My Hauora Toolkit

Overview

In this 45-minute lesson, Year 8 students will be introduced to the concept of Hauora through the Māori health model, Te Whare Tapa Whā. Students will explore four key dimensions of wellbeing: physical (taha tinana), mental/emotional (taha hinengaro), family/social (taha whānau), and spiritual (taha wairua). Through engaging activities and discussions, they will learn strategies to manage emotions and build a personal Hauora toolkit. This lesson aligns with the New Zealand Curriculum's Health and Physical Education learning area, focusing on developing students' wellbeing knowledge and self-management skills.

Curriculum Links

Learning Area

• Health and Physical Education

Achievement Objectives (Level 4, appropriate for Year 8)

• Personal Growth and Development: Develop skills to manage change and challenges and enhance wellbeing.
• Relationships with Other People: Explore how diverse family and whānau, social, and cultural contexts influence identity and wellbeing.
• Healthy Communities and Environments: Understand how emotional responses affect wellbeing and how to manage them.

Key Competencies

• Managing Self: Understanding emotions, self-regulation, and taking responsibility for wellbeing.
• Relating to Others: Recognising and respecting differences.
• Participating and Contributing: Sharing ideas and supporting each other.

Values

• Respect (Manaakitanga)
• Integrity (Ngākau pono)
• Responsibility (Kaitiakitanga)

Learning Intentions

By the end of this lesson, students will:

• Understand the four dimensions of Hauora (Te Whare Tapa Whā).
• Identify ways to support their wellbeing in each dimension.
• Develop strategies to manage their emotions effectively.
• Begin to build a personalised Hauora toolkit they can use at camp and in daily life.

Materials Needed

• Large paper or whiteboard
• Markers or pens
• Printed handouts illustrating Te Whare Tapa Whā model (symbol of a house with four walls)
• Sticky notes
• Emotion cards or emotion word strips
• Hauora Toolkit template (simple worksheet with four sections: Physical, Mental, Social, Spiritual)
• Scenario cards depicting emotional or wellbeing-related situations

Lesson Structure

1. Warm-Up / Activation (5 minutes)

• Begin with a short breathing and mindfulness exercise (e.g., deep breathing together, focusing on calmness).
• Briefly discuss the meaning of ‘hauora’ — wellbeing or health in a holistic sense.
• Ask students what contributes to their wellbeing and note some ideas on the board.

2. Introduction to Te Whare Tapa Whā (10 minutes)

• Present the Te Whare Tapa Whā model as a whare (house) with four walls—each representing a dimension of hauora:
• Taha Tinana (Physical health)
• Taha Hinengaro (Mental and emotional health)
• Taha Whānau (Family and social health)
• Taha Wairua (Spiritual health)
• Using visuals, explain each wall briefly with examples relevant to Year 8 students.
• Emphasise the importance of all four dimensions being in balance for overall wellbeing.

3. Hauora Toolkit Brainstorm (10 minutes)

• Divide students into four groups, assigning each group one dimension of Hauora.
• Ask each group to brainstorm strategies and activities that support their assigned dimension.
• Provide sticky notes for groups to write their ideas.
• After 5-7 minutes, groups present their ideas and stick them on the large Te Whare Tapa Whā diagram/class whiteboard.
• Discuss how these strategies help manage emotions and wellbeing.

4. Emotional Management Strategies (10 minutes)

• Introduce common emotions students might experience, especially in a camp setting (e.g., excitement, nervousness, frustration, loneliness).
• Provide scenario cards depicting different emotional situations.
• In pairs, students choose a scenario and discuss which Hauora strategies could help manage their emotions.
• Volunteers share their scenarios and strategies with the class.
• Highlight the use of positive self-talk, seeking support from whānau or friends, physical activity, and spiritual practices like reflection or karakia.

5. Creating Personal Hauora Toolkits (8 minutes)

• Hand out the Hauora Toolkit worksheet.
• Students individually reflect and write/draw at least one strategy they will use in each of the four dimensions to support their wellbeing on camp.
• Encourage creativity—students can include methods like journaling, talking to friends, doing a favourite physical activity, or practising wairua such as connecting with nature or personal beliefs.
• Optionally, invite a few students to briefly share their toolkit ideas.

6. Wrap-Up and Reflection (2 minutes)

• Summarise the importance of maintaining balance in hauora.
• Encourage students to use their toolkit during camp and daily life.
• End with a short positive affirmation or quiet reflection.

Assessment and Reflection

• Formative: Observe participation in group discussions and paired scenario work.
• Student Reflection: Completed Hauora Toolkit worksheet as an indicator of personal understanding.
• Teacher Observation: Ability to articulate strategies supporting each hauora dimension and emotional management skills.

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This lesson strongly supports the New Zealand Curriculum principles of inclusion and cultural responsiveness by embedding the indigenous Māori model of wellbeing and emphasising holistic health, empowering students to develop self-management strategies grounded in their cultural context and personal experience.

It also ties in key competencies, especially managing self and relating to others, by nurturing self-awareness and empathy, both vital skills as students prepare for camp and beyond.