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Session 06: Thanksgiving Service 🦃

Overview

Grades: 1-2 | Duration: 30 minutes | Session: 6 of 17

Students combine gratitude with service, designing and creating something to help or bless others in their community.

Session 06: Thanksgiving Service

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session, students will:

  • Express gratitude for God's blessings

  • Design something to help others

  • Create a service project item

  • Connect engineering skills to Catholic social teaching

Session 06: Thanksgiving Service

Materials Needed

  • 📦 Card-making supplies (paper, markers, stickers)

  • 🎨 Craft supplies

  • 📓 Engineering journals

  • 📋 "People Who Help Us" list

  • ❤️ Heart shapes

Catholic Integration

Saint Connection

St. Martin de Porres — He served the poor and sick with great love, giving food and care to everyone in need.

Scripture

"Give thanks in all circumstances." — 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Opening Prayer

Dear God, we have so much to be thankful for! Help us share our blessings with others. Like St. Martin de Porres, may we serve with love. Amen.

Lesson Procedure

Opening Circle (5 minutes)

  1. Gratitude Round — Each person: "I'm thankful for..."
  2. Giving Back — "When we have blessings, we share them!"
  3. St. Martin de Porres — Served the poor in Peru
  4. Today's Project — "We're making something to bless others!"
  5. Design Thinking — "WHO could we help? WHAT would help them?"

Main Activity: Service Design Project (19 minutes)

Part 1: Design Planning (4 minutes)

  • Brainstorm who needs blessing:
  • Elderly in nursing homes
  • Children in hospital
  • Community helpers (firefighters, police)

  • School staff

  • Choose a group to serve

  • Discuss: "What would help them feel loved?"

Part 2: Create (13 minutes)

  • Option A: Thankful Cards
  • Cards for nursing home residents
  • Include drawings, messages, stickers

  • "You are loved!"

  • Option B: Bookmark Gifts

  • Decorated bookmarks for library/school

  • "Thank you for helping us learn!"

  • Option C: Thank You Posters

  • For school helpers (custodians, lunch staff)

  • Class collaboration

  • Focus on quality and kindness in creation

Part 3: Reflection (2 minutes)

  • "How do you think people will feel when they get these?"

  • "Why is it important to think about others?"

Engineering Journal (4 minutes)

  1. Draw what you created
  2. Write: "I made this for... because..."
  3. Draw a heart

Closing Circle (2 minutes)

  1. Share Creations — Show what you made
  2. Delivery Plan — When/how will we give these?
  3. Closing Prayer — "Thank you, God, for the chance to bless others. Help us always look for ways to share your love. Amen."

Assessment

Observation Checklist:

  • Expressed personal gratitude

  • Participated in design process

  • Created item with care

  • Connected service to faith

Differentiation

For Students Who Need Support

  • Pre-folded card ready to decorate

  • Focus on drawing over writing

  • Work alongside teacher

For Advanced Students

  • Write longer personal messages

  • Create multiple items

  • Help others with spelling/ideas

Wonder at Home 🏠

Family Activity: As a family, do a service project! Ideas: rake leaves for a neighbor, deliver cookies, write cards to relatives, donate toys or food. Talk about how it feels to help others.

Teacher Notes

  • Arrange delivery to nursing home or recipients

  • Take photos of students with creations

  • Follow up with recipient responses if possible

  • This embodies Catholic Social Teaching: care for others

Previous: Session 05 — Nature Exploration
Next: Session 07 — Light in Darkness