Lesson 3: Manaakitanga & Our Class Kawenata

Lesson at a Glance | He Tirohanga Whakamua

Manaakitanga BrainstormWhat does true kindness and hospitality look, sound, and feel like in our class?10 min

Tiriti Principles WorkshopConnecting Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles (Partnership, Protection, Participation) to class life15 min

Co-Designing Our KawenataFormulating 4 core promises for our classroom agreement15 min

Portfolio EntryWrite Section 3: My Kawenata Commitment & Handprint Sign10 min

Signing CeremonyAdd handprint signature to the class kawenata wall scroll5 min

Ngā Whāinga Ako | Learning Intentions

Tamariki will know

What Manaakitanga means: Generosity, care, kindness, and uplifting the dignity (Mana) of others.
Why our kawenata is an agreement the whole class makes together, built on promises we each choose to keep.
How the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi (Partnership, Protection, Participation) can be borrowed as a way of thinking about how a class shares a space — and why our kawenata is not itself a treaty.

Tamariki will demonstrate

By contributing 1 core promise to our classroom agreement and adding their painted handprint signature.
By completing Section 3 of their Y4–6 Learning Portfolio.

Do Now | Tīmatanga Whakaaro (10 min)

Uplifting Mana Prompt:

"When someone uses kind words or helps you pick up your fallen pencils, how does your heart feel? How does it uplift your mana?"

Unpack: Manaakitanga is the superpower of making others feel respected and valued. In our classroom, we agree to protect everyone's mana every single day!

Tiriti Principles in Our Class (15 min)

1. Partnership & Protection

We work together as learning partners. We protect each other from unkind words, exclusion, and unsafe play.

2. Active Participation

Everyone has a voice! Every child participates, asks questions, shares ideas, and celebrates others' achievements.

Co-Designing Our Kawenata (15 min)

The principles only mean something once the class has written its own promises in its own words. Four promises, drafted by tamariki, argued over, then agreed.

1. Draft in table groups

Each group writes one promise, starting "In this class we will…". It must say what people do, not how they feel — "we listen when someone is talking" beats "we are respectful".

2. Merge to four, out loud

Read every draft to the class. Combine the overlaps. Where two groups disagree, keep the disagreement visible and vote — a kawenata nobody argued about is a poster, not an agreement.

Kaiako note: this is a classroom agreement that draws on Tiriti principles as a way of thinking about how people share a space. It is not a treaty and should not be called one — keep the distinction explicit with tamariki.

📁 Y4–6 Learning Portfolio — Section 3: Our Class Kawenata

Tamariki open Section 3 of their Y4–6 Learning Portfolio:

Section 3 Requirements:

1. My Kawenata Promise: Write 1 personal promise you pledge to uphold in our classroom community (e.g. "I promise to include anyone sitting alone at lunch").

2. What this promise will look like on a hard day: Anyone can keep a promise on an easy day. Write what yours looks like when you are tired, or annoyed, or the person is someone you find hard to like.

3. Handprint Commitment: Draw and decorate your handprint signature pledging your commitment to our Kawenata!

Exit Verification | Ka Mutu Hoki (5 min)

Exit Check:

"My Section 3 features my signed handprint commitment and personal promise for our classroom Kawenata!"

Teacher Planning & Curriculum Links

Curriculum: the one Phase 2 statement this unit teaches is quoted in full, with its curriculum ID, in the unit's Curriculum Links. No Phase 2 statement is claimed for this lesson. What Lesson 3 teaches is manaakitanga made concrete — a class kawenata the tamariki write and agree themselves.

Vocabulary: Manaakitanga, kawenata, partnership, protection, participation, mana.