📅 C-STREAM Year Planner¶

Complete Year-Long Planning Model for K-6 Catholic Schools¶

Location: Our Lady of the Prairie Catholic School · Belle Plaine, MN · Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis

This comprehensive planner provides everything needed to run a successful C-STREAM program for Kindergarten through 6^th grade, teaching once per week for approximately 32-34 sessions per year.

| 📚 View Lesson Index | 📦 CSCOE Library Guide | 🆘 Sub Plans |

⏱️ Lesson Time Frames by Grade¶

Grade Level	Session Length	Pacing Notes
Kindergarten	25 minutes	Shorter activities, more transitions, guided exploration
Grades 1-2	30 minutes	Structured activities with some independent work
Grades 3-4	40 minutes	Fuller exploration, collaboration, documentation
Grades 5-6	45 minutes	Complex projects, student-led inquiry, deeper reflection

📋 Quick Reference¶

Planning Element	Details
Total Sessions	32-34 per year (accounting for holidays, field trips)
Single-Week Lessons	12-14 standalone sessions
Multi-Week Units	8-10 units (2-3 weeks each)
Long Arc Projects	4-5 extended projects (4-6 weeks each)
Grade Groups	K, 1-2, 3-4, 5-6 (differentiated content & timing)

🎨🎵 The "A" in C-STREAM: Arts¶

Digital Creation Focus - The "A" encompasses both Art and Music through digital tools:

Art (Visual)	Music (Audio)
Drawing/painting apps (Tayasui Sketches, Procreate)	Music composition apps (GarageBand, Chrome Music Lab)
Animation (Scratch, FlipaClip)	Sound design and effects
Graphic design (Canva, Google Drawings)	Audio storytelling (podcasting)
3D modeling (Tinkercad, SketchUp)	Coding music (Sonic Pi, Scratch)
Digital photography	Rhythm and pattern coding

🗓️ Year-at-a-Glance¶

Seasonal Structure¶

Season	Weeks	Focus	Lesson Types
Fall (Sept-Nov)	10-12 weeks	Foundation Building, Wonder	4-5 single + 2-3 multi-week + 1 long arc
Winter (Dec-Feb)	8-10 weeks	Deep Exploration, STEM Fair Prep	3-4 single + 2-3 multi-week + 1 long arc
Spring (Mar-May)	12-14 weeks	Application, Service Projects	4-5 single + 3-4 multi-week + 2 long arcs

📚 Master Lesson Distribution¶

Total Lessons Needed: 32-34 Sessions¶

+-----------------------------------------------------------------+
|                    YEAR OVERVIEW (32-34 Sessions)               |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+
|                                                                 |
|  SINGLE-WEEK LESSONS (12-14)        ████████████████  ~40%      |
|  Quick, focused explorations                                    |
|                                                                 |
|  MULTI-WEEK UNITS (8-10 × 2-3 wks)  ████████████████  ~35%      |
|  Deeper skill development                                       |
|                                                                 |
|  LONG ARC PROJECTS (4-5 × 4-6 wks)  ████████████████  ~25%      |
|  Extended engineering challenges                                |
|                                                                 |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+

🍂 FALL SEMESTER (September - November)¶

September: Welcome & Wonder (4 weeks)¶

Week	Type	Topic	Materials Needed	CSCOE Checkout
1	Single	Welcome to C-STREAM - What is STREAM? Catholic Identity Introduction	None (discussion-based)	N/A
2-3	Multi (2)	Exploring Movement with Sphero - Basic robotics, God's gift of movement	Spheros, iPads	Reserve by Aug 25
4	Single	Wonder Walk - Observing God's creation, scientific observation skills	Clipboards, magnifying glasses	N/A

Catholic Integration: - Week 1: Introduce faith-reason harmony, Catholic scientists - Weeks 2-3: Stewardship of technology, using gifts wisely - Week 4: Wonder at creation, Psalm 19:1 connection

October: Building & Engineering (5 weeks)¶

Week	Type	Topic	Materials Needed	CSCOE Checkout
5-6	Multi (2)	Building with KEVA Planks - Structural engineering, balance, gravity	KEVA Planks	School owns
7-9	Long Arc (3)	Engineering is Elementary Unit - Design challenge from CSCOE library	EiE Kit	Reserve by Sept 20
10	Single	Bridges for Communities - Connecting engineering to service	KEVA Planks, cardboard	School owns

Catholic Integration: - Weeks 5-6: Building for the common good, stewardship - Weeks 7-9: Serving others through engineering, Catholic Social Teaching - Week 10: Solidarity, building connections

November: Gratitude & Giving (3 weeks)¶

Week	Type	Topic	Materials Needed	CSCOE Checkout
11	Single	Coding Gratitude - Scratch/ScratchJr thank-you animations	iPads/Chromebooks	School owns
12	Single	Design for Others - Creating helpful inventions	Paper, craft supplies	N/A
13	Single	STREAM Showcase Prep - Presenting learning to families	Completed projects	N/A

Catholic Integration: - Week 11: Gratitude as spiritual practice, honoring others - Week 12: Option for the poor, designing for those in need - Week 13: Sharing gifts with community

