Matters of the Heart

Curriculum Information

• Subject: Health Education
• Curriculum Level: Level 8 (Year 13)
• Big Idea: He oranga ngākau, he pikinga waiora – Positive feelings in your heart will raise your sense of self-worth
• Strand: Personal Health and Development
• Achievement Objective: Students will critically evaluate factors that influence people’s emotional, mental, physical, and social well-being, including those relating to nutrition and preventative health.
• Focus Area: Understanding different types of heart disease in Aotearoa New Zealand context

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Lesson Overview

This 50-minute lesson will engage Year 13 students in a critical exploration of the different types of heart disease. Students will investigate underlying causes, symptoms, treatments, and preventative measures, with a strong emphasis on the local context, incorporating statistics, healthcare access, and cultural perspectives (including mātauranga Māori) related to cardiovascular health.

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Learning Intentions

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

• Identify and describe key types of heart disease relevant to New Zealanders
• Analyse the socio-cultural and behavioural factors influencing heart health
• Evaluate the impact of heart disease on individuals, whānau, and communities
• Communicate key preventative strategies effectively using health promotion models

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Success Criteria

Students will:

• Define at least three major types of heart disease
• Participate constructively in group inquiry
• Apply health promotion strategies to a real-world scenario
• Reflect on equity issues in heart healthcare within Aotearoa

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Materials Needed

• Large printed images of human hearts (diseased and healthy)
• Sticky notes
• Class set of “Heart Health Case Files” (custom-designed character scenarios)
• Access to NZ heart health statistics (teacher-provided sheets)
• Whiteboard and markers
• Printed "Four Corners" drivers: Behavioural, Social, Environmental, Cultural

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Lesson Outline (50 minutes)

🔹 1. Whanaungatanga / Warm Up – Visual Hooks (5 minutes)

Activity: Project side-by-side images of a healthy vs diseased heart on the screen. Invite students to write one phrase or question on a sticky note (e.g., “Is this reversible?”) and place it on the board.

📌 Purpose: Activate curiosity and prior knowledge.

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🔹 2. Ako / Knowledge Building – What is Heart Disease? (10 minutes)

Mini Lecture with Discussion Prompts:

• Coronary artery disease
• Congenital heart disease
• Arrhythmia
• Heart failure
• Rheumatic heart disease (particularly relevant to Pacific and Māori youth)
• Emphasise local context and disparities in Aotearoa

🧠 Think–Pair–Share: What’s one fact that challenged your assumptions?

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🔹 3. Mahi Tahi / Collaborative Inquiry – Case File Challenge (15 minutes)

Activity: Students are divided into 7 groups (4 students each). Each group receives a case file involving a fictional New Zealander (diverse in ethnicity, age, occupation), detailing symptoms, lifestyle, and socio-economic context.

Tasks:

• Identify the type of heart disease
• Determine contributing factors
• Brainstorm culturally responsive health interventions
• Prepare to share one key insight

📣 Teacher circulates, observing, prompting critical thinking around equity and hauora.

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🔹 4. Hauora Lens – Four Corners Prompt (10 minutes)

Activity: Physical class movement. Label four corners of the room:

• Behavioural
• Social
• Environmental
• Cultural

Prompt: "Which of these is the most important driver of heart disease in Aotearoa?"

Students move to the corner they most agree with and prepare a quick pitch defending their choice.

💬 Follow with sharing and debate.

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🔹 5. Whakamārama / Reflection – One Thing, One Change (5 minutes)

Each student writes:

• One thing I didn’t know about heart disease before
• One lifestyle change that could reduce risk

Optional: Submit anonymously into a "Heart Jar" for later classroom display.

🌟 Wrap Up: Draw a connection back to He oranga ngākau, he pikinga waiora – how does your heart affect your sense of self and wellbeing?

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Optional Extension / Homework

• Inquiry Project: Research a heart health campaign in Aotearoa (e.g., by the Heart Foundation, or Mana Kidz) and evaluate its effectiveness across different communities.
• Hauora Reflection: Explore how the four dimensions of Hauora are impacted by cardiovascular disease.

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Teacher Notes

• Consider co-teaching with your school nurse or inviting a local health professional
• Use te reo Māori terms for body parts, where appropriate
• Integrate students’ whānau experiences in discussion where safe and relevant
• This lesson could lead into further work on non-communicable diseases or health determinants

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Assessment Opportunities

• Informal: Observation during group work and Four Corners debate
• Formal (optional): Students write a brief health promotion plan based on their case file, using the Ottawa Charter

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Cross-curricular Connections

• Science: Human biology, circulatory system
• Social Studies: Inequalities and access to care
• English: Communication and persuasive argument writing

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Final Karakia / Close

End with a simple karakia acknowledging the importance of wellbeing and safe journeys back into their day.