Eating Choices

Lesson Overview

This 60-minute lesson for Year 5 students at a New Zealand kura focuses on understanding processed and whole foods. It integrates Health and Science within a kaupapa Māori context, guided by Te Marautanga o Aotearoa and Te Aho Matua principles. The lesson uses a variety of hands-on and discussion-based activities to cater to diverse learners, honouring principles of whanaungatanga, manaakitanga, and kotahitanga.

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Learning Objectives

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

• Understand the difference between whole foods (foods in their natural state) and processed foods (foods that have been changed or added to).
• Recognise examples of whole and processed foods common in Aotearoa, making connections to kai Māori and healthy choices.
• Explore the impact of food choices on taha tinana (physical health), taha hinengaro (mental/emotional wellbeing), and taha whānau (social wellbeing).
• Discuss the cultural importance of kai, linking to local environments and mātauranga Māori about eating.
• Participate collaboratively in activities that support critical thinking and responsible choices around food.

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Curriculum Links

Te Marautanga o Aotearoa – Mātauranga Health & Science

• Learning area: Hauora / Te Ao Tūroa (Health / The Natural World)
• Achievement objectives:
• Understand and maintain taha tinana (physical wellbeing) through kai ora (healthy food).
• Identify and describe whole kai and kai tukatuka (processed food).
• Investigate how food affects our wellbeing and our relationships with whānau and environment.
• Key competencies: Ngā pūkenga matua
• Manaakitanga (empathy and care)
• Whanaungatanga (relationships)
• Wānanga (critical thinking and reflection)

Te Aho Matua principles

• Manaakitanga: Creating a safe, supportive learning environment.
• Whanaungatanga: Building relationships through shared activities and korero.
• Kotahitanga: Promoting unity and collective understanding through group work.

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Resources Needed

• Selection of real food examples or pictures/cards including:
• Whole foods: kumara, kānga (corn), huawhenua (vegetables), huarakau (fruit), ika, me te mīti (meat) in natural state
• Processed foods: bread, cereals, biscuits, canned fruit, muesli bars, packaged snacks
• Paper plates or sorting mats (labelled: Whole Food / Processed Food)
• Whiteboard or chart paper with markers
• Flipchart or digital device for a short video or slideshow (optional)
• Worksheet for reflection (with sentence starters in te reo Māori and English)
• Access to water and handwashing facilities for food handling exercises

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Lesson Plan

Time	Activity	Description	Differentiation
0-10 min	Mihi & Whakaritenga (Welcome & Introduction)	Karakia to open and set intentions: e.g. "Tīhei Mauri Ora". Discuss the importance of kai in our lives and culture. Introduce the kaupapa: whole vs processed food.	Use clear visuals and real food to anchor new vocabulary. Use te reo Māori words with explanations.
10-20 min	Brainstorm & Sorting Activity	In groups of 4-5, students receive cards/pictures of foods. Collaboratively sort into whole food and processed food on mats.	Grouping supports diverse learners; scaffold vocabulary with word banks and tauira (examples).
20-30 min	Interactive Discussion and Science Connection	Facilitate class discussion: What is in processed food? How does it differ from whole food? (Additive, packaging, changes). Include simple science: natural vs changed state. Connect to wellbeing - how does each type of kai affect our energy and health?	Use sentence starters and visuals. Support ELL and Māori medium learners with bilingual explanations.
30-40 min	Hands-On Experience: 'Kai Exploration'	Using small samples (e.g., a piece of kumara and a biscuit), students taste and describe using their senses: look, smell, touch, and taste. Reflect on how each food might affect their body.	Safety first: ensure allergies known; support sensory description word list.
40-50 min	Wānanga Mahi: Create a Healthy Plate	Individually or pairs, students draw a plate dividing it to show mainly whole foods and some processed foods. They explain their choice to a partner or small group.	Allow oral instead of written explanations if needed. Use te reo and English labels.
50-60 min	Reflection & Whakataukī	Reflect on learning with sentence stems (e.g., "Ika kai katoa tēnei, nā te mea…", "Kia ora tōku tino tinana mēnā…"). Share a whakataukī about kai, such as:
He kai kei aku ringa – "There is food at my fingertips" (self-sufficiency). Close with karakia.	Encourage students to share orally or draw if writing is challenging. Use peer feedback.

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Assessment Opportunities

• Formative:
• Observations during sorting and discussion to check vocabulary understanding and conceptual grasp of whole/processed kai.
• Listening to students’ oral explanations during the healthy plate activity for ability to justify their choices.
• Summative:
• Worksheet reflection showing understanding of processed vs whole food and links to wellbeing (in te reo and/or English).
• Peer/self-assessment on participation and contribution to wānanga mahi (group work).
• Teacher notes on ability to use key vocabulary and cultural concepts integrated into explanations.

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Extension and Support Ideas

• For advanced learners: Research one processed food’s journey from farm to supermarket and present.
• For learners needing support: Use pictorial labels and partner talk before writing.
• Integration:
• Maths: Measure ingredients or portions when creating plates.
• Science: Explore natural food cycles, growth, and nutrients.
• Te Reo Māori: Incorporate te reo names for food and body parts affected by nutrition.

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Final Notes

This lesson nurtures holistic hauora acknowledging all taha (spiritual, mental, physical, social). It respects mātauranga Māori and realises health education as a journey of care (manaakitanga) for self, whānau, and the environment. Using active and collaborative strategies ensures all learners gain mana from the learning process.

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Karakia whakamutunga (Closing karakia):

"Whāia te māramatanga kia tutuki ai ngā moemoeā o tō tātou iwi." (Pursue understanding so that the dreams of our people may be fulfilled.)

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This lesson aligns tightly with Te Marautanga o Aotearoa's hauora and science curriculum, incorporating key competencies and tikanga Māori to provide a rich, meaningful learning experience for Year 5 tamariki in Aotearoa New Zealand.