Learning Experiences

The Kōtuitui Sport learning experiences formed the main structure of the programme. They brought together classroom learning, football, futsal, culture and collective identity through the wider context of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.

The programme was built around a clear educational challenge: students were encouraged to use the World Cup as a way to explore culture, belonging, community and identity in Aotearoa New Zealand and across the wider world.

These learning experiences were organised into three broad areas: connecting locally, connecting globally and running a world cup. Together, they created a journey from local identity and community stories to international cultures, global football and the planning of a shared event.

The wider challenge

Kōtuitui Sport used the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 as more than a sporting event. The tournament became a setting for asking larger questions about people, place and culture.

Students were encouraged to consider how relationships are built between people from different cultural backgrounds. They looked at how communities form, how identity is shaped and how sport can create shared experiences between groups.

The learning journey also connected with Te ao tangata and social sciences. It explored how culture and collective identity are shaped through migration, local histories, relationships, practices and participation.

Connecting locally

The first part of the learning journey focused on local connection. It asked students to begin with the places, people and stories closest to them.

This area included Whakapapa and Tūrangawaewae, which explored belonging, ancestry, place and the stories that help people understand who they are. It also included Rights and Responsibilities, which connected roles, rules, fairness, Te Tiriti o Waitangi and shared responsibility.

Local connection also appeared through Community Connections. This theme looked at schools, kura, whānau, rohe, local clubs, sports fields and the histories that shape everyday community life.

The local section was completed by Celebrating Our Heroes. This theme focused on local and national football stories, including the personal journeys of players, clubs and communities connected to football and futsal in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Connecting globally

The second part of the learning journey moved from local stories to global connection.

Understanding Others explored how students could compare cultures, countries and communities connected to the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023. It looked at similarities, differences, customs, greetings, food, festivals and the ways people express identity.

Understanding Migration gave the global theme a historical and social dimension. It examined how migration has shaped Aotearoa New Zealand and how people bring customs, languages, games, food, celebrations and values with them when they move from one place to another.

The theme also included Football, Futsal, Culture and Identity. This page explored football and futsal as cultural systems with their own rules, histories, organisations and values.

The global section was strengthened by Celebrating Global Heroes. This theme looked at international players, national teams, preparation for the World Cup and the wider history of women’s football.

Running a world cup

The third part of Kōtuitui Sport focused on planning, hosting and participating in a World Cup-style event.

Journey to the World Cup explored what it takes for players and teams to reach a major tournament. It connected football preparation with training, fitness, teamwork, qualification and tournament structure.

Manaakitanga – Hosting a World Cup looked at the responsibilities of hosting. It brought attention to hospitality, preparation, welcoming visitors and the cultural importance of manaakitanga.

Plan and Deliver a World Cup Festival focused on the practical work behind a shared event. This included planning tasks, safety, risk, timing, roles, invitations and preparation before, during and after an event.

The journey ended with Participating in Your Own World Cup Festival. This theme brought the learning together through activity, presentation, match day roles, media work and shared celebration.

Classroom learning and football experiences

Kōtuitui Sport combined classroom learning with football and futsal experiences.

The classroom experiences helped students investigate culture, collective identity, local communities, migration, global connection and event planning. They gave structure to the learning journey and connected each topic with social, cultural and historical questions.

The football and futsal experiences gave the same themes a practical form. Through games, movement, teamwork and tournament planning, students could experience ideas such as cooperation, responsibility, preparation and belonging in a direct way.

This combination gave Kōtuitui Sport its distinctive shape. It did not separate sport from learning. Instead, it used sport as a way to understand culture, identity and community.

Why the learning experiences mattered

The learning experiences made the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 part of a wider educational story.

They showed how a major tournament could open conversations about local identity, global cultures, migration, community responsibility and the role of sport in society. Football and futsal became more than activities. They became tools for exploring how people connect with places, teams, histories and each other.

Through this structure, Kōtuitui Sport presented the World Cup as a cultural and educational moment. The learning journey moved from belonging at home, to understanding others, to planning and participating in a shared celebration.