Bridging Hands Together

Overview

This 60-minute lesson introduces Year 7 students in New Zealand to New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL), focusing on basic greetings, the alphabet, and numbers. The lesson deeply incorporates the Māori perspective, emphasising NZSL's role in New Zealand's bicultural and inclusive society. It develops students' communication skills through team-based, student-led activities, reflecting the New Zealand Curriculum Refresh’s emphasis on collaboration, language exploration, and cultural identity.

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Curriculum Alignment

Learning Area and Level

• Learning Area: Learning Languages – New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL)
• Level: Year 7 (Level 4-5 in Languages curriculum)
• Duration: 60 minutes
• Class Size: ~25 students

Learning Objectives

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

• Use basic NZSL greetings to communicate respectful introductions and farewells.
• Recognise and sign the NZSL alphabet and numbers 1–10.
• Explain the cultural significance of NZSL in Aotearoa New Zealand, particularly its role as an official language and a reflection of bicultural society including Māori values.
• Work collaboratively in teams to practise NZSL communication skills.
• Reflect on how learning NZSL can contribute to inclusive communication and identity.

Relevant Curriculum Statements

• Learning Languages
  • Communicating: Express ideas, moods, and opinions in NZSL through basic vocabulary and gestures (Communicating competence).
  • Language Knowledge: Recognise basic language structures in NZSL (alphabet, numbers, greetings).
  • Cultural Knowledge: Understand the significance of NZSL as an official language representing diverse communities, including Māori (Cultural awareness).
• Key Competencies (as per NZ Curriculum Refresh):
  • Relating to others – working cooperatively in pairs and teams.
  • Using language, symbols, and texts – interpreting and producing basic NZSL signs.
  • Participating and contributing – engaging in group learning actively and respectfully.

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Materials Needed

• Visual flashcards with NZSL greetings, alphabet, and numbers 1–10.
• Short video clips of fluent NZSL users greeting and signing numbers (pre-selected).
• Whiteboard & markers or interactive whiteboard (to write key terms and Māori phrases).
• Printed A3 posters with NZSL alphabet and numbers for group reference.
• Te Reo Māori greetings and whakataukī (proverbs) relating to communication printed for reference.
• Timer or stopwatch for team activity timings.
• Worksheets for reflection questions.
• Space arranged for group and whole-class interaction.

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Lesson Structure and Timing

1. Welcome and Whakawhanaungatanga (10 minutes)

• Purpose: Establish a culturally responsive and inclusive environment with a Māori welcoming ritual.
• Activity:
  • Begin with a brief pepeha-style mihi introducing the classroom space and acknowledging mana whenua (local iwi/hapū), connecting the learning space to cultural identity.
  • Teach Māori greeting “Tēnā koutou katoa” (Greetings to you all). Explain it as a formal welcome, demonstrating the connection to respectful communication valued in both Māori and NZSL contexts.
  • Introduce the kaupapa (purpose) of learning NZSL, highlighting recognition of NZSL as an official language and an active symbol of biculturalism and inclusion in Aotearoa.
  • Pose an activating question to students: “Why is it important to learn different ways of communication in New Zealand?” Invite a few student responses.

2. Introduction to NZSL Basics (15 minutes)

• Purpose: Familiarise students with basic NZSL greetings, alphabet letters, and numbers.
• Presentation and Modelling:
  • Show short video clips of NZSL greetings (“Hello”, “Good morning”, “Thank you”, “Goodbye”) performed by fluent NZSL users.
  • Demonstrate how to fingerspell the NZSL alphabet, highlighting a few letters and their handshapes.
  • Introduce numbers 1–10 in NZSL, demonstrating each number’s sign clearly.
• Student Participation:
  • Using flashcards and posters, invite volunteers to model signs for the whole class.
  • Do a brief choral signing together of the alphabet and numbers to build confidence and group cohesion.
• Cultural Link: Explain that NZSL is shaped by the Deaf community of Aotearoa and influenced by Māori concepts of community and inclusion (manaakitanga). Highlight the importance of respect (whakaute) when using NZSL.

3. Team-Based Learning Activity: "NZSL Relay Challenge" (20 minutes)

• Purpose: Encourage collaborative student-led learning and practise NZSL communication.
• Activity Setup:
  • Divide class into teams of 4-5 students (5 teams approx). Each team receives a set of flashcards (greetings, alphabet letters, numbers).
  • Task: Each team member “receives” a card and must perform the NZSL sign correctly for their teammates to guess.
  • Once guessed, the next team member takes their turn. The team races against others to correctly sign and identify all cards first.
• Teacher Role: Circulate, provide prompt feedback, encourage respectful and supportive teamwork.
• Learning Focus: Reinforce memory and comprehension of signs, build confidence in expressive signing, develop listening and guessing skills.

4. Student-Led Exploration and Sharing (10 minutes)

• Purpose: Promote student agency and deepen cultural perspectives.
• Activity:
  • Invite teams to share their favourite NZSL greeting or number they learned and why they think it’s important.
  • Encourage students to make connections between NZSL and Māori values, reflecting on what they learned about NZSL’s place in New Zealand culture and identity.

5. Review and Reflective Questioning (5 minutes)

• Purpose: Consolidate learning and promote metacognition.
• Activity: Project or write these reflective questions for class discussion or quick write:
  • How does learning NZSL help us include more people in our community?
  • What surprised you about NZSL or its cultural importance today?
  • How did working in a team help your learning?
• Take quick individual or paired responses, then share key ideas as a whole-group wrap-up.

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Assessment Methods

• Formative Assessment:
  • Observation of student participation and accuracy during the NZSL Relay Challenge.
  • Monitoring students’ ability to fingerspell and sign greetings and numbers in team activity.
  • Listening to student reflections on cultural significance and teamwork during sharing.
• Summative Indicator:
  • Students demonstrate at least 3 basic greetings, and fingerspell at least 5 letters or sign numbers 1–10 with reasonable accuracy.
  • Ability to express understanding of NZSL’s cultural role in New Zealand society (via oral reflection).

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Reflection Questions for Teacher Post-Lesson

• Did the team-based learning activity promote equal participation?
• How effectively did students engage with the cultural significance of NZSL and Māori values?
• Were any students needing additional scaffolding or enrichment? How was this managed?
• What adaptations or resources could enhance learning next time?
• Did the student-led sharing provide insight into their understanding and attitudes toward NZSL?

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Māori Cultural Aspect Summary

This lesson deeply integrates te reo Māori elements and tikanga through:

• Starting with a mihi to acknowledge tangata whenua and manaakitanga.
• Using Māori greetings and whakataukī that connect to communication and respect.
• Presenting NZSL as a living language within Aotearoa’s bicultural framework, valuing Māori concepts like whanaungatanga (relationship building) and whakaute (respect).
• Encouraging students to reflect on how learning NZSL aligns with Māori values and the importance of preserving unique cultural identities together.

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Teacher's Knot: Inspiring Team Learning

This plan fosters collaboration by consistently using small teams, student-led tasks, and peer feedback — embodying the NZ Curriculum’s focus on working together. The combination of visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning modes supports diverse learners, including those with different language backgrounds, neurodiversity, or hearing differences.

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This detailed plan offers a dynamic, culture-rich introduction to NZSL, championing student voice, teamwork, and bicultural understanding — vital for New Zealand's inclusive classrooms .