Final Reflections

Overview

Curriculum Area: Religious Education
NZ Curriculum Level: Level 5, Social Sciences – Understanding the role of religion and spirituality in society, and exploring religious stories and traditions.
Unit Title: Elijah: Faith in Action
Lesson: 9 of 9
Lesson Duration: 45 minutes
Class Size: 26 students
Lesson Title: Final Reflections and Devotion Sharing
Lesson Focus: Sharing, reflecting, and applying Elijah’s faith journey to students’ lives today.

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Learning Intentions

By the end of this lesson, students will:

• Share their personal reflections and devotion activities based on Elijah’s story.
• Evaluate how Elijah’s faith can inspire action in their own lives.
• Engage in respectful listening and discussion within a spiritually reflective space.
• Identify ways they can continue to grow in faith beyond the classroom.

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Success Criteria

Students will be able to:

• Clearly and confidently share part of their devotion journal.
• Reflect critically on Elijah’s actions and their relevance today.
• Express at least one personal goal for continuing faith in action.

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Big Idea

Faith can lead to courageous action.
Elijah’s story encourages learners to trust in something greater than themselves and step out boldly for justice, truth, and compassion.

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Values and Key Competencies

Values Explored: Integrity, spirituality, courage, community
Key Competencies: Thinking, managing self, relating to others, participating and contributing

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Te Ao Māori Integration

• Use a concluding karakia to close the unit, recognising the spiritual aspects of learning.
• Invite students to reflect on Elijah’s courage alongside Māori concepts such as mana, wairua, and whakaaro rangatira (noble thinking).
• Encourage whakapapa storytelling to link individual reflection with shared collective identity.

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Resources Needed

• Completed devotion booklets/journals
• Printed feedback forms (or available digitally)
• Whiteboard and markers
• Student reflection sheets
• Comfortable seating in a circle or semi-circle layout

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Lesson Breakdown: 45 minutes

1. Whanaungatanga & Karakia (5 minutes)

Purpose: Create a safe, shared, and respectful space to conclude the unit.

• Begin with a short karakia (teacher- or student-led).
• Brief whakawhanaungatanga moment – “one-word check-in” on how students are feeling, using te reo or English.

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2. Student Devotion Sharing (15 minutes)

Purpose: Celebrate student insights and reflections on Elijah’s journey.

• Students share a page or short excerpt from their devotion book.
• Invite volunteers (or group the class in fours) to present:
  • A key passage from Elijah's story that impacted them.
  • A devotion they wrote that reflects on that passage.
  • How they interpreted or applied it to their lives.

Tip: Encourage use of creative formats – sketches, acrostic poems, diary-style entries.

Teacher roves to affirm participation and ensures respectful listening.

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3. Whole Class Reflection Circle (15 minutes)

Purpose: Deepen understanding and connect Elijah’s story with students' real lives.

Facilitate a student-led circle discussion using prompts:

• What inspired you most about Elijah?
• How did Elijah show faith through action when it was difficult?
• What lessons from today’s world would Elijah speak into?
• How can we be “prophets” in our own communities?

Incorporate think-pair-share before open sharing if needed. Use a talking object (taonga) to encourage focused participation.

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4. Faith in Action Goals (7 minutes)

Purpose: Concrete application of the unit theme.

• Hand out “Faith in Action – My Next Steps” cards.
• Students write:
  • My biggest learning from Elijah...
  • One action I can take this week to live my faith...
  • A verse or quote that will encourage me...

Students can decorate, fold and keep these cards in their school diary or devotional space at home.

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5. Closing and Karakia (3 minutes)

Purpose: Celebrate student journey, affirm commitment, and spiritually close the unit.

• Use a collective karakia to acknowledge the learning.
• Optional: teacher offers a simple blessing or encouragement, highlighting observed growth.

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Differentiation and Inclusion

• Students may record audio instead of speaking live.
• Pair neurodiverse students with a peer buddy for sharing.
• Create safe opt-in spaces for those anxious about public speaking.
• Offer alternative reflection pathways (drawing, symbolic object sharing, poetry).

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Reflective Teacher Prompts

After the lesson, reflect and record:

• Which students engaged deeply in reflection or sharing?
• What themes emerged in how students internalised Elijah’s story?
• How could the next unit build on the personal application seen here?

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Optional Extension

Home Task / Ongoing Practice
Invite students to continue a personal devotion practice for one week and journal how they see their “faith in action” experience. This can be shared in mentoring time or class next term.

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Ka Rawe!

This final lesson allows students to embrace the character of Elijah not just as a figure of the past, but as a model for modern spiritual action and courage. Through creative sharing, spiritual reflection, and faith-forward thinking, ākonga are empowered to carry the wisdom of this unit into their daily lives and communities.