Kōrero with Kindness

Overview

Curriculum Area: Religious Education
Curriculum Level: Level 1 of Te Whāriki (NZ Early Childhood Curriculum)
Focus Strand: Contribution | Mana Tangata
Learning Outcome: Children are encouraged to learn with and alongside others, showing respect for themselves and others.

This 5-minute Religious Education session for preschoolers explores respectful behaviours, using Te Ao Māori values integrated with Christian concepts of kindness and empathy. The session targets early behavioural guidance, specifically encouraging alternatives to back-chatting, swearing, and destructive actions.

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Learning Intentions

• Children will begin to identify kind, respectful ways to speak and act towards others.
• Children will recognise and describe how words can make others feel.
• Children will learn alternative positive behaviours and language.

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Success Criteria

By the end of the session, tamariki will:

• Repeat a kindness phrase or action.
• Show recognition of positive behaviour (e.g. clapping when someone uses kind words).
• Begin to name ‘helpful’ and ‘hurtful’ words or actions.

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Resources

• A "Feelings Feather" (a large soft feather representing gentle speech and action)
• Puppet characters: Tama the Tīrairaka (fantail) and Nia the Noke (earthworm)
• Large emotion cards (happy, sad, angry, confused)
• Mat space with room for a circle

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Timing and Activities

🔵 0:00–0:30: Karakia & Settle

Te Reo Karakia Timatanga (Opening Prayer)
Gather tamariki on the mat. Begin with a calming karakia timatanga to bring focus and frame the moment as special.

E te Atua,  
Whakarongo mai rā  
Awhinatia mātou  
I te mahi pai  
Āmene  

Teacher: “We’re here to learn how to be like Tama the gentle bird, who uses kind words and listens.”

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🔵 0:30–2:30: Puppet Story Circle – “Tama Learns to Listen”

Use puppets of Tama the Tīrairaka (fantail) and Nia the Noke (earthworm) to act out a simple story:

• Scene 1 (bad behaviour): Tama shouts, “No, I don’t want to!”, throws leaves and says a bad word. Nia feels sad. Show the corresponding emotion card (sad).
• Scene 2 (recognising emotion): Teacher guides with prompts: “How does Nia feel?” “Has someone ever made you feel like that?”
• Scene 3 (positive behaviour): Tama uses the “Feelings Feather” and says, “I’m sorry Nia. I’ll use kind words.” Show happy card.

Ask the children to help Tama say a new, kind phrase. Repeat together:
“Please, thank you, I’m listening.”

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🔵 2:30–4:00: Movement - “Kindness Echo”

Teacher says a scenario. If it’s kind, children hug themselves and whisper “aroha”.
If it’s hurtful, children shake their heads softly and say, “try again!”

Examples:

• “I say a very mean word when I’m angry.” → “try again!”
• “I listen when a friend talks.” → “aroha!”
• “I break someone’s blocks on purpose.” → “try again!”

Keep rhythm playful but empathic; monitor for emotional responses.

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🔵 4:00–5:00: Reflect & Close with Karakia

Sit back down together. Pass the “Feelings Feather” around quickly in a circle and ask:
“What’s one kind word we can use today?” (Children may say “please”, “sorry”, “hello”, etc.)

Finish with a closing karakia:

E te Atua,  
Awhi mai mātou  
Hei tangata atawhai  
I ngā wā katoa  
Āmene  

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Extension Ideas (Optional)

• Create a “Kind Words Waka” wall where tamariki add paper paddles with kind actions or words they’ve shared.
• Use the puppets again later in the day during conflict resolution or transition times.
• Incorporate feelings cards into dramatic play time.

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Teacher Notes

• This lesson uses Te Whāriki's emphasis on social competencies and nurtures children’s developing moral reasoning in an age-appropriate, embodied way.
• Repetition of kind phrases and reinforcement by tangible tools (feathers, puppets, actions) anchors understanding.
• Watch for emotional triggers around negative behaviour and balance carefully with validation and solutions.
• Use this short lesson regularly to reinforce tone and values in your classroom ethnos.

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Reflection Prompt for Kaiako

After the lesson, reflect with these questions:

• Which tamariki responded best to the puppet story? Why?
• Were there any words or actions suggested by tamariki that could be added to the next lesson?
• How could this message be integrated into our group routines or whānau partnerships?

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Final Words

In using this simple but symbolic approach rooted in both Te Ao Māori and early Christian values (kindness, empathy, forgiveness), kaiako help tamariki begin recognising their own power in relationships — the power to speak life, even in just 5 minutes.