Year Range

Years 0-1

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Unit

One Family, Many Faces
Lesson 9 of 20

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Duration

30 minutes
Class size: 20 students

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WALT (We Are Learning To)

Identify some challenges faced by families around the world, such as poverty and conflict, and describe ways to show care and help.

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Success Criteria

• I can name some ways families might face challenges.
• I can share ideas about how we can help families.
• I can listen to others and take part in group discussions.

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Curriculum Links

Learning area: Social Sciences and Religious Education (integrated approach to values and cultural awareness)

• Understanding different family structures and challenges helps develop empathy and respect for diversity.
• Supports Key Competencies:
  • Relating to others: Listening, sharing ideas, showing empathy.
  • Participating and contributing: Taking part in discussions, suggesting helpful actions.
  • Thinking: Understanding perspectives different from own experience.

Curriculum References:

• New Zealand Curriculum Refresh emphasizes teaching values and key competencies through relevant social contexts (including family and community).
• Social Sciences learning area: "Students explore how societies work and how they themselves can participate and take action as critical, informed, and responsible citizens".
• Key Competencies: relating to others and participating and contributing are central to developing social awareness and community engagement even in early years.
• Future focus on citizenship and globalisation is encouraged to be woven into early learning when age-appropriate.

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Lesson Overview

Time	Activity	Description	Purpose and Learning Focus
0 - 5 mins	Introduction & WALT	Gather students on the mat; introduce topic by asking "What is family? What do families need to be happy?" Show photos of diverse families globally. State WALT and success criteria.	Build common understanding; set learning intention; connect to students’ experiences.
5 - 12 mins	Storytime: “Families have challenges”	Read a simple story or show a picture book about children/families around the world facing challenges like not enough food, being far from home, or having family members who are sick. Use clear, simple language and visuals. Ask questions: "What challenges do you see? How do you think they feel?"	Develop empathy; identify examples of family challenges in age-appropriate way.
12 - 18 mins	Group discussion & brainstorm	In small groups (4-5 students), use picture cards showing challenges (e.g., empty plate = poverty; broken house = conflict) and helping actions (e.g., sharing food, helping friends). Guide children to match cards and talk about ways to help.	Encourage sharing ideas; relate challenges to actions of kindness and care. Support oral language and turn-taking.
18 - 25 mins	Creative activity: Helping hands collage	Give each child a paper hand cut-out. Ask them to draw or paste pictures (from magazines or pre-printed) of ways to help families (e.g., sharing, caring, helping with chores). Display hands on classroom wall as a "Helping Hands" mural.	Reinforce learning by practising expression through art; foster community spirit.
25 - 30 mins	Reflection & Review	Sit down on the mat again; invite a few children to share one thing they learned or one way they can help families. Recap WALT and success criteria.	Assess understanding; build confidence in sharing thoughts. Provide positive feedback.

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Resources Needed

• Photos or images of diverse families around the world
• Picture book or illustrated story that shows family challenges (simple language, positive tone)
• Picture cards depicting challenges and helping actions
• Paper hand cut-outs for collage
• Art supplies: crayons, glue, magazines with family-related images

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Assessment & Evidence

• Teacher observes students’ participation in discussion and sharing ideas to meet success criteria.
• "Helping Hands" collage demonstrates understanding of ways to help.
• Oral reflections at end of lesson provide evidence of comprehension and empathy.

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Differentiation & Inclusion

• Use simple language and visuals to support diverse learners.
• Provide one-on-one support in group discussions for students who find oral communication challenging.
• Encourage peer support and collaboration.
• Consider cultural backgrounds and show diverse family types including Māori whānau structures to be inclusive and reflect local context.

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Notes for Teacher

• Keep explanations very concrete and relatable for young learners.
• Emphasise positive actions rather than focusing heavily on negative realities.
• Maintain a calm, inclusive environment encouraging kindness and respect for others.
• Link this learning back to local community and whanau values where possible.

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This plan integrates the New Zealand Curriculum Refresh’s emphasis on values, key competencies, and social/cultural understanding for early learners, aiming to develop empathy and a sense of global citizenship through an accessible, engaging lesson for Year 0-1 students.