Understanding Influences

Overview

This 60-minute lesson for Year 5 students explores the concept of influences — focusing on social, cultural, and environmental influences and their impact on individuals and communities in New Zealand. The lesson aligns closely with the New Zealand Curriculum (NZC) principles, values, and key competencies, supporting holistic development through inquiry, critical thinking, and empathy.

Curriculum Alignment

Learning Area: Social Sciences (NZC Level 2 - Year 5)

Achievement Objective:
Understand how cultural practices reflect and express people’s customs, traditions, and beliefs (Social Sciences Level 2).
Key Competencies:
- Thinking: Critically exploring influences and their effects.
- Relating to others: Recognising different perspectives and values.
- Using language, symbols, and texts: Expressing ideas clearly in various formats.
Values:
- Diversity, Community and Participation, Equity, Ecological Sustainability.

Principles Supported:

Treaty of Waitangi
Cultural Diversity
Inclusion
Community Engagement
Future Focus (ecological sustainability)

Learning Objectives

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

Define and identify examples of social, cultural, and environmental influences on themselves and their communities.
Explain how these influences affect individual behaviours and community practices in New Zealand.
Recognise the diversity of values and perspectives, including Māori and Pasifika cultural influences.
Express their understanding through a creative group activity and class discussion reflecting on different influences.

Lesson Breakdown (60 minutes)

Time	Activity	Description	NZC Focus
0-10 min	Engage/Activate Prior Knowledge	- Begin with a quick brainstorm: What are “influences”? (Teacher writes ideas on whiteboard).

Introduce three types of influences: Social (people & relationships), Cultural (beliefs & traditions), Environmental (natural surroundings). | Relating to others, Thinking | | 10-20 min | Interactive Story or Video | Share a short story or video about a New Zealand community that shows social, cultural, and environmental influences. For example, a Māori whānau (family) maintaining cultural traditions while adapting to environmental challenges.
Students listen/watch and then discuss key influences seen in the story. | Understanding cultures and environments | | 20-35 min | Group Exploration & Mapping Influences | - Divide the class into groups of 4-5.
Each group is given one type of influence (social, cultural, or environmental).
Groups brainstorm and create a visual “Influences Map” (poster) showing examples of their influence type and how it affects people or communities—using drawings, words, and symbols. | Using language, symbols, and texts; Thinking | | 35-50 min | Gallery Walk & Sharing | - Groups display their posters around the classroom.
Students walk around, observe, and record one new thing they learn about each influence type on a worksheet.
End with group presentations: Each group shares their map and explains a key influence and its impact. | Presenting ideas; Relating to others | | 50-60 min | Reflection & Assessment | Individual reflection: Write or verbally share answers to:
- Which influence affects your own life the most?
- How can understanding influences help us respect and care for each other and the environment?
  Teacher collects reflections or notes observations for formative assessment. | Thinking; Personal reflection |

Resources Needed

Whiteboard and markers
Story or video about NZ community influences (Māori or local example)
Poster paper, markers, crayons for group work
“Influences Map” worksheet for gallery walk
Reflection sheets/journals

Assessment Ideas

Formative Assessment:

Observations during group work and discussions to assess understanding of influence types and impact.
Gallery walk worksheet notes to check ability to identify new information and perspectives.
Reflection responses to evaluate personal connection, empathy, and understanding of diversity and sustainability concepts.

Possible Rubric Focus:

Identifies and gives examples of social, cultural, and environmental influences.
Explains influence impact on individuals/communities.
Expresses ideas clearly in group and whole-class sharing.
Shows empathy and respects different values and perspectives.

Teaching Considerations

Use culturally responsive pedagogy by incorporating Māori and Pasifika perspectives explicitly and valuing students’ own cultural backgrounds.
Create a safe classroom environment encouraging sharing of diverse opinions and experiences.
Integrate te reo Māori as appropriate (e.g., whānau, manaakitanga, kaitiakitanga).
Differentiate activities to support diverse learners (visual aids, sentence starters for discussions, paired work).
Link ecological sustainability values by discussing environmental stewardship as part of environmental influences.

Extensions / Follow-up Activities

Invite a local kaumātua or community member to talk about cultural influences and community values.
Create a class mural representing the diverse influences in the school community.
Plan a local environmental care activity linking learned concepts to action.

This lesson plan is designed to engage Year 5 learners in rich, culturally relevant discussion and exploration of influences in their immediate world and New Zealand society, fostering critical awareness and respect for diversity in line with NZC requirements.

If you want, I can generate worksheets or detailed instructions for specific activities next. Would you like me to prepare those?

Teaching Instructions