Understanding Hauora

Year 8 Hauora Exploration

Duration: 30 minutes
Class size: 25 students

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Intention Question

How do the four dimensions of Hauora—physical, mental, social, and spiritual well-being—help us understand our overall health and identity?

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WALT (We Are Learning To)

• Explore the four dimensions of Hauora and understand their impact on well-being.
• Reflect on personal Hauora and recognise connections between the dimensions.
• Use Te Whare Tapa Whā as a framework for understanding health in a uniquely Aotearoa New Zealand context.

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Curriculum Alignment

This lesson aligns with the Health and Physical Education Learning Area of the New Zealand Curriculum Refresh (2023-2027), focusing on students in Years 7-8.

Achievement Objective(s):

• Level 4: Personal and Community Health
  • Explain Hauora as a holistic view of well-being encompassing taha tinana (physical), taha hinengaro (mental and emotional), taha whānau (social), and taha wairua (spiritual) dimensions and why these are important for themselves and others.
  • Develop personal strategies to enhance their own well-being.

Key Competencies:

• Managing Self: Students will take responsibility for their own well-being reflections.
• Relating to Others: Discussions will foster understanding diverse perspectives on Hauora.
• Thinking: Critical reflection on Hauora and its dimensions.

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Success Criteria

Students will be able to:

• Clearly describe the four dimensions of Hauora using simple examples.
• Reflect on their own well-being across each dimension.
• Respect differences in how Hauora might look for different people.

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Materials

• Whiteboard and markers
• Printed Hauora model diagrams (Te Whare Tapa Whā)
• Reflection worksheets with dyslexia-friendly fonts and layout (larger font, structured spacing)
• Sticky notes and pens for group work
• Multimedia: short video or images illustrating Hauora (optional if available)

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Lesson Outline

Time (mins)	Activity	Teacher Actions	Student Actions	Notes
0-5	Engage & Intro	Pose Intention Question. Introduce the Hauora concept and four dimensions. Brief storytelling or metaphor: "Hauora is like a whare (house) with four sides, all needed for strength."	Listen and engage with question. Share any prior knowledge about well-being.	Include whānau and cultural relevance; link to students’ identities.
5-12	Explore Hauora dimensions	Present each dimension of Hauora using simple language, examples, and visuals. Use both te reo Māori terms and English. Clarify taha tinana, taha hinengaro, taha whānau, taha wairua.	Discuss in pairs or small groups examples from their own lives or community related to each dimension. Write one idea per sticky note.	Use visual aids and provide sentence starters for students who need scaffolding.
12-20	Reflection activity	Distribute dyslexia-friendly reflection worksheets. Guide students to answer prompts reflecting on each Hauora dimension. Circulate and support as needed.	Independently complete reflection sheets considering questions like: “How do I look after my physical health?”, “What makes me feel spiritually connected?”	Allow oral reflection for students with writing difficulties; use speech-to-text if available.
20-28	Group share & discussion	Invite volunteers to share insights or challenges about any dimension. Facilitate respectful listening and empathy. Highlight diversity in experiences.	Share reflections with the class and listen to peers. Ask questions if unsure.	Encourage cultural humility and openness. Use supportive, inclusive language.
28-30	Summary & Next steps	Summarise key ideas; reinforce Hauora as a holistic approach to well-being. Introduce the upcoming unit focus on diversity connections through Hauora. Set intention for next lesson.	Reflect quietly on what they learnt, jot down one action they want to take related to their Hauora.	Reinforce that Hauora is a lifelong approach and applies differently to each person.

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Differentiation Strategies

• For diverse learners and those with learning difficulties:

  • Use dyslexia-friendly printed materials with clear fonts (e.g., OpenDyslexic, Arial) and layout with spacing.
  • Provide oral instructions and allow verbal rather than written responses where needed.
  • Use visuals, diagrams, and concrete examples to support abstract concepts.
  • Provide sentence stems to scaffold discussions and reflections (e.g., "One way I take care of my taha tinana is…").

• For advanced learners:

  • Encourage deeper inquiry into how Hauora connects to identity, culture, and community well-being.
  • Invite students to create their own models or metaphors for Hauora.
  • Extension task: research a whakataukī (Māori proverb) related to well-being and relate it to Hauora.

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Resources & Supports

• Te Whare Tapa Whā model diagrams in English and te reo Māori.
• Reflection sheets with prompt questions:
  • What do each of the four dimensions mean to me?
  • Which dimension do I think is strongest in my life? Which needs more attention?
  • How does Hauora help me think about being healthy?
• Examples of whānau and cultural practices supporting Hauora.

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Additional Notes

• Emphasise the Māori worldview embedded in Hauora to connect with New Zealand’s bicultural heritage.
• Support students to use their own cultural understanding to enrich the discussion and reflection.
• Be mindful of student privacy during reflections and sharing; allow opt-outs or one-on-one sharing if needed.

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This lesson framework honours the New Zealand Curriculum Refresh's focus on well-being and identity, embedding Māori perspectives through Hauora, and actively engages Year 8 students in meaningful reflection on their health and diversity connections .