Growing in Hope

Curriculum Information

Curriculum Area: Religious Education (linked to Literacy)

Year Level: Year 3–4 (Curriculum Levels 2–3)

Learning Area: English – Literacy (Writing strand)
Related Religious Education Theme: Parables of Jesus – Hope and the Kingdom of God

Key Competencies:

• Thinking
• Using language, symbols, and texts
• Managing self
• Relating to others

Learning Intention:
We are learning how the parables of Jesus teach us to be people of hope.

Success Criteria:
Students will be able to:
✔ Identify the audience and purpose for a piece of writing
✔ Plan and write a short story about hope using the parable of the mustard seed as inspiration
✔ Use vocabulary and tone appropriate for their chosen audience

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Lesson Duration

Total Time: 43 minutes
Number of Students: 23

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Resources Required

• Whiteboard and markers
• Printed copies of the Parable of the Mustard Seed (simple child-friendly version for group reading)
• Paper and pencils (or writing books)
• "My Hope Story" writing template (3-part outline: seed of hope, growth, outcome)
• Timer or clock
• Visuals: A mustard seed and a photo of a mustard tree

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Lesson Breakdown

1. Tuning In to the Parable (7 minutes)

Activity: Whole-class shared reading

• Read aloud the Parable of the Mustard Seed (Matthew 13:31–32) in a simplified version.
• Show and pass around a real mustard seed or mustard seeds in a clear container (if available).
• Prompt discussion:
  • Why do you think Jesus compared God’s kingdom to such a tiny seed?
  • What does it mean to grow something big from something small?

Purpose:
To introduce the theme of hope – that big change or goodness can come from small actions or beginnings.

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2. Guided Group Reflection (6 minutes)

Activity: Think–Pair–Share

• Prompt: "Can you think of a time when something small you did made a big difference?"
• Students share in pairs, then 2–3 pairs share with the class.
• Teacher scribes ideas on the whiteboard under “Seeds of Hope”.

Purpose:
To connect the parable to students’ real-life experiences and encourage connections between personal stories and biblical teachings.

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3. Mini Writing Workshop – Planning Our Stories (8 minutes)

Activity: Writing Plan – My Hope Story

• Students complete the "My Hope Story" planning template with the following structure:

Section	Prompt
Seed	What small thing happened or you did?
Growth	How did it grow or develop?
Outcome	What good came from it? Why does it give hope?

Support:

• Teacher models an example on the board using a simple story (e.g., “I helped my younger brother tie his laces – now he’s proud to do it himself.”).
• Encourage imaginative or real examples (e.g., “I planted a flower and now it feeds bees!”).

Purpose:
To help students understand structure, identify purpose (to share messages of hope), and plan writing for a reader (classmates, families, school newsletter).

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4. Writing Time (15 minutes)

Activity: Independent Writing

• Students write their “Hope Story”, using their plan.
• Encourage use of descriptive vocabulary and emotional language to convey hope and transformation.

Teacher Role:

• Circulate and conference briefly with individuals, prompting with questions like:
  • “Who will read this story?” (Audience)
  • “What message are you giving them?” (Purpose)
  • “Can you add a sentence to show how it made you feel?”

Purpose:
To practice writing with an identified audience and purpose, while incorporating gospel values.

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5. Celebrating and Reflecting (7 minutes)

Activity: Author's Chair and Whole-Class Debrief

• Select 2–3 volunteers to read their stories aloud to the class.
• After each, quick feedback from peers (e.g., “What hopeful message did you hear?”).

Wrap-up Questions:

• What did you notice about how small things can grow into big changes?
• How can we keep being people of hope at school or at home?

Purpose:
To affirm student messages and reinforce the link to Jesus' teaching on hope.

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Extension / Homework (Optional)

Activity: Home Link – Family Hope Tree

• Students can take home a small leaf template and write a hopeful action they did at home. These can later be added to a classroom tree display, showing how small "hopeful seeds" grow into a community of care.

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Teacher Notes & Adaptations

• Differentiation:

  • Provide sentence starters for students who need writing scaffolds.
  • Students with higher capabilities can write a continuation parable inspired by the original.

• Cultural Connections:

  • Link the lesson to whakataukī around growth, patience, or hope – e.g., "He iti te matakahi, pakaru rikiriki te tōtara."
  • Include opportunity for students to share in first/home languages where appropriate.

• Assessment for Learning:
  Observe and note students who:

  • Match their writing style to the audience and purpose
  • Use descriptive or emotive language to convey hope
  • Reflect the gospel message in their writing

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Summary

This writing lesson weaves together Religious Education and Literacy in an age-appropriate way, directly aligned to New Zealand Curriculum levels. It empowers Year 3–4 students to discover the gospel message of hope and to express it with clarity and purpose for a real audience. Not only are they learning how to craft personal narratives, but they are learning how to be seeds of change.