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Session 11: Lenten Love 💜

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 three pillars: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.

Session 11: Lenten Love

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session, students will:

  • Understand Lenten practices

  • Design something to serve others

  • Create a meaningful service project

  • Connect engineering to loving others

Session 11: Lenten Love

Materials Needed

  • 📦 Craft supplies

  • 💜 Purple paper and decorations

  • 📦 Recycled materials for building

  • 📓 Design Detective journals

  • ❤️ Heart shapes

Catholic Integration

Saint Connection

St. Teresa of Calcutta (Mother Teresa) — She dedicated her life to serving the poorest of the poor with great love.

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 prepare our hearts for Easter. Help us find ways to love others as you loved us. Bless our hands as they work for others today. Amen.

Lesson Procedure

Opening Circle (5 minutes)

  1. Lent Season — "We're preparing for Easter!"
  2. Three Lenten Practices:
  3. 🙏 Prayer — Talking with God more
  4. 🍞 Fasting — Giving something up
  5. 💝 Almsgiving — Giving to those in need
  6. Mother Teresa — Served with love, said: "Do small things with great love"
  7. Today's Mission — "Design something loving for others!"

Main Activity: Love in Action Project (19 minutes)

Part 1: Who Needs Love? (3 minutes)

  • Brainstorm people who could use kindness:
  • Elderly neighbors
  • Sick classmates
  • Lonely people
  • Hungry families

  • Tired parents

  • Choose who to serve

Part 2: Design & Create (14 minutes)

Option A: Comfort Cards

  • Cards for hospital or nursing home

  • Include cheerful drawings

  • Message: "You are loved!"

  • Add hearts and encouraging words

Option B: Prayer Chain

  • Paper chain for people to pray for

  • Each link = one person/intention

  • Class