Friendship Blossoms

Curriculum Area

Health and Physical Education - Level 1

Learning Objective

Students will understand the qualities of a good friend and express these qualities through art and writing.

Success Criteria

• Students can articulate at least three qualities of a good friend.
• Students can artistically represent and describe these qualities on a flower petal.

Assessment

• Teacher observation and questioning.
• Completed flower petal activity.

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Introduction (5 minutes)

1. Whakawhanaungatanga (Building Relationships)

• Begin with a karakia (prayer) or positive affirmation to set the intention for the lesson.
• Quick round-robin where each student shares the name of a friend they appreciate.

Whole Class Discussion (5 minutes)

2. Brainstorm

• Sit students in a circle and ask them, "What makes a good friend?"
• Record their answers on a large sheet of paper or whiteboard.
• Examples might include: kindness, sharing, listening, helping, playing together.

Main Activity (8 minutes)

3. Flower Petals

• Hand out the flower outline worksheets to each student.
• Instruct students to write or draw one quality of a good friend on each petal.
  • For younger students, you can assist by writing while they dictate.
• Emphasise creativity – students can use crayons, coloured pencils, or markers to decorate their petals.

Conclusion (2 minutes)

4. Sharing Time

• Gather the students back in a circle.
• Ask a few students to share their completed flowers and explain one quality they wrote down.
• Praise students for their thoughtful contributions and colourful petals.

Follow-Up Activity

When there is more time, consider creating a "Friendship Garden" on the classroom wall with all the students' flowers to remind them of the qualities that make good friends.

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Resources Needed

• Large paper or whiteboard for brainstorming
• Flower outline worksheets (one per student)
• Crayons, coloured pencils, markers

Teacher Notes

• Encourage Sharing: Make sure every child gets a chance to speak, fostering inclusivity.
• Focus on Positivity: Highlight the positive qualities shared by students.
• Cultural Sensitivity: Incorporate culturally responsive practices, such as starting with a karakia.
• Practice Patience: Given the age group, allow extra time for students to express their thoughts and complete their artwork.

This lesson plan is designed to align with the New Zealand Curriculum and focuses on building emotional and social well-being among Year 2 students. By communicating what makes a good friend, students will cultivate a positive classroom environment.