Navigating the Waves
This activity offers a space where students can contemplate emotional and physical responses to help navigate the circumstances they are experiencing. They do this while creating imagery that encourages them to identify what will help them cultivate a sense of resilience and self regulation as they move forward. Students will create a collage (collaborative or…
Read MoreDictionary of Emotions
This activity supports children through a variety of mediums to connect and explore as they build their emotional literacy in the creation of a dictionary of emotions. This unit of work was created by Claire Coleman, Katy Pérez, and Amanda Wallace. View Lesson PLan
Read MoreMatariki for Tamariki
In this activity, the teacher provides provocations to prompt the children’s curiosity in exploring the influence of Matariki within their lives. This experience would ideally be offered after Matariki and the seven other stars have been introduced to the children, and is more suitable for a small group of maybe six children (maximum) at a…
Read MoreWorries Are Like Clouds
This unit works with the picture book: Worries Are Like Clouds and supports children to explore what worry is, how it feels in their body, and how they can express worry in a healthy way. The first learning experience in the Worries Are Like Clouds unit is called Jar of Joy. The second learning…
Read MoreSettling Stones
Children will be introduced to a practice of settling themselves through selecting a stone with their teacher who guides them on how to take care of a special item. This activity is offering you the opportunity to set a daily ritual with your children to help them settle. This ritual can be particularly helpful when…
Read MoreRe-Membering The Branch
This learning experience explores themes of losing something precious to you. It uses the teacher in role convention where the teacher pretends to be a tree who has lost its branch. This learning experience also engages visual arts through crayon rubbings of the branch and leaves. Check out the professional development video (link below) for…
Read MoreThe Long and Short Of It
This lesson sequence uses the visual arts to support students in re-connecting with people in their class and starting to explore emotions post a traumatic/crisis event. The approach outlined also encourages the development of creative dispositional qualities that support positive mental wellbeing. In this unit, students will explore and experiment with using the visual arts…
Read MoreThe Magic Seashell
OVERARCHING VALUES: VALUING PASIFIKA WAYS OF BEING AND KNOWING – WITH AND FOR ALL PEOPLE Experiencing this learning should be savoured by all, so allow good time for each part. Remember that this is about relationships – so really encourage the talanoa. Make alongside the students where you can. In your talk and making, share…
Read MoreMaking a Kahoa Kakala
OVERARCHING VALUES: VALUING PASIFIKA WAYS OF BEING AND KNOWING – WITH AND FOR ALL PEOPLE Experiencing this learning should be savoured by all, so allow good time for each part. Remember that this is about relationships – so really encourage the talanoa. Make alongside the students where you can. In your talk and making, share…
Read MoreTeaspoon of Light
This unit of work centres on the story of a little girl who finds that her cloth of dreams has been torn. Using drama, dance and visual arts approaches the children help the little girl restore her cloth of dreams and her hopes for a better world. The video link shows examples of the work…
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