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Session 11: Lenten Engineers 💜

Overview

Grades: 1-2 | Duration: 30 minutes | Session: 11 of 17

Students design and create something to help others during Lent, connecting engineering skills to the Lenten practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.

Session 11: Lenten Engineers

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session, students will:

  • Understand Lenten practices (prayer, fasting, almsgiving)

  • Design something to serve others

  • Create a service-focused project

  • Connect engineering to Catholic social teaching

Session 11: Lenten Engineers

Materials Needed

  • 📦 Craft supplies (paper, markers, cardboard)

  • 📦 Recycled materials

  • 💜 Purple paper/decorations (Lent color)

  • 📓 Engineering journals

  • 📋 Service planning sheet

Catholic Integration

Saint Connection

St. Katherine Drexel — She gave away her fortune to serve others, especially building schools for children who didn't have them.

Scripture

"Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." — Matthew 25:40

Opening Prayer

Dear Jesus, during Lent we remember your sacrifice for us. Help us give up something to help others. Show us how to use our hands and minds to serve. Amen.

Lesson Procedure

Opening Circle (5 minutes)

  1. Lent Season — "What is Lent?"
  2. 40 days preparing for Easter
  3. Time to grow closer to Jesus
  4. Three Practices:
  5. 🙏 Prayer — Talking to God more
  6. 🍞 Fasting — Giving up something
  7. 💝 Almsgiving — Giving to others
  8. Engineers for Others — "How can our building skills help people?"
  9. Today's Mission — "Design something that helps others!"

Main Activity: Service Design Project (19 minutes)

Part 1: Identify Needs (3 minutes)

  • "Who could use our help?"
  • Elderly neighbors
  • Children without toys
  • Hungry families

  • Lonely people

  • "What could we MAKE to help?"

Part 2: Design & Create (14 minutes)

Option A: Kindness Coupons Holder

  • Build a small box or folder

  • Fill with kindness coupons:

  • "One free hug"
  • "I'll clean up"

  • "I'll share with you"

  • Give to family members

Option B: Caring Cards

  • Design cards for nursing home residents

  • Include cheerful drawings

  • Message: "God loves you!"

Option C: Collection Box

  • Build a box for collecting items

  • Rice Bowl / food shelf donations

  • Coins for charity

  • Decorate with Lenten symbols

Part 3: Reflection (2 minutes)

  • "How will this help others?"

  • "How does giving make YOU feel?"

Engineering Journal (4 minutes)

  1. Draw what you designed/made
  2. Write: "This will help... by..."
  3. Draw a cross or Lenten symbol

Closing Circle (2 minutes)

  1. Sharing — Show your service project
  2. Lenten Commitment — "What will you give this Lent?"
  3. Closing Prayer — "Jesus, help us give like St. Katherine Drexel. May our work bring joy to others and glory to you. Amen."

Assessment

Observation Checklist:

  • Understood Lenten practices

  • Participated in service design

  • Created project with intention

  • Connected work to serving others

Differentiation

For Students Who Need Support

  • Pre-made project template

  • Focus on decorating

  • Work with partner

For Advanced Students

  • Plan larger service project

  • Write detailed messages

  • Design multiple items

Wonder at Home 🏠

Family Activity: As a family, choose a Lenten service project! Ideas: donate to food shelf, visit someone lonely, do extra chores, save money to give away. Make a family Lent calendar.

Teacher Notes

  • Coordinate with school-wide Lenten initiatives (Rice Bowl, food drives)

  • Consider delivering cards to nursing home

  • Connect to religion class Lenten lessons

  • Purple is the liturgical color of Lent

Previous: Session 10 — Weather Watchers
Next: Session 12 — Life Cycles