Te Kete Ako
Unit 6: Future Rangatiratanga Lesson 4 of 5

Community Leadership in Action: Building Partnerships for Change

Duration: 75 minutes Year Level: 9-13 Curriculum Areas: Social Sciences, Civics, Community Studies

🌅 Karakia & Cultural Opening

"Kia kaha, kia māia, kia manawanui" - Be strong, be brave, be steadfast

Opening Protocol (5 minutes)

  1. Community Acknowledgment: Honoring the organizations and people working for positive change
  2. Leadership Reflection: Considering the leadership already present in our communities
  3. Partnership Intention: Setting intention to build bridges and collaborate

🎯 Learning Objectives & Success Criteria

By the end of this lesson, ākonga will be able to:

  • Analyze: Examine different models of youth and community leadership
  • Map: Identify potential community partners and collaboration opportunities
  • Plan: Design concrete action projects that address community needs
  • Strategize: Develop approaches for building effective intergenerational partnerships

Success Criteria - Ākonga will demonstrate:

  • ✓ Understanding of diverse leadership styles and approaches
  • ✓ Ability to identify community assets and partnership opportunities
  • ✓ Clear, achievable action project proposals
  • ✓ Strategic thinking about collaboration and relationship-building

Phase 1: Leadership Models & Inspiration Analysis (20 minutes)

Leadership Styles Gallery & Pattern Analysis

12 minutes sharing + 8 minutes synthesis

Leadership Showcase (12 minutes):

Students share their researched examples of youth leadership in structured speed-sharing format:

Leadership Framework Synthesis (8 minutes):

Whole class creates collective framework on whiteboard:

Leadership Qualities

What personal qualities do effective youth leaders demonstrate?

Leadership Strategies

What approaches and tactics do they use to create change?

Community Connection

How do they build and maintain relationships with their communities?

Cultural Grounding

How do they stay connected to their values and identity while leading?

Phase 2: Community Partnership Ecosystem Mapping (25 minutes)

Collaborative Activity: Mapping Our Community Assets & Opportunities

Community Asset Inventory (15 minutes):

Working in groups of 4-5, students create comprehensive maps of community partners and resources:

Step 1: Sector Identification (3 minutes)

Each group takes 1-2 sectors and brainstorms organizations/groups in their community:

  • Education: Schools, libraries, training providers, tutoring
  • Health & Wellbeing: Health centers, mental health services, sports clubs
  • Environment: Conservation groups, sustainability initiatives, community gardens
  • Arts & Culture: Museums, galleries, cultural centers, performance groups
  • Social Services: Community centers, food banks, support services
  • Economic: Local businesses, cooperatives, employment services
  • Civic & Political: Council, advocacy groups, community boards
  • Technology: Maker spaces, digital inclusion programs, tech companies
Step 2: Asset Analysis (5 minutes)

For each organization/group identified, consider:

  • Resources: What do they have to offer? (space, expertise, funding, networks)
  • Mission Alignment: How might their goals connect with youth leadership/rangatiratanga?
  • Youth Engagement: Do they currently involve young people? How might this be expanded?
  • Partnership Potential: What kind of collaboration might be possible?
Step 3: Connection Mapping (4 minutes)

Create visual map showing:

  • Organizations as nodes
  • Existing connections between organizations
  • Potential new connections youth could facilitate
  • Gaps where new organizations/initiatives might be needed
Step 4: Opportunity Identification (3 minutes)

Highlight 2-3 specific partnership opportunities that could:

  • Address a community need
  • Provide youth leadership opportunities
  • Support rangatiratanga/community self-determination
  • Build intergenerational connections

Ecosystem Sharing & Synthesis (10 minutes):

Phase 3: Action Project Design & Partnership Strategy (25 minutes)

Project Planning Workshop: From Vision to Action

Project Development Process (20 minutes):

Students work in self-selected groups of 3-4 to design a concrete action project for their community:

Phase 1: Issue & Vision Alignment (5 minutes)
  • Issue Selection: Choose a specific community issue you want to address
  • Vision Connection: How does addressing this issue support your vision of rangatiratanga?
  • Personal Connection: Why does this matter to your group members?
  • Community Impact: Who would benefit from addressing this issue?
Phase 2: Partnership Strategy (5 minutes)
  • Primary Partners: Which organizations from today's mapping could be key collaborators?
  • Resource Needs: What resources (space, funding, expertise, time) would you need?
  • Youth Leadership Role: How would young people lead this project?
  • Adult Support: What kind of adult mentorship/support would be helpful?
Phase 3: Project Design (8 minutes)

Develop your project proposal including:

  • Project Title & 1-Sentence Description
  • Goals: What do you want to achieve? (3 specific outcomes)
  • Activities: What would you actually do? (4-5 concrete activities)
  • Timeline: How long would this take? What are the phases?
  • Success Measures: How would you know if the project is working?
  • Sustainability: How could this project continue/grow over time?
Phase 4: Implementation Strategy (2 minutes)
  • First Step: What would you do in the next month to get started?
  • Skills Development: What would your group need to learn to lead this project?
  • Community Buy-in: How would you get community support for the project?

Project Presentations & Feedback (5 minutes):

Each group presents their project in 60 seconds, followed by 30 seconds of appreciative feedback from class focusing on strengths and potential.

🌅 Whakamutunga - Reflection & Closing

Leadership Commitment & Community Connection (5 minutes)

Personal Leadership Reflection:

Students write brief reflection:

  1. What leadership qualities from today do you want to develop in yourself?
  2. Which community partnerships most excite you and why?
  3. What is one step you could take this week to connect with community organizations?

Closing Circle - Community Commitment:

Students share one specific way they will engage with their community in the next month, followed by collective affirmation:

"He kākano ahau i ruia mai i Rangiātea"

We are seeds of change, rooted in ancestral wisdom, growing into the leaders our communities need. Our partnerships will strengthen us, our action will create change, and our commitment will ensure rangatiratanga flourishes.

📊 Assessment & Next Steps

Formative Assessment - Today's Evidence:

  • Analysis Skills: Quality of leadership model analysis and pattern recognition
  • Community Knowledge: Depth of community asset mapping and partnership identification
  • Project Planning: Feasibility and innovation in action project proposals
  • Strategic Thinking: Understanding of collaboration and relationship-building strategies

Preparation for Lesson 5:

  • Project Refinement: Further develop your action project proposal
  • Community Contact: Identify one adult in the community you could interview about your project idea
  • Skills Assessment: Reflect on what skills you would need to develop to lead your project
  • Implementation Planning: Think about realistic first steps for making your project happen

🛠️ Teacher Resources & Adaptations

Community Connection Support:

  • Local Directory: Prepare list of community organizations specific to your area
  • Contact Facilitation: Help students connect with community leaders
  • Partnership Templates: Provide frameworks for reaching out to organizations
  • Guest Speakers: Invite community leaders to share partnership opportunities

Project Development Support:

  • Planning Templates: Provide structured project planning worksheets
  • Example Projects: Share examples of successful youth-led community projects
  • Resource Lists: Help students identify funding and support opportunities
  • Mentorship Connections: Connect students with adult mentors for project guidance

Assessment Adaptations:

  • Portfolio Development: Students compile their project plans into comprehensive portfolios
  • Presentation Formats: Allow various presentation modes (verbal, visual, digital, performance)
  • Peer Feedback: Structured peer review processes for project development
  • Community Validation: Opportunities for community members to provide feedback on projects