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Session 16: Community Helpers ❤️

Overview

Grades: 1-2 | Duration: 30 minutes | Session: 16 of 17

Students design solutions to help their community, applying engineering skills to serve others.

Session 16: Community Helpers

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session, students will:

  • Identify needs in their community

  • Design a solution to help someone

  • Build or plan a service project

  • Connect engineering to Catholic social teaching

Session 16: Community Helpers

Materials Needed

  • 📦 Building materials (cardboard, craft sticks, tape)

  • 🎨 Art supplies

  • 📋 "Community Needs" brainstorm sheet

  • 📓 Engineering journals

  • 📸 Pictures of community helpers

Catholic Integration

Saint Connection

St. Vincent de Paul — He organized help for the poor, creating systems to serve those in need.

Scripture

"Serve one another humbly in love." — Galatians 5:13

Opening Prayer

Dear God, you call us to love our neighbors. Help us see what our community needs. Give us creative ideas to help others. Bless the work of our hands. Amen.

Lesson Procedure

Opening Circle (5 minutes)

  1. Community Helpers — "Who helps in our community?"
  2. Police, firefighters, nurses, teachers
  3. Mail carriers, trash collectors, store workers
  4. Parents, volunteers, neighbors
  5. Everyone Can Help — "YOU can be a community helper too!"
  6. Engineering for Good — "We can use our design skills to help people!"
  7. Today's Mission — "Design something that helps our community!"

Main Activity: Service Design Project (19 minutes)

Part 1: Identify Needs (4 minutes)

  • Brainstorm community needs:
  • Elderly neighbors need help with tasks
  • Homeless need warm clothes
  • Animals need shelter
  • Environment needs care (litter cleanup)

  • Lonely people need friendship

  • Pick one need to address

Part 2: Design & Build (13 minutes)

Option A: Bird Feeder for Creation Care

  • Simple design from recyclables

  • Helps birds, beautifies community

  • Build and take home

Option B: Kindness Kit Design

  • Design a "kit" for someone in need

  • What would go inside?

  • Draw and label items

  • Plan to assemble real ones

Option C: Thank You Signs

  • Create signs for community helpers

  • "Thank you, mail carrier!"

  • Display in windows or deliver

Option D: Free Design

  • Student identifies need and solution

  • Build prototype or detailed plan

  • Present to class

Part 3: Share Plans (2 minutes)

  • Groups share what they designed

  • "How will this help?"

Engineering Journal (4 minutes)

  1. Draw your design
  2. Write: "This helps... by..."
  3. Write: "One thing I can do this week to help someone is..."

Closing Circle (2 minutes)

  1. Service Summary — "How can engineers help communities?"
  2. Challenge — "This week, be a community helper!"
  3. Closing Prayer — "God, help us be your hands and feet. Show us how to serve others every day. Amen."

Assessment

Observation Checklist:

  • Identified community need

  • Designed thoughtful solution

  • Connected design to service

  • Committed to action

Differentiation

For Students Who Need Support

  • Join group with clear role

  • Focus on one simple project

  • Teacher-guided brainstorming

For Advanced Students

  • Create detailed implementation plan

  • Design multiple solutions

  • Lead group discussion

Wonder at Home 🏠

Family Activity: Do a family service project! Ideas: Make bird feeders, pick up litter, bake treats for neighbors, donate toys, write thank you notes to community helpers. Talk about how it feels to help.

Teacher Notes

  • Follow through on any service projects planned

  • Connect to school/parish service initiatives

  • Consider class "Day of Service"

  • Embodies Catholic Social Teaching: dignity of workers, care for community

Previous: Session 15 — Robot Challenge
Next: Session 17 — Year Exhibition