Exploring Beliefs Together

Year Level

Year 0-1 (Ages 5-6)

Duration

30 minutes

Class Size

20 students

---

Unit Context

Unit: One Family, Many Faces
Lesson: 7 of 20
Title: Exploring Religious Beliefs
Overview:
This lesson introduces students to the diversity of religious beliefs around the world. It emphasises how faith shapes family and community life, connecting to the New Zealand identity and multicultural society, aligned with the New Zealand Curriculum Refresh.

---

Curriculum Links

Learning Area: Social Sciences (understood through the curriculum emphasis on cultural and community contexts)

• Strand: Understanding society
• Achievement Objective:
  • Recognise that different groups have their own cultures and traditions
• Competencies:
  • Participating and contributing – interacting and sharing with others
  • Relating to others – understanding diverse perspectives

Values

• Respect (for diverse cultures and beliefs)
• Diversity

Key Competencies

• Relating to others: sharing and communicating respectfully about different beliefs
• Managing self: listening and engaging with new ideas

---

WALT (We Are Learning To)

• Understand that people believe in different religions.
• Recognise how faith can shape families and communities.
• Respect and appreciate cultural and religious diversity.

---

Success Criteria

• I can name different religious beliefs.
• I can describe one way in which these beliefs influence families or communities.
• I can show respect when listening to others’ beliefs.
• I can share something I have learnt about religious beliefs.

---

Lesson Plan Template

Time	Activity	Description & Teaching Notes	Resources
0-5m	Warm-up: Welcome and Discussion	Greet children, sit in a circle. Ask: "What do you know about different families and what makes them special?" Link to faith traditions gently.	None (circle time)
5-10m	Storytime: A Global Family of Beliefs	Read a simple picture book or tell a story featuring children from various religious backgrounds (e.g. Māori spiritual beliefs, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam). Discuss one or two key beliefs and how these shape daily life.	Picture book or prepared story cards with pictures of children and simple symbols of faith
10-15m	Show and Tell: Religious Symbols and Practices	Show simple, familiar symbols (cross, prayer beads, a whenua carving, a diya lamp, etc.). Briefly describe what they mean and how families might use or celebrate these. Use culturally appropriate language and respect.	Real or replica artefacts and symbols with images
15-20m	Hands-on Activity: Faith in the Family	Children create their own 'family flags' or collages using paper and crayons, incorporating a symbol or item that represents something important to their family’s beliefs or values. Teachers facilitate sharing respectfully.	Paper, crayons, religious symbol templates to choose from or draw
20-25m	Discussion and Sharing Circle	Children share about their family flag/collage and one thing about their family's beliefs or values. Emphasise listening and respect.	Children’s art
25-30m	Reflection and Closing	Recap key understandings: "We all have special ways to show what we believe, and that makes our world colourful and interesting." Sing a simple song about friendship and diversity or share a closing karakia (prayer/blessing).	Song lyrics or karakia script

---

Assessment and Feedback

• Observe children's participation in discussions and respectfulness during sharing.
• Listen for naming of beliefs and descriptions of family/community practices.
• Use their art and sharing for informal formative assessment related to the success criteria.

---

Teacher Notes

• Use inclusive language recognising the multicultural makeup of New Zealand, including Māori perspectives on spirituality.
• Be mindful of diversity within the classroom and model respect for all beliefs.
• Keep explanations simple and concrete for Year 0-1 developmental level.
• Link activities to children’s own experiences of family and community.
• Integrate te reo Māori greetings and possibly karakia to honour local culture and tikanga.

---

References in New Zealand Curriculum Refresh

• Supports social sciences strand with focus on understanding society and identity
• Develops Key Competencies: relating to others, participating and contributing
• Aligns with principles of inclusion, diversity, and respect for New Zealand’s bicultural heritage and multicultural identity .

---

If desired, this lesson could be enriched with a classroom visit from a local cultural or faith leader during the unit, or a field trip to a place of worship, tailored to the school's community.

---

I trust this detailed plan provides both a curriculum-aligned and engaging foundation for exploring religious beliefs with young learners in New Zealand schools!