Exploring Holiness

Overview

This 45-minute lesson introduces preschool students in New Zealand to the concept of holiness within a religious education context, aligned with the New Zealand Curriculum Refresh. The lesson uses storytelling, discussion, art, and sharing activities to help children understand holiness as connected to kindness and love. It is designed for a class of 10 students, focusing on age-appropriate engagement and fostering key competencies.

Curriculum Links

• Learning Area: Religious Education (adapted within the Social Sciences and Health and Physical Education framework, emphasizing values and key competencies)
• Key Competencies:
  • Relating to others – through sharing ideas and listening
  • Participating and contributing – through group storytelling and activities
  • Managing self – through expressing thoughts and emotions
• Values: Respect, kindness, care for others
• Vision and Principles: Learning that values personal identity and culture, fosters inclusion, and nurtures wellbeing and positive relationships
• Additional Alignment: Supports literacy development through oral language and storytelling as per Te Mātaiaho – English in the New Zealand Curriculum (Years 0–3) .

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will:

1. Understand the idea of holiness as related to being kind, loving, and good.
2. Recognise examples of holy actions in familiar contexts.
3. Express their ideas about holiness through drawing and verbal sharing.
4. Develop respectful listening and turn-taking skills.

Lesson Duration

45 minutes

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Lesson Outline

1. Welcome and Introduction (5 minutes)

• Greet the students warmly and gather them in a comfortable circle.
• Briefly introduce the lesson: "Today, we will discover what holiness means and why being kind and loving is special."
• Use simple, clear language suitable for preschoolers.

2. Storytelling: What is Holiness? (10 minutes)

• Read or tell an engaging, age-appropriate story that illustrates holiness through acts of kindness and love. For example, a story about a character showing care for friends or family.
• Use visual aids such as picture books or large illustrated cards to maintain attention.
• Pause occasionally to ask simple questions:
  • "What did the character do that was kind?"
  • "How do you think that made others feel?"

3. Interactive Discussion (10 minutes)

• Invite children to share their thoughts on holiness in their own words.
• Prompt with questions:
  • "Can you tell me about a time when you were kind to someone?"
  • "What does being loving mean to you?"
• Highlight and praise contributions, emphasising that holiness means showing love and kindness in everyday actions.
• Use visuals or symbols (like hearts or stars) to help children connect ideas.

4. Creative Drawing Activity (15 minutes)

• Provide paper and crayons/coloured pencils.
• Ask children to draw their own picture of what holiness looks like to them (e.g., helping a friend, sharing toys, hugging family).
• Circulate and engage with students while they draw, encouraging description of their pictures.
• Invite a few volunteers to share and explain their drawings to the group.

5. Wrap-up and Reflection (5 minutes)

• Summarise the learning: "Holiness means showing kindness and love. When we do this, we are being holy in our actions."
• Reinforce the values of care and respect.
• Encourage students to look for holy actions during their week and to share these next time.
• End with a simple song or chant about kindness and love to create a positive, memorable ending.

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Assessment & Evaluation

• Observation: Teacher notes student participation in storytelling, discussion, and drawing activities.
• Anecdotal Assessment: Listen for students’ understanding of kindness and love as aspects of holiness through their shared examples and drawings.
• Self and Peer Reflection: Encourage children to recognise holy actions in themselves and others, supporting the development of empathy and social competence based on curriculum key competencies .

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Resources Needed

• Storybook or visual story cards illustrating kindness and love
• Drawing paper, crayons or coloured pencils
• Visual symbols related to kindness/love (heart shapes, smiley faces)
• Comfortable, inviting classroom space for circle time

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Teacher Notes

• Adapt storytelling to include diverse cultural contexts relevant to New Zealand, including Māori perspectives on holiness, kindness, and community, to support bicultural education principles.
• Use positive reinforcement to celebrate all contributions, fostering a sense of belonging and confidence.
• Keep language simple and allow plenty of time for expression.
• Use follow-up lessons to deepen understanding, such as “Lesson 2: Living Holiness Every Day.”

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This lesson supports the New Zealand Curriculum’s focus on values, key competencies, literacy development through language-rich interaction, and inclusive, responsive teaching practice in early childhood education contexts .