Identity & Belonging: Embracing Diversity
Year 7 Religious Education 45 minutes Hokakatanga: Embracing Our Identity
WALT - We Are Learning To
Recognise and respect diversity in people, relationships, and family structures Understand the concept of the Body of Christ as a symbol of belonging Appreciate the family as a Domestic Church Link concepts of identity and belonging to our curriculum
Whakawhanaungatanga Icebreaker
Share your name and one thing that makes you unique This could be a hobby, family tradition, or special talent Listen respectfully to everyone's story Remember: every voice matters in our classroom whānau
Think and Discuss
What does 'identity' mean to you? What does 'belonging' feel like? Where do you feel you belong most?
Understanding Diversity in Families
Families come in many different forms Single parents, blended families, whānau, extended families Different cultural traditions and celebrations All family structures have value and importance Each family is a 'Domestic Church' - a place where love and faith grow
What Makes Us Unique vs What Connects Us
{"left":"Our cultural backgrounds\nOur family traditions\nOur personal interests\nOur individual talents","right":"Our shared humanity\nOur need for love and belonging\nOur common hopes and dreams\nOur capacity for kindness"}
The Body of Christ - We All Belong
In 1 Corinthians, Paul describes the Church as a body Every person has a unique role and gift Just like a body needs all its parts to function Our community needs everyone's unique contributions No one is more important than another Together we are stronger
Body of Christ Role-Play
Each group gets cards representing different body parts Discuss: How does your part help the whole body? Role-play: What happens if your part is missing? Reflect: How does this connect to our classroom community? Share your group's insights with the class
Identity & Belonging Collage
Create a mini-poster showing what makes you unique Include symbols of groups you belong to (family, school, culture, faith) Use magazines, colored paper, and markers Think about: What are you proud of? Where do you feel you belong? Be creative and make it personal to you!
"Every family is a domestic church where love grows and faith is nurtured"
- Pope Francis, Amoris Laetitia
Success Criteria - How Did We Do?
Can you give examples of diverse family structures? Can you explain the Body of Christ metaphor? Did you participate respectfully in our discussions? Does your collage show your understanding of belonging and diversity? What new insights do you have about identity and belonging?
Reflection and Karakia
What did we learn about diversity and belonging today? How can we apply this in our daily lives? How can we better support each other in our classroom whānau? Let's close with a karakia recognizing everyone's unique role in our community