Class Family Pledge

Context

Year Level: Years 0-1
Subject: Religious Education
Unit: One Family, Many Faces (Lesson 19 of 20)
Duration: 30 minutes
Class Size: 20 students

Teaching Focus

Students will collaboratively create a class family pledge that reflects the values of respect, kindness, and support, reinforcing their sense of belonging and shared responsibility within their classroom community.

We Are Learning To (WALT)

Understand what a family pledge is and why it is important.
Work together to create a pledge that shows how we will care for and support each other.
Express our ideas and listen to others respectfully.

Success Criteria

I can share ideas about how to be kind and respectful in our class family.
I can listen to others and say what I think.
I can help create a class family pledge.
I can remember and say our class family pledge.

Curriculum Links

The New Zealand Curriculum Refresh (Years 0-1) alignment:

Learning Area: Health and Physical Education (Support well-being and relationships), Social Sciences (Communities and participation)
Key Competencies:
- Relating to others – sharing ideas and negotiating collaboratively.
- Participating and contributing – working cooperatively within a group and contributing to shared ideas.
- Managing self – expressing ideas clearly and respectfully.
Values: Respect, Care, and Responsibility are explored and modelled in this learning.
Principles: Inclusion and community connection by recognising each student’s voice and contributing to a shared classroom culture.
Achievement Objectives:
- Express ideas that show respect for others and understand how to behave in ways that make the group feel safe and welcome.
- Develop a sense of belonging through active participation and contribution in group activities.

Materials Needed

Large chart paper or whiteboard for writing the pledge.
Markers or coloured pens.
Visual aids with key words (e.g., Respect, Kindness, Help).
Optional: Picture cards showing caring behaviours.

Lesson Plan

Time	Activity	Description	Teacher Actions & Notes
5 min	Introduction: What is a Family Pledge?	Sit together in a circle. Explain that a pledge is like a promise we make to each other in our class family. Introduce key words: respect, kindness, support.	Use simple language. Show pictures illustrating caring behaviours. Ask: “How do we show kindness in our class?”
10 min	Brainstorming Ideas Together	Invite each student to share one way we can be kind and respectful in our classroom family. Record ideas visibly.	Support all voices. Use prompting questions: “How can we help a friend?”, “What do we do if someone feels sad?”
7 min	Create the Class Family Pledge	Together, shape the ideas into 3-4 simple sentences for the pledge, using familiar language.	Write the pledge in large print; repeat it frequently as you write to embed understanding. Invite students to suggest words or phrases to include.
5 min	Practice Saying the Pledge	Practice signing and saying the pledge as a group. Use call-and-response or a simple repetition format to aid memory.	Encourage enthusiasm and participation. Reinforce the meaning of the words by linking them to everyday actions.
3 min	Closing Reflection	Ask children how it feels to have a pledge for the class family. Link to ideas of respect and kindness.	Affirm contributions, acknowledge how pledges help us care for each other, and explain how the pledge will be used daily.

Assessment and Feedback

Observe student participation and willingness to share ideas (Relating to others).
Listen for the use of respectful language during discussion (Managing self).
Note students' ability to recall and recite parts of the pledge (Participating and contributing).
Provide positive descriptive feedback, emphasising contribution and cooperation.

Differentiation/Support

Use visual supports and rephrase instructions for clarity.
Allow students who prefer to draw their ideas and explain them verbally.
Group students flexibly to support communication and turn-taking.
Scaffold language with prompts and sentence starters (e.g., “I will be kind by…”).

Reflection and Next Steps

Display the pledge in the classroom where students can see it daily.
Use the pledge as a daily reminder or affirmation during morning meetings or circle time.
Link the pledge to subsequent class activities fostering social skills and community building.

This lesson plan provides a clear pathway to meet the New Zealand Curriculum Refresh principles and key competencies for Years 0-1 students. It incorporates collaborative learning, respect for diversity, and helps children establish a strong sense of community in the classroom while embedding cultural responsiveness and inclusion recommended by the curriculum framework.

Teaching Instructions