Social Connections Focus

Overview

This detailed 60-minute plan for Year 11 Health aligns with the New Zealand Curriculum Refresh, focusing on the achievement objective 1.2 – Relationships and Decision Making, specifically exploring relationships, friendships, and social connections. The session promotes understanding of the role of relationships in wellbeing, supports key competencies, and embeds values consistent with the NZ Curriculum.

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Learning Objectives

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

• Explain the importance of friendships and social connections in maintaining personal wellbeing (Health and Physical Education AO 1.2).
• Identify characteristics of positive and negative relationships and social interactions.
• Demonstrate decision-making skills that support healthy social connections.
• Reflect on their own friendships and social networks with empathy and respect (Key Competencies: Relating to others, Managing self).
• Communicate ideas effectively using culturally appropriate and respectful language (Health Curriculum emphasis on language and identity) .

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Curriculum Alignment

• Learning Area: Health and Physical Education
• Achievement Objective: 1.2 "Understand how emotional responses, behaviours, and relationships affect wellbeing"
• Key Competencies: Relating to Others, Managing Self, Participating and Contributing
• Values: Respect, Diversity, Community and Participation

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Resources Needed

• Whiteboard/flipchart and markers
• Post-it notes
• Friendship scenarios handout (varied positive/negative social scenarios)
• “Connection Map” templates (simple diagram for mapping own relationships)
• Reflection worksheet
• Timer or clock
• Projector (optional for brief video or slide presentation on friendships)

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Lesson Outline

Time	Activity	Description	Purpose / Focus
0-5 min	Introduction & Warm-up	Quick icebreaker: “In one word, describe a good friend.” Share a few responses.	Build engagement, activate prior knowledge, create safe space.
5-15 min	Explore Friendships & Social Connections	Present brief context of friendships’ role in wellbeing (can include whakataukī or Māori perspectives if culturally relevant). Teacher leads brainstorm on what makes friendships healthy or unhealthy. Write key ideas on board.	Develop conceptual understanding of relationships per AO 1.2, respect cultural perspectives.
15-30 min	Group Activity: Scenario Analysis	Students split into small groups (3-4). Each group receives handout with social scenarios showing positive or challenging friendships/relationships. Groups identify how decisions and behaviours affect wellbeing. Groups share insights.	Develop skills in analysing relationship dynamics, practice decision-making. Promote collaboration.
30-40 min	Individual Activity: Connection Mapping	Each student maps out their social connections, identifying different types of relationships (family, friends, acquaintances). They reflect on which relationships support their wellbeing and consider how they manage these connections.	Self-awareness about social networks; connecting learning to personal life. Supports Managing self competency.
40-50 min	Reflective Discussion: What Makes Connections Strong?	Guided class discussion: What qualities strengthen friendships? How can we build respectful, supportive relationships? Include discussion on listening skills, empathy, trust, and decision-making.	Reinforce understanding and application of key values and competencies.
50-60 min	Wrap-up & Self-Assessment	Students complete a short reflection worksheet on what they learned about relationships and one action they will take to improve their social connections. Teacher summarises key learnings and explains next steps.	Consolidate learning, promote reflective practice and goal setting.

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Differentiation

• Provide sentence starters for students who need help with reflection or discussion participation.
• Cultural inclusivity: Use te reo Māori greetings or proverbs related to relationships.
• For EAL learners, emphasise key vocabulary visually and use group peer support.
• Set up groupings to ensure all students can contribute, mix personalities and strengths.

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Assessment Opportunities

• Observation of group discussions and scenario analysis to assess understanding of positive relationships.
• Connection Map exercise as formative assessment of students’ awareness of their social networks.
• Reflection worksheets to assess personal connection to learning and ability to set wellbeing-related goals.
• Informal oral feedback during class discussions to support development of respectful communication skills.

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Teacher Tips

• Create a classroom environment where students feel safe to share personal thoughts.
• Use culturally responsive approaches, drawing from Te Ao Māori concepts of whanaungatanga (relationships).
• Encourage open-ended questions to deepen student thinking (e.g., “Why do you think trust is vital in friendships?”).
• Emphasise key competencies like empathy and self-management throughout activities.

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This lesson will help Year 11 students appreciate the complexity and significance of friendships and social connections for wellbeing, building skills consistent with the refreshed New Zealand Curriculum Health and Physical Education objectives. The combination of individual reflection and collaborative tasks promotes deep engagement and personal relevance.

If you would like, I can also generate printable materials such as the scenario handouts or reflection worksheet. Would you like those?