Curriculum

Understanding the energy in everything
Students will:
* Deepen understand of mana, or spiritual energy
* Help participants recognize and appreciate mana in people, things, and places
* Experience a breathing technique that can help balance personal energy

Hawaiian food pyramid and health
Students will:
*Gain knowledge about their ancestors
* Make healthy food choices by studying a Hawaiian/local food pyramid
* Sample a variety of healthy “rainbow” foods

Tapping the power of hope, faith & love
Students will:
* Learn the song Ekolu Mea Nui – Three Great Things (Faith, Hope, Love)
* Create a reflection (position statement, poem, personal quote, or illustration) incorporating the three key ideas presented in this song

Fostering a healthier diet
Students will:
– understand the importance of a healthy diet.

Setting goals for school and life
Students will:
* Deepen understanding of how goals support achievement
* Identify respected people; discuss how they achieved their success
* Create SMART goals

Creating meaningful representations
Students will:
* Focus attention on relevant topics (self, family, community)
* Learn about the meanings of symbols, both historical and current
* Create meaningful representations that incorporate historic Hawaiian symbols

Weaving strands to strengthen intent
Students will:

• Learn a way of leadership in Hawai‘i before the ali‘i system of governance
• Create an ‘Aha where each aho has meaningful representation
• Apply understanding of ‘Aha to support health and well being for individuals & groups

Exploring Culture through storytelling
Students will:
* Use a writing template that encourages exploration of their cultural heritage
* Interview family members & co-write a cultural heritage poem using same template
* Practice presentation skills by reading aloud their poems
* Explore diverse mediums of expression for sharing their poems with an audience

Linking passion & ability to excel
Students will:
* Explore and discover their passions and abilities to help them chart a course for their future.

Using kalo (taro) to represent family
Students will:
* Use the metaphor of the kalo (taro) to represent their ʻOhana (family) and connections to their genealogy.

Smart in many ways
Students will:
* Learn about multiple ways that intelligence is demonstrated
* Use a self-assessment to discover the different ways they are smart
* Begin learning how these strengths can be applied to daily life

Making Polynesian designs, shapes, and symbols
Students will:
– Gain knowledge about Polynesian designs, shapes, and symbols
– Deepen understanding of connections to the environment and things important
– Create a representation of self

Identifying relationships to nature
Students will:
* Develop a deeper understanding of who they are
* Build deeper connections with the world/environment around them
* Grow respect for all life and its unique and relevant expressions

Understanding the canoe to help set goals
Students will:
– Learn about canoe paddling in Hawaiian culture to gain understanding of the importance of patience, responsibility, support systems, and having a destination to paddle to.
– Participate in an activity that teaches critical thinking, collaboration, and observation skills.
– Revisit personal goals and apply new learning about the canoe to help achieve them.

Learning about life’s journey
Students will:
– Listen to a story to prompt thinking about “life’s travels” (ups and downs)
– Deepen understanding of the importance of challenges and overcoming obstacles.

Identifying skills, interests, and passions of a group
* Provide students with a chance to identify some of their skills, interests and passions
* Allow a group to learn about each other’s unique and common strengths and interests
* Provide information about students that enables teachers to build relevancy and relationships

Setting & supporting goals
Students will:
* Use the analogy of a kite to think about what it takes to achieve goals
* Build and decorate a kite that represents their goals and dreams (on the top) as well as what will support them to do well (underneath).

Identifying your power animal; creating class connections
Students will:
* Gain knowledge and understanding how different cultures relate to the attributes of different animals.
* Learn how our observations of these different animal attributes may teach us about our own attributes.

Sharing self through art
Students will:
* Deepen their understanding about themselves
* Build connections with peers by sharing about their lives

Observing nature to learn lessons
Students will:
* Understand how the Hawaiian people of old observed things in nature to teach them valuable lessons about themselves
* Learn how they can use nature to influence positive values & behaviors

How much sugar do you drink?
Students will:
– Better understand the health risks associated with excess sugar consumption.
– Assess their personal consumption of sugar that they drink

Using the ipu to introduce self
* Participants will do an introduction activity about self, using the Ipu (gourd) in connection to the Hawaiian host culture.

Appreciating special people and places
Students will:
* Deepen appreciation of the environment and important people
* Write an essay about individuals who help them grow and inspire them to become leaders
* Optional: Demonstrate technology skills in publishing