St Columbas Team 4 Unit Plan Template

Team Teacher Thinking Rationale:

Because of the bi-cultural nature and Treaty of Waitangi we want students to be able to
understand our cultural story as expressed and explored through the Maori Creation Story. This
will empower both Maori and non-Maori. Putting students in an uncomfortable situation
(participating in a play) allows for a high degree of personal growth. Students will explore the
creation story through writing and other learning areas as they become apparent through
student discussion.

Special Needs/ Abilities Considerations:

Scaffolding needed/ extension opportunities
EAL students will require support when
dealing with any new vocabulary
Maori students will be given the opportunity
to share their cultural knowledge and skills in
Te Reo.

Students will learn to develop the key competencies of:

Relating to Others
Thinking
Participating and Contributing
Big Picture Goals
Students are
confident in their
own ability
Students are
connected to
themselves and
able to relate well
to each other
Students are
actively involved in
their world contributing to the
well-being of New
Zealand Culture
and Society

Achievement Objectives (Prior to and during unit):

Level Four English
Purposes and Audiences

Constructs texts that show an awareness of purpose and audience through deliberate choice of content,
language, and text form

Conveys and sustains personal voice where appropriate

Language Features

Uses a range of oral, written, and visual features to create meaning and effect and to sustain effects

Uses a range of vocabulary to communicate precise meaning

Level Four Visual Arts

Explore and use art-making conventions, applying knowledge of elements and selected principles through
the use of materials and processes
Explore and describe ways in which meanings can be communicated and interpreted in their own and others
work.

Essential
Questions:

What explicit opportunities will students have to

develop the key competencies?
Working in supportive yet challenging
contexts where students will need to rely
on each other for support and guidance
Sharing of their ideas and work in a
reflective manner
Providing critical feedback on their own
and others work.

Concept: This concept will be covered in a

range of contexts

Connections to student
voice/ interest/culture:
(opportunities for
students to make
connections/ inputs in
the choice of contexts?)

What are the values that this concept will give students the opportunity
to develop and strengthen?
Excellence
- by aiming high and by persevering in the face of difficulties
Diversity
- of cultures that we find in our own backyard
Community and Participation
- working together to produce a collective piece of drama in the
production

Contexts: (local/relevant/enriching) Possibilities

Drama and Visual Arts
Production The Creation Story Oral language and Making masks that reflect the emotion of
the creation story
Written Language - Expressing and relating emotions through exploring vocabulary and
themes from the Creation Story
Oral Language Speeches/Story Telling

Possible SO WHATs?
How does the creation story relate to students lives?
- Do they know similar stories from their own or others
cultures?
What does understanding a cultures beginning tell us about the
human condition?

Positive contributions and interactions: (Pillars of Catholic Mission and Service)

Immersio
n

Complete a safety
circle Emotional,

Share Masks and

one costume

Share YouTube clips,

story books etc. on

How does this learning impact students NOW?

- Helps them to understand who
they are now in this unique point
of their lives
- Helps them to understand the
society they live in
- Provides them with tools to
express their changing emotions
and world views
How could this learning impact the students
future?
- Understanding of self as creator of
pieces of work that are of value
- Improvement of social interactions
and ability to nurture strong and
supportive relationships with
others
- Clearer understanding of who they
are and where they see their
future.

Listen to music to
create an

Activities:

physical and
intellectual safety

completed by the
the Creation Story
atmosphere of the
teacher for the
different themes of
production
this story.
Possible Learning Activities/ Resources:
Assessment Opportunities:
Vocabulary Exploration around themes
Interactions of students
Writing a Script for production
Contributions to school production
Exploring themes of story through personal writing
Pieces of writing/art/digital media
Creating a newspaper around the creation story
Observing students ability to transmit skills and knowledge to
other students
Producing artwork that explores the themes
Digital representations of the story
Exploring features of drama