Last Friday, during our Kiwi Can lesson, we focused on the topic of respect. We learned about what respect means, why it is important and how we can show it in our everyday lives. Respect means treating others with kindness, listening to their opinions and considering their feelings, even when we do not always agree with them. It is an important value because it helps us build positive relationships and create a safe and welcoming environment for everyone. We discussed how respect can be shown through both our words and actions, including the way we speak to others, how we respond to different opinions and whether we make people feel included. Sometimes, we might not realise that our words or actions can affect someone else, which is why it is important to think before we speak or act. This lesson reminded me that everyone deserves to be treated fairly and kindly, regardless of their differences.
aTo begin our lesson, we played an energiser called Four Cones. There was a cone on each side of a square, and each cone had its own word. Whenever one of our Kiwi Can leaders called out a word, we had to move to the matching cone. Although it was a fun way to get everyone moving and participating, it also encouraged us to listen carefully, stay focused and follow instructions. After the energiser, we took part in an activity called Respect versus Disrespect. I worked with Peter, Stephanie and Maritina during this activity. We explored the differences between respectful and disrespectful behaviour and thought about how different actions can affect the people around us. This helped us recognise that respect is not always shown through big actions. Even simple things, such as allowing someone to finish speaking, using polite language, helping others and including someone who might feel left out, can demonstrate respect. On the other hand, ignoring someone, making unkind comments or refusing to listen to another person’s point of view can make them feel disrespected. The activity helped connect what we learned to real-life situations that we might experience at school or when spending time with our friends.
Overall, I enjoyed our Kiwi Can lesson because it helped me understand respect more deeply and reminded me of how important it is in our daily lives. I learned that showing respect is not just about being polite when someone is watching, but also about making the right choices even when nobody reminds us to do so. Respect should be shown to everyone, including our classmates, teachers, friends and family members. I also learned that people can have different opinions, beliefs and feelings, and we should still listen to them without making them feel as though their thoughts do not matter. If we disagree with someone, we can express our own opinions calmly instead of being rude or making the situation worse. Moving forward, I can use what I learned by thinking more carefully about my words and actions, listening when others are speaking and treating people fairly. Even small changes in the way we treat others can make a positive difference. This lesson showed me that respect is something we should practise every day, not just during Kiwi Can, because it helps us become more thoughtful, responsible and understanding people.
Did you know? Sir Graeme Dingle and Sir Edmund Hillary were both adventurers, and our school is named after Sir Edmund Hillary!