Colours of Aotearoa (Steiner NZ)

Kindergarten / ECE Lesson Plan – Learning colours, Rudolf Steiner philosophy

Title: “Colours of Aotearoa”

Age Group: Kindergarten / ECE (3-5 Years Old)

Learning Framework: Te Whāriki, New Zealand

Educational Approach: Rudolf Steiner (Waldorf Education)

Learning Outcomes (Based on Te Whāriki):

1. Well-being – Mana Atua: Children develop emotional understanding and self-expression through colours.
2. Belonging – Mana Whenua: They recognize colours as part of their immediate and wider environment.
3. Exploration – Mana Aotūroa: They explore and experiment with colours in various forms.
4. Communication – Mana Reo: They use language to describe colours and express their ideas and feelings about them.
5. Contribution – Mana Tangata: They participate and contribute in group activities around colours.

Resources Needed:

• Natural materials for colour exploration (flowers, leaves, fruits, vegetables)
• Watercolour paints and paper
• Colourful children’s literature with New Zealand context
• Silk cloths in various colours
• Waldorf dolls dressed in different colours

Lesson Plan:

1. Introduction (15 minutes)

Begin with a group discussion about colours in nature. Connect the conversation with local flora and fauna, introducing names in Te Reo Māori where applicable.

2. Colour Nature Walk (30 minutes)

Go on a nature walk around the school premises. Encourage children to collect natural items of different colours. Discuss the colours found in nature and their local significance.

3. Story Time (30 minutes)

Read a colour-themed children’s book that has a New Zealand context, like “A Kiwi Night Before Christmas” by Yvonne Morrison. Discuss the colours mentioned in the story and their association with local culture and emotions.

4. Colour Exploration with Natural Materials (45 minutes)

Provide children with the collected natural materials and encourage them to sort them by colour. This activity allows them to explore colours hands-on, a key aspect of Steiner’s approach.

5. Watercolour Painting (45 minutes)

Let the children experiment with watercolour paints, allowing them to mix primary colours to create secondary ones. Emphasize the process of painting rather than the final product, aligning with Steiner’s focus on creativity and imagination.

6. Colourful Play (30 minutes)

Set up a play area with Waldorf dolls dressed in different colours and silk cloths. Encourage children to use the dolls and cloths to create their own imaginative stories involving colours.

7. Reflection and Sharing (30 minutes)

End the session by asking children to share their experiences from the colour exploration and painting activities. This reinforces their learning and supports language development.

Assessment:

Assessment will be ongoing through observation of children’s engagement, understanding, and participation in activities. Photographs of their activities and artworks can be taken for documentation.

Alignment with Steiner Philosophy:

The lesson aligns with Steiner’s philosophy by incorporating nature, storytelling, and imagination into learning about colours. Emphasizing the process of creation over the product supports Steiner’s focus on creativity and self-expression.

Link to Te Whāriki:

This lesson plan ties into the Te Whāriki strands by promoting well-being through emotional understanding, belonging by recognizing the local environment, exploration through hands-on activities, communication through discussions, and contribution through group participation.