Finding God Everywhere

Year Level

Year 8 (ages 12-13)

Duration

40 minutes

Class Size

20 students

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Unit Overview: Finding God Everywhere

This unit explores the presence of God in everyday life, encouraging students to recognise and reflect on spiritual moments in the ordinary. The focus supports holistic spiritual development, aligns with the New Zealand Curriculum's vision for young people who are connected, actively involved, and lifelong learners, and integrates the key competencies of Thinking, Relating to Others, and Managing Self.

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Lesson 1: Introduction to Finding God Everywhere

Learning Objectives

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

• Understand the concept of experiencing God's presence in everyday life.
• Share personal or observed experiences where they sensed spirituality or God’s presence.
• Identify and list various places, people, and things where God’s presence might be experienced.
• Express ideas through illustration to reinforce understanding of spiritual encounters.

Curriculum Links

Religious Education Learning Area (aligned with NZ Curriculum values and key competencies):

• Values: Encourage and explore the value of spirituality and respect for others' beliefs and experiences (NZ Curriculum, page 10).
• Key Competencies:
  • Thinking: Students use creative and critical processes to explore spiritual concepts.
  • Relating to Others: Students share and listen respectfully to stories about spiritual experiences.
  • Managing Self: Students reflect on their own spiritual experiences and express ideas confidently .

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Resources

• Short video or story illustrating unexpected encounters with God or spirituality (teacher's choice; can be a narrative or visual media appropriate for age).
• 'God Sightings' worksheet (created by teacher): A worksheet with columns/spaces for students to list and illustrate places, people, and things where they might feel God’s presence.
• Paper, coloured pencils or markers for illustrating.
• Whiteboard or large paper for brainstorming.

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Lesson Structure

Time	Activity	Description
5 min	Introduction & Context	Teacher introduces the unit "Finding God Everywhere" and explains that spirituality can be found in everyday moments. Outline importance of noticing these moments.
8 min	Video / Story Presentation	Show a short age-appropriate video or share a brief story illustrating an unexpected encounter with God or a spiritual experience in everyday life.
10 min	Guided Group Discussion	Facilitate a whole-class conversation asking: "Have you ever felt something special or spiritual in your daily life?" "Where might God be found in ordinary places or people?" Encourage respectful sharing and active listening. Write key ideas on the board.
12 min	God Sightings Worksheet Activity	Students individually fill out a 'God Sightings' worksheet: List places, people, and things where they think they could experience God's presence, then illustrate one example.
5 min	Wrap-up and Reflection	Invite volunteers to share their drawings and ideas. Teacher summarises the lesson, emphasising that God’s presence can be found everywhere, encouraging ongoing awareness.

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Differentiation

• For diverse learners: Provide sentence starters on the worksheet for those needing support (e.g., "I might feel God’s presence when...").
• For advanced learners: Encourage adding written reflections or poetry on the worksheet about their spiritual experiences.

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Assessment opportunities

• Formative assessment through observation of participation in discussion and worksheet completion.
• Assess understanding by the quality and relevance of ideas expressed in 'God Sightings' worksheet and ability to articulate thoughts during sharing.

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Reflection and Next Steps

• This lesson sets the foundation for students to notice God's presence in mundane contexts.
• Subsequent lessons will deepen understanding by exploring specific examples and cultural/spiritual worldviews around this theme.

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Alignment with NZ Curriculum Vision and Principles

This lesson supports the NZ Curriculum vision by fostering students who are confident, connected, and actively involved. It strengthens key competencies in ways that are meaningful and culturally inclusive, recognizing the significance of spirituality in student identity and community contexts .

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Appendix: God Sightings Worksheet Example Layout

Where?	Who?	What? (Thing or Event)	My Illustration
(e.g. Home)	(e.g. friend)	(e.g. a beautiful sunset)	(Draw a quick picture here)

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This lesson plan provides a structured, culturally responsive, and engaging way for Year 8 students in New Zealand to begin their journey in recognising the theme "Finding God Everywhere" through reflection, discussion, and creative expression.