❄️ WINTER SEMESTER (December - February)¶

December: Light & Wonder (3 weeks)¶

Week	Type	Topic	Materials Needed	CSCOE Checkout
14-15	Multi (2)	Light & Circuits - Exploring light, circuits, Advent connection	Little Bits or Makey Makey	Reserve by Nov 20
16	Single	Star of Wonder - Navigation, astronomy, Christmas connection	Star maps, iPads	N/A

Catholic Integration: - Weeks 14-15: Light of Christ, advent preparation - Week 16: Magi following the star, wonder at the cosmos

Week 17: Christmas Break - No Class

January: New Beginnings & STEM Fair (5 weeks)¶

Week	Type	Topic	Materials Needed	CSCOE Checkout
18	Single	New Year STREAM Goals - Goal-setting, growth mindset	Journals, goal sheets	N/A
19-22	Long Arc (4)	STEM Fair Project Development (Grades 3-6) / Exploration Stations (K-2)	Various - student choice	Reserve as needed
23	Single	Catholic Schools Week Celebration - STREAM showcase	Completed projects	N/A

Catholic Integration: - Week 18: Vocation, using talents for God's purpose - Weeks 19-22: Service orientation in projects, wonder questions - Week 23: Celebrating Catholic education, faith-reason harmony

February: Love & Engineering (4 weeks)¶

Week	Type	Topic	Materials Needed	CSCOE Checkout
24-25	Multi (2)	Dash Robot Challenges - Coding for kindness	Dash Robots	Reserve by Feb 1
26-27	Multi (2)	Engineering for Good - Assistive technology design	Craft materials, simple machines	N/A

Catholic Integration: - Weeks 24-25: Love in action, programming with purpose - Weeks 26-27: Dignity of the human person, caring for vulnerable

🌸 SPRING SEMESTER (March - May)¶

March: Life & Growth (4 weeks)¶

Week	Type	Topic	Materials Needed	CSCOE Checkout
28	Single	Pi Day Celebration - Math wonder, patterns in creation	Pi materials, circles	N/A
29-31	Long Arc (3)	Growing Things - Environmental engineering, Lenten reflection	EiE Environmental Kit	Reserve by Mar 1
32	Single	Field Trip Preparation/Debrief	Journals	N/A

Catholic Integration: - Week 28: Wonder at God's mathematical creation - Weeks 29-31: Care for creation, Lenten stewardship - Week 32: Learning from museums, continued wonder

Week 33: Spring Break - No Class

April: Resurrection & Renewal (4 weeks)¶

Week	Type	Topic	Materials Needed	CSCOE Checkout
34	Single	Easter Engineering - New life, transformation in engineering	Craft supplies	N/A
35-37	Long Arc (3)	Service Project Design Challenge - Community engineering project	Various based on project	Reserve by Mar 20

Catholic Integration: - Week 34: Resurrection themes, transformation - Weeks 35-37: Hands and feet of Christ, Catholic Social Teaching application

May: Celebration & Reflection (3-4 weeks)¶

Week	Type	Topic	Materials Needed	CSCOE Checkout
38-39	Multi (2)	Final Coding Projects - Scratch/ScratchJr year reflection	iPads/Chromebooks	School owns
40	Single	STREAM Year Celebration - Showcase, awards, reflection	All year's work	N/A
41	Single	Summer STREAM Challenge Launch - Take-home activities	Summer packets	N/A

Catholic Integration: - Weeks 38-39: Reflecting on growth, gratitude for learning - Week 40: Celebrating gifts, community - Week 41: Continuing wonder, summer stewardship

📦 Materials Management¶

School-Owned Materials (Always Available)¶

Item	Quantity	Storage	Use For
KEVA Planks	2+ sets	STREAM closet	Building, engineering, physics
iPads	Class set	Tech cart	Coding, research, documentation
Chromebooks	Class set	Tech cart	Scratch, web-based activities
Spheros	Class set	STREAM closet	Movement, coding, navigation
Basic Craft Supplies	Ongoing	Supply cabinet	All projects

CSCOE Library Checkout Schedule¶

⚠️ IMPORTANT: Reserve materials 2 weeks before needed!

Month	Reserve By	Items to Request
September	Aug 15	Sphero sets (if supplementing), Dash Robots
October	Sept 15	EiE Engineering Kit #1
November	Oct 15	Little Bits, Makey Makey
December	Nov 15	Light/circuit materials
January	Dec 15	STEM Fair support materials
February	Jan 15	Dash Robots, Simple machines kits
March	Feb 15	EiE Environmental Kit, VR equipment
April	Mar 15	Service project materials
May	Apr 15	Final project support

📎 Direct Link to CSCOE Library¶

Browse CSCOE STEM Library →

Available Categories:¶

Engineering is Elementary Kits (53 kits) - Multi-week unit resources
Robotics (10 items) - Dash Robots, Bee Bots, EV3
Learning Resources (11 items) - Manipulatives, tools
System Kits (19 items) - Complete curriculum kits
Lab/Measurement Devices (3 items) - Scientific tools
Virtual Reality (1 item) - Immersive experiences

👩‍🏫 Teacher Resources¶

Quick Start Guide¶

Each lesson folder contains: - [ ] Lesson Plan (detailed steps) - [ ] One-Page Quick Reference (substitute-friendly) - [ ] Vocabulary Cards (printable) - [ ] Catholic Identity Tie-In (prayer, scripture, connection) - [ ] Substitute Plan (simplified version) - [ ] Materials Checklist (what to gather)

Substitute Teacher Packet¶

Every unit includes a simplified substitute plan with: 1. 5-Minute Overview - What students are working on 2. Materials Location - Where to find everything 3. Step-by-Step Instructions - Simple, numbered steps 4. Extension Activities - If students finish early 5. Emergency Backup - Simple STREAM activity if technology fails 6. Catholic Integration Script - Prayer and connection points

Vocabulary by Unit¶

Each unit includes printable vocabulary cards with: - Term and definition - Visual representation - Faith connection (where applicable) - Grade-level appropriate explanations

Sample Quick Reference Card¶

+---------------------------------------------------------+
|  QUICK REFERENCE: Building with KEVA Planks             |
|  K (25 min) | 1-2 (30 min) | 3-4 (40 min) | 5-6 (45 min)|
+---------------------------------------------------------+
|  MATERIALS: KEVA Planks (1 set per 2-3 students)        |
|  LOCATION: STREAM closet, shelf 2                       |
+---------------------------------------------------------+
|  LESSON FLOW:                                           |
|  5 min  - Opening prayer, wonder question               |
|  10 min - Demo: balance and structure                   |
|  25 min - Build challenge (see grade card)              |
|  5 min  - Reflection, closing prayer                    |
+---------------------------------------------------------+
|  CATHOLIC CONNECTION: Building for the common good      |
|  "How does our building help others?"                   |
+---------------------------------------------------------+
|  IF TECHNOLOGY FAILS: N/A (unplugged activity)          |
|  EARLY FINISHERS: Build a structure for a saint's story |
+---------------------------------------------------------+

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Parent Resources¶

Weekly Communication¶

Each week, provide parents with:

Take-Home Sheet Template¶

+---------------------------------------------------------+
|  This Week in C-STREAM                                  |
|  Week: ___  Date: ___________  Grade: ____              |
+---------------------------------------------------------+
|  WHAT WE LEARNED:                                       |
|  ______________________________________________________ |
|                                                         |
|  FAITH CONNECTION:                                      |
|  ______________________________________________________ |
|                                                         |
|  ASK YOUR CHILD:                                        |
|  * ________________________________________________     |
|  * ________________________________________________     |
|                                                         |
|  TRY THIS AT HOME:                                      |
|  ______________________________________________________ |
|                                                         |
|  VOCABULARY:                                            |
|  ______________________________________________________ |
+---------------------------------------------------------+

Conversation Starters by Unit Type¶

For Robotics/Coding Weeks: - "Can you show me how you programmed the robot?" - "What went wrong and how did you fix it?" - "How can robots help people?"

For Building/Engineering Weeks: - "What made your structure strong?" - "If you could rebuild it, what would you change?" - "Who might use something like what you built?"

For Science/Exploration Weeks: - "What was the most surprising thing you learned?" - "What do you wonder about now?" - "How does this show us God's amazing creation?"

Parent Quick Explanations¶

What is C-STREAM?

C-STREAM stands for Catholic Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, Art & Music, and Mathematics. It's like STEM, but with Catholic faith woven throughout. Your child learns that faith and science work together to understand God's amazing world.

Why Catholic STEM?

Catholic education has always valued both faith and reason. We help students see that the same God who inspired the Psalms also created the laws of physics. Learning about creation helps us know and love the Creator.

How can I help at home?

Ask questions! Show curiosity about what your child is learning. Point out science and engineering in everyday life. Wonder aloud about how things work. Most importantly, help your child see God in the amazing world around them.

✅ Assessment & Progress¶

Grading Breakdown¶

Category	Percentage	What to Look For
STEM Knowledge & Skills	40%	Understanding concepts, applying skills
Collaboration & Communication	20%	Teamwork, explaining ideas
Catholic Integration & Ethics	20%	Connecting to faith, ethical thinking
Effort & Growth	20%	Persistence, improvement over time

Progress Tracking¶

Each trimester, assess: - [ ] STEM skill development - [ ] Faith integration understanding - [ ] Collaboration growth - [ ] Wonder and curiosity cultivation

📅 Planning Checklist¶

Before the Year¶

Review full year calendar
Note school holidays and events
Identify CSCOE checkout needs for fall
Reserve September-October materials
Prepare Welcome to C-STREAM lesson
Create parent communication system
Organize materials storage

Monthly Tasks¶

Reserve CSCOE materials (2 weeks ahead)
Prepare parent take-home sheets
Review upcoming lessons
Check materials inventory
Update substitute packets

Before Each Lesson¶

📎 Linked Resources¶

Templates & Rubrics¶

Supporting Materials¶

External Resources¶

Planner Version: 2.0
Framework: C-STREAM
Based on: NCEA STREAM Standards, existing C-STEM curriculum, CSCOE resources