Unit 1 Lesson 1: What Makes a Society? | Y8 Systems

Ngā Mahi - Lesson Activities (75 minutes)

1. Society Stations: The Four Pillars (30 mins)

Setup: Students rotate in small groups through four stations. At each station, they read the description and answer the prompt questions on a shared document or large sheet of paper.

Pillar 1: People & Community

Who makes up the society? How are they connected? (e.g., whānau, citizenship, shared interests).

Prompt: How is our school a community? What connects us?

Pillar 2: Governance & Rules

How are decisions made? Who holds power? What are the rules? (e.g., government, tikanga, school rules).

Prompt: Who makes decisions in your family? How is that different from school?

Pillar 3: Resources & Economics

How does the society manage its resources? (e.g., money, trade, food, land, knowledge).

Prompt: What are the most important resources for our school to function?

Pillar 4: Culture & Values

What are the shared beliefs, traditions, and stories that give the society its identity? (e.g., language, religion, art, history).

Prompt: What is one value that is important to our school culture?

2. Systems in Action: Comparing Two Models (25 mins)

Activity: As a class, or in pairs, students complete a Venn diagram comparing a traditional Iwi/Hapū system with a modern city system, using the four pillars as a guide.

Iwi/Hapū System

Modern City System

Focus on how each system handles the four pillars. What's the same? What's different?

Aromatawai - Assessment & Next Steps

Formative Assessment

Observe group discussions at the stations.
Review the shared documents for understanding of the four pillars.
Check the Venn diagrams for thoughtful comparisons.

Homework & Extension

Identify the four pillars in a movie or book.
Ask a family member how their community has changed over time.

Whakaaro - Reflection

Every group of people is a system. By understanding the four pillars—People, Governance, Resources, and Culture—we can start to see how these systems work. We also see that while the goals are often the same (safety, wellbeing, a future for our children), different cultures have developed unique and brilliant ways to achieve them. The first step to improving a system is to see it clearly.