Lesson 7: Group Decision-Making

💰 Main Activity: The $10,000 Community Grant Decision 25 minutes

Collaborative Problem-Solving Challenge

The Situation:

Your class has been selected to allocate a $10,000 community grant from the local council. Three worthy causes have applied, but you can only fund ONE project. Your decision must be made as a class using fair and inclusive processes.

Option A: Kaitiaki Environmental Project

Request: $10,000 to restore native bush area behind school

Benefits: Habitat for native birds, outdoor classroom, carbon absorption
Impact: Long-term environmental benefit, educational opportunities
Community: Involves local iwi, environmental groups, future students
Timeline: 2-3 years to see full results

Option B: Rangatahi Sports Equipment Program

Request: $10,000 for sports equipment available to all local schools

Benefits: Improved fitness, team building, after-school programs
Impact: Immediate use, healthier community, reduced screen time
Community: All young people in area, promotes physical wellbeing
Timeline: Equipment purchased and distributed within 2 months

Option C: Creative Arts Hub

Request: $10,000 to establish community arts space in unused building

Benefits: Music, drama, visual arts programs for all ages
Impact: Cultural expression, intergenerational connection, skill development
Community: Brings different generations together, preserves cultural practices
Timeline: 6 months setup, ongoing programs thereafter

Māori-Inspired Decision Process: Whakatau Rangapū

Step 1: Whakatōhea (Respectful Discussion) - 8 minutes

Form groups of 6-7 students
Each person shares initial thoughts without interruption
Focus on whanaungatanga - consider community connections
Record all perspectives on flipchart paper

Step 2: Whakaaro Tawhiti (Deep Thinking) - 8 minutes

Discuss long-term vs short-term impacts
Consider: Who benefits most? What are potential problems?
Apply values: sustainability, equity, community wellbeing
Identify areas of agreement and disagreement

Step 3: Whakatau (Decision) - 6 minutes

Seek kotahitanga - unity where possible
If consensus isn't reached, explore compromise options
Ensure all voices are heard and respected
Prepare to explain reasoning to other groups

Step 4: Whakapuaki (Share/Present) - 3 minutes

Each group presents their decision and reasoning
Listen respectfully to all perspectives
Note similarities and differences in approaches

Teacher Facilitation Guidelines:

Emphasize Process: Focus on HOW decisions are made, not just WHAT is decided
Cultural Sensitivity: Model respectful discussion, ensure all voices heard
Manage Conflict: If groups struggle, pause and discuss effective collaboration strategies
Time Management: Keep groups on track but allow organic discussion within timeframes

📋 GROUP DECISION-MAKING REFLECTION - PRINT SECTION

Community Grant Decision Process

Group Members: _________________________________________________

Date: _________ Final Decision: ☐ Environment ☐ Sports ☐ Arts

Part 1: Decision Process Tracking

1. How did your group start the discussion?

_________________________________________________________________________

2. What different opinions emerged initially?

_________________________________________________________________________

3. How did you handle disagreement or conflict?

_________________________________________________________________________

Part 2: Applying Māori Values

4. Give an example of how your group showed whanaungatanga (connection/relationship building):

_________________________________________________________________________

5. How did you work toward kotahitanga (unity/consensus)?

_________________________________________________________________________

6. Did everyone's voice get heard? How did you ensure this?

_________________________________________________________________________

Part 3: Decision Evaluation

7. What were your group's main reasons for the final choice?

a) _____________________________________________________________________

b) _____________________________________________________________________

c) _____________________________________________________________________

8. What concerns or drawbacks did you identify?

_________________________________________________________________________

9. How satisfied is your group with the decision? (Rate 1-5, explain)

Rating: _____ Explanation: _______________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

Part 4: Process Reflection

10. What worked well in your group's decision-making process?

_________________________________________________________________________

11. What would you do differently next time?

_________________________________________________________________________

12. How was seeking consensus different from just taking a vote?

_________________________________________________________________________

Part 5: Personal Learning

13. What did you learn about yourself as a group member?

_________________________________________________________________________

14. When could you use these decision-making skills outside school?

_________________________________________________________________________

15. What's one thing you want to improve about your collaboration skills?

_________________________________________________________________________

📊 Assessment Rubric

Collaborative Participation (4 points):

4 - Excellent: Actively contributes, listens respectfully, builds on others' ideas, facilitates inclusion
3 - Good: Participates meaningfully, shows respect for others, contributes to consensus
2 - Developing: Some participation, generally respectful, occasional contributions
1 - Beginning: Limited participation, difficulty with collaborative process

Cultural Values Application (4 points):

4 - Excellent: Demonstrates clear understanding and application of Māori values in group process
3 - Good: Shows some understanding and application of cultural values
2 - Developing: Basic awareness of cultural values, limited application
1 - Beginning: Little evidence of cultural values understanding

Decision-Making Process (4 points):

4 - Excellent: Follows systematic process, considers multiple perspectives, reaches reasoned conclusion
3 - Good: Generally follows process, considers different viewpoints
2 - Developing: Some attempt at systematic approach, limited perspective-taking
1 - Beginning: Unsystematic approach, difficulty considering multiple viewpoints

Lesson 7: Hei Whakatau Tikanga

Group Decision-Making

👨‍🏫 Learning Objectives

🤝 Starter: Quick Decision Challenge 8 minutes

💰 Main Activity: The $10,000 Community Grant Decision 25 minutes

Collaborative Problem-Solving Challenge

The Situation:

Option A: Kaitiaki Environmental Project

Option B: Rangatahi Sports Equipment Program

Option C: Creative Arts Hub

Māori-Inspired Decision Process: Whakatau Rangapū

Teacher Facilitation Guidelines:

💬 Cultural Learning: Traditional Māori Decision-Making 7 minutes

Understanding Hui and Consensus Processes

Key Elements of Traditional Māori Decision-Making:

📊 Digital Democracy: Final Class Decision 5 minutes setup

Google Forms Class Survey

📋 GROUP DECISION-MAKING REFLECTION - PRINT SECTION

Community Grant Decision Process

Part 1: Decision Process Tracking

Part 2: Applying Māori Values

Part 3: Decision Evaluation

Part 4: Process Reflection

Part 5: Personal Learning

📊 Assessment Rubric

🏠 Extension Activities

🔗 Curriculum Connections

💡 Differentiation Strategies