
• “Where is your favourite place to sit and feel safe? Could that be a place to talk to God?”

Use a large sheet of paper to record children’s ideas:

• “In the playground”
• “In the bath!”
• “In mum’s car”
• “Under my blanket”

Draw each idea as a little scene so children can see the variety of places that prayer can happen.

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🌈 3. God Is With Me – Visual Story (5 mins)

Purpose: Use imagery and storytelling to help children grasp the abstract concept of God’s presence.

Short Teacher-Led Storytelling with Illustrations/Props:
Create a simple, repeatable storyline.
Example:

“This is Ari. One day, Ari went to the park. She fell and scraped her knee. It hurt and she felt all alone. But... Ari remembered something! She said, ‘God, this hurts. Please help me feel better.’ And even though she still had a sore knee... she felt a little warm inside. Like a cuddle from the air around her.”

Use cuddly toys or felt board characters to bring the story to life. After each setting ("at school", "in the car", "in the dark"), ask:
"Is God here too?"
Let them shout back: "Yes!"

Encourage repetition of the key line:

"We can pray anywhere, God is always there."

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🖍️ 4. Making Memory Hearts (6 mins)

Purpose: Create a tangible reminder for each child that God is with them always.

Task:
Provide each student with a pre-cut cardboard heart (biodegradable or coloured card). Invite students to decorate their “God Is Always With Me” heart.

Instructions:

• On one side, draw or write a place where they feel close to God or could say a prayer.
• On the other side, write/draw how they feel when they remember God is near.

For those less confident with writing, have adults script their words or use stamps/stickers.

Pair this with calming background music like birdsong or soft instrumental to create a prayerful space while working.

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👐 5. Closing Reflection & Prayer (2 mins)

Purpose: Reinforce the key idea and offer time for gentle reflection.

Gather the students in a circle, holding their hearts.

Teacher:

“Today we learned something very big and very special. We can pray anytime – when we are happy, when we are scared, or even when we’re brushing our teeth! God is always with us, and we are never alone.”

Repeat together:

“God is with me, wherever I go.”

End with a blessing-style class prayer:

“Thank you, God, for being with us – at school, at home, outside, and everywhere. Help us remember you love us and we are never alone. Amen.”

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Teacher Reflection Prompt

After the lesson, consider:

• Did students grasp the idea of talking to God without needing a special place?
• Did any students express uncertainty or a unique perspective worth revisiting in future lessons?
• How did the tactile activity (hearts) support different learning styles?

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Teaching Tips

• For neurodiverse learners, consider creating a sensory-friendly version of the heart (e.g. fabric/felt hearts).
• Provide te reo Māori support by incorporating translations for words like “karakia” and “aroha”.
• Engage ESOL learners with visuals or encourage bilingual storytelling.

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Extension & Home Link

Extension: Create a “Places I Can Pray” class wall with pictures drawn by students during structured art time.

At Home: Send home a slip telling families that students are learning about how prayer can happen anywhere, along with their “prayer heart” as a keepsake to add beside their bed or lunchbox.

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This short, meaningful lesson helps anchor young learners in a sense of divine presence and emotional security — values central to early spiritual development and identity formation in Religious Education at Level 1 of the New Zealand Curriculum.