Pursuing Excellence

Overview

In this 60-minute lesson for Year 7-8 Religious Education students, learners will explore the concept of excellence through the lens of Christian beliefs. The lesson incorporates Biblical principles such as stewardship, recognising and using God-given talents for His glory, and personal goal setting. The approach aligns with the New Zealand Curriculum Refresh by emphasising values, key competencies, and critical thinking, fostering a holistic and culturally responsive learning experience.

Curriculum Alignment

New Zealand Curriculum Refresh (The refreshed national curriculum for New Zealand schools)

Vision & Principles:
Foster students’ holistic development including ethical and spiritual dimensions; develop reflective learners who can advocate for themselves and others.
Values: Excellence, stewardship, personal responsibility, and community participation.
Key Competencies:
- Thinking — critical and creative thinking about personal and spiritual growth.
- Managing self — goal setting and personal responsibility.
- Relating to others — understanding stewardship as caring for others and gifts.
Learning Areas:
Religious Education (cross-curricular links with Health Education and English).
Critical Focus for Phase 3 (Years 7-8):
"Seeing ourselves in the wider world and advocating with and for others" — aligning with stewardship and purposeful living.

This lesson supports students to develop knowledge, skills, and attitudes that enable them to pursue excellence in their lives by discerning and applying Christian principles, self-reflection, and goal setting .

Learning Objectives

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

Define excellence in their own words, relating it to personal growth and Christian beliefs.
Explain the Biblical principle of stewardship and how it relates to using their God-given talents responsibly.
Identify their own talents and gifts as blessings meant to glorify God.
Set a personal goal that reflects their pursuit of excellence inspired by Christian values.

Assessment will address: ability to articulate understanding, connect beliefs to personal action, and demonstrate goal-setting skills.

Resources Needed

Whiteboard and markers
Bibles or printed excerpts (e.g., Parable of the Talents - Matthew 25:14-30)
Worksheets for reflection and goal setting
Pens/pencils
A4 paper or journals
Visuals or quotes about excellence and stewardship (optional)

Lesson Structure

Time	Activity	Description	NZ Curriculum Focus
0-10 min	Introduction & Engage	Begin with a group brainstorming: What does excellence mean to you? Write ideas on the board. Connect ideas to Christian understandings: excellence as doing our best for God’s glory.	Values: Excellence; Key Competency: Thinking
10-20 min	Bible Story: Stewardship	Read and discuss the Parable of the Talents. Highlight stewardship: God entrusting us with talents to use wisely. Discuss what stewardship means generally and personally.	Values: Stewardship; Principles: Community engagement; Key competencies: Relating to others
20-30 min	Reflection: Gifts and Talents	Have students list some talents or skills they think God has given them. Prompt with questions: How can you use these talents to serve others and honour God?	Self-awareness and reflection; Managing self
30-45 min	Goal-Setting Activity	Guide students to set one SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) goal related to pursuing excellence in a domain (school, sports, relationships) drawing inspiration from Christian stewardship. Use a worksheet template.	Managing self; Thinking
45-55 min	Pair Share and Feedback	Students share their goal with a partner and give feedback/reflection using prompts: Is this goal excellent? How does it honour God?	Relating to others; Participating and contributing
55-60 min	Wrap-up and Prayer	Recap key ideas. Invite volunteers to share what excellence means to them now. Close with a prayer asking for guidance to pursue excellence and serve with their gifts.	Values; Spiritual dimension

Differentiation and Inclusivity

Provide sentence starters/scaffolds for students needing language support.
Use props or visual aids to support understanding of Bible story.
Encourage students to connect goal-setting to their cultural values and beliefs as well.
Allow students to work in pairs or groups for discussions to support confidence.

Assessment Ideas

Observe participation in discussions, noting depth of reflection on excellence and stewardship.
Review written reflections and personal goals for clarity and connectedness to the lesson’s Christian theme.
Provide a checklist rubric assessing: understanding of excellence, articulation of stewardship, identification of talents, and SMART goal-setting skills.

Extension Opportunities

Have students maintain a "Pursuing Excellence" journal over the term to track progress on their goals.
Invite a local Christian community leader to discuss real-life examples of stewardship and excellence.

This lesson plan carefully integrates New Zealand Curriculum Refresh emphases on values, key competencies, and culturally contextual learning, while centring Christian perspectives on excellence and stewardship at an appropriate developmental level for Years 7-8 .

Teaching Instructions