Communicating with Mana

Unit Context

Unit: 🌿 Kaiārahi Journey: Camp Ready (Lesson 5 of 8)
Focus: Positive relationships through effective communication, emphasising active listening, empathy, and conflict resolution in camp scenarios.
Year Level: Year 8
Duration: 45 minutes
Class Size: 35 students

Curriculum Alignment

Learning Area: Health and Physical Education

Strand: Relationships and Sexuality Achievement Objective:

Understand the importance of effective communication and empathy in building and maintaining positive relationships
Apply conflict resolution skills to manage interpersonal situations positively and constructively

Key Competencies (NZ Curriculum)

Managing Self: Students use strategies for self-regulation in challenging situations (e.g., in conflicts).
Relating to Others: Practise active listening, empathy, and respectful communication in group settings.
Participating and Contributing: Engage collaboratively in group tasks, showing empathy and kindness.

Values

Respect: Acknowledge different perspectives and communicate kindly.
Integrity: Communicate honestly and resolve conflicts fairly.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will:

Identify and explain key communication skills that support positive relationships: active listening, empathy, and conflict resolution.
Demonstrate effective communication strategies in camp-related scenarios.
Reflect on how kindness and understanding can improve group harmony and safety during camp.

Lesson Outline

Time	Activity	Description	Teaching Notes
0-5 mins	Welcome & Introduction to Theme	Briefly introduce the concept of Mana in communication — how respectful and caring communication nurtures dignity and positive relationships. Clarify lesson focus on kindness and communication at camp.	Connect to students' prior camp experiences. Use a culturally respectful introduction to Mana.
5-15 mins	Interactive Mini-Teaching: Key Communication Skills	Teach and model three key skills: active listening (e.g., eye contact, nodding), empathy (putting yourself in others’ shoes), conflict resolution (calmly solving disagreements). Use short role play examples. Include sentence stems for students (e.g., “I feel... because...”, “Can you explain...?").	Use visual prompts and sentence stems to support ESL and neurodiverse learners. Model phrases clearly. Reference classroom expectations for respectful discussions.
15-30 mins	Group Activity: Camp Scenario Role-Play	In groups of 5, students work through 2 camp-related scenarios (e.g., sharing gear, solving a disagreement about a task). Each student practices active listening, empathy, and conflict resolution using taught skills. Rotate roles (speaker, listener, mediator).	Provide scenario cards. Teacher circulates giving feedback, using positive language and reinforcing sentence stems.
30-40 mins	Whole-Class Reflection and Discussion	Groups share what strategies they used, what worked well, and how it felt to communicate with mana. Teacher guides discussion around kindness in communication and how this supports a safe camp environment.	Use questioning to deepen reflection: “How did listening affect the conversation?”, “What was difficult about resolving conflict?”, “How can kindness change a disagreement?”
40-45 mins	Plenary & Goal Setting	Students write a personal communication goal for camp (e.g., “I will listen carefully to my team”). Share some goals aloud. Conclude with an affirmation about the power of respectful communication to uphold mana.	Use sentence starters to support goal writing. Encourage positive self-talk and perseverance language.

Resources Needed

Scenario cards with camp-based conflict examples and communication challenges
Sentence stems and communication prompts displayed on the board
Visual aids on active listening and empathy (e.g., facial expressions, body language images)
Paper and pens for goal setting

Assessment

Formative:

Observation of student participation in role plays, noting use of active listening, empathy, and conflict resolution language.
Responses during class discussions that demonstrate understanding of communicating with mana.

Summative (Informal):

Review personal communication goals for relevance and reflection of lesson aims.
Teacher provides feedback on demonstrated skills and encourages further practice in future lessons and camp.

Differentiation and Inclusion

Sentence stems and visual aids support English Language Learners and neurodiverse students.
Role plays provide safe, structured opportunities to practise communication in ways that respect cultural diversity and individual differences.
Teacher to monitor group dynamics to ensure all voices are heard, supporting quieter or less confident students to participate.

Educational Theory and Pedagogical Approach

Culturally Responsive Pedagogy: Incorporates mana as a culturally significant concept, connecting learning with identity and values important in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Experiential Learning: Role plays simulate real camp experiences to build practical skills.
Collaborative Learning: Group work encourages cooperation and communication skills to flourish in authentic social contexts.
Metacognition: Encourages student reflection on communication strategies and sets personal goals for self-improvement.

This lesson helps Year 8 students grow personally and socially, equipping them with essential skills for positive relationship-building aligned with the New Zealand Curriculum’s Health and Physical Education strand. It encourages mana-enhancing communication practices that are crucial for safe, respectful camp environments and beyond.

If you would like, I can also provide example camp scenarios and sentence stems for this lesson to make implementation even easier. Just ask!

Teaching Instructions