Curriculum & Pedagogy A:
Hauora & PE

Using the New Zealand Curriculum as a foundation, our Health and PE modules focus on the holistic well-being of our students, of other people, and of society. Wellbeing is often referred to in te reo as hauora. This holistic focus is fostered in the curriculum through teaching and learning in a wide range of health and movement related contexts (TKI, 2022). Accordingly, Health and PE in the New Zealand Curriculum encompasses these seven key learning areas:

  • Mental health
  • Sexuality education
  • Food and nutrition
  • Body care and physical safety
  • Physical activity
  • Sport studies
  • Outdoor education.

 Module 1: Health and Physical Education Introduction

  • Analysing your personal understandings and experiences of Health and PE in schools
  • Unpacking the Health and PE area of the New Zealand Curriculum 
  • Taking a closer look at models for understanding student well being such as Te Whare Tapa Whā 
  • Examining how some New Zealand Kura | schools are approaching hauora

 Module 2: PE - Moving Beyond Skills and Fitness 

  • to be aware of some of the pitfalls associated with past pedagogical models in PE education
  • to become familiar with recent pedagogical and theoretical models for PE education that consider hauora
  • to feel confident to plan and teach a PE lesson using the pedagogical approaches and resources shared in this module in your first teaching practicum

 Module 3: Food and Nutrition

  • explore the importance of using a whole school approach in H&PE learning areas
  • understand the legislative requirements for health education consultation and food and nutrition policy in primary schools
  • to explore how contemporary notions of food and nutrition have influenced the way both adults and children understand and interpret the information about food and nutrition that they receive;
  • to take part in a series of health and nutrition experiences suitable for a classroom working at Curriculum level 2 or 3;
  • brainstorm learning experiences that you might teach in the classroom the respond to photo series Daily Bread by Gregg Segall

Module 4: Physical Safety and Cyber Safety

  •   Understand what to do if you suspect a child is being abused or is in an unsafe situation,
  • Develop an awareness of full school approaches to protecting students from physical harm,
  • Develop an awareness of full school approaches to cyber safety and promoting digital citizenship,
  • Become familiar with New Zealand Police ākonga safety programmes such as Keeping Ourselves Safe that are commonly used in schools.


 Module 5: Mental Health Education

  • Identify some key issues within New Zealand Education relating to mental health,
  • Explore possible whole school responses and classroom pedagogy for promoting mental health,  
  • Give examples of learning experiences relating to Mental Health after participating in a sample Lesson developed by MITEY,
  • Explore how you can use literacy connections to develop lessons relating to mental health education. 

 Module 6: Relationships and Sexuality 

    • The need for strong full school approaches to relationships and sexuality education, 
    • What relationships and sexuality education content looks like at various levels of the curriculum, 
    • Pedagogical approaches specific to teaching relationships and sexuality education, 
    • Personal kaiako preparation for teaching relationships and sexuality education,
    • Sample relationships and sexuality education lessons based on MOE resources.

Module 7: H&PE Connected Curriculum 

  • This module is currently under construction