Cultural Perspectives

Year Level

Year 12

Duration

60 minutes

Class Size

15 students

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Unit Context

Unit Title: Enhancing Community Well-Being Lesson 5 of 20 Focus: Cultural Perspectives on Health

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Learning Intentions

WALT (We Are Learning To): Examine how culture influences health perspectives.

Success Criteria:

• Identify cultural beliefs and practices related to health within our local and wider New Zealand community.
• Analyse distinct cultural health perspectives using case studies.
• Articulate connections between cultural beliefs and health outcomes in discussions.

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Curriculum Alignment

Learning Area: Health and Physical Education

Aligned with the New Zealand Curriculum Refresh (2025) and Hauora model (Te Whare Tapa Whā) principles.

Achievement Objectives (Level 7-8, Years 11-13 approximate):

• Understand and promote hauora by recognising the interdependence of taha tinana (physical), taha hinengaro (mental/emotional), taha whānau (social), and taha wairua (spiritual) dimensions of health.
• Analyse how cultural perspectives influence individual and community health and wellbeing.
• Critically evaluate cultural beliefs and practices related to health and their impact on wellbeing in New Zealand communities.

Key Competencies Addressed:

• Thinking: Critically analysing cultural beliefs and their effects on health.
• Relating to Others: Listening and sharing diverse perspectives respectfully.
• Participating and Contributing: Engaging with case studies and community contexts.
• Using Language, Symbols, and Texts: Interpreting case study texts and health-related cultural information.

Principles Integrated:

• Cultural Diversity (valuing all cultures’ contributions and perspectives on health)
• Treaty of Waitangi (recognising Māori perspectives and health models such as Te Whare Tapa Whā)
• Inclusion (ensuring all voices and cultural views are acknowledged and respected)

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Resources Needed

• Printed or digital case studies illustrating a range of cultural perspectives on health (including Māori, Pacific peoples, Asian, and Pākehā/European viewpoints).
• Whiteboard or digital projector.
• Paper and writing materials for student notes and reflections.
• Access to brief internet or library resources for extension activity research.

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Lesson Plan Breakdown

Time	Activity	Description	Differentiation & Supports
0-5 min	Introduction & WALT	- Teacher introduces the lesson intentions using WALT and success criteria.

• Brief class discussion on “What is culture and how might it influence health?” | Support: Use visuals or simple definitions for English language learners. | | 5-15 min | Hauora Model Brief Overview | - Present Mason Durie’s Te Whare Tapa Whā model (spiritual, mental, physical, social health).
• Discuss how Māori health perspectives are holistic and integrate all dimensions. | Support: Use diagrams and examples from local iwi perspectives. | | 15-35 min | Case Study Analysis (Group Work) | - Divide students into groups of 3 (5 groups).
• Each group receives a different case study about health beliefs/practices from a specific culture.
• Students identify cultural health beliefs and discuss the impact on wellbeing.
• Groups prepare a short summary to share with the class. | Differentiation: Groups may be assigned according to students’ reading/writing abilities. Extension: Encourage high achievers to consider how cultural perspectives might influence health policy or community programmes. | | 35-50 min | Group Presentations and Discussion | - Groups present their findings (3 minutes each).
• Class discusses similarities and differences across cultural perspectives.
• Teacher facilitates discussion about respecting diverse health views and the role culture plays in community well-being. | Support: Provide sentence starters for presentations for students who need language scaffolding. | | 50-55 min | Reflective Writing | - Individually, students write a paragraph identifying a cultural health belief from the class discussion and explain how it affects health practices or outcomes. | Differentiation: Provide a template or key sentence prompts for those who need it. | | 55-60 min | Extension and Homework | - Challenge for interested students to research a health practice from another culture not covered in class and prepare a brief presentation or poster for a future lesson. | Extension: Provide a list of suggested cultures/health practices like traditional Asian medicine, Pacific healing rituals, or Western health practices for students to choose from. |

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Assessment Evidence

• Group case study presentations demonstrate understanding of cultural health perspectives.
• Individual reflective writing shows ability to connect cultural beliefs to health outcomes.
• Class participation and discussion reveal engagement and respectful communication of diverse views.

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Pedagogical Notes

• Create a culturally safe classroom environment where students feel comfortable sharing and listening to diverse perspectives.
• Explicitly incorporate the use of te reo Māori and New Zealand cultural contexts to ground learning locally and authentically.
• Encourage critical thinking about cultural generalisations, emphasising respect, and inquiry into different worldviews.
• Use culturally relevant assessment practices recognising oral and visual expression alongside written work.

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This lesson plan respects and follows the New Zealand Curriculum Refresh priorities for Health and Physical Education, especially with its focus on Hauora and cultural perspectives impacting health and community wellbeing. It integrates key competencies and values central to Aotearoa New Zealand’s educational vision for living well in diverse communities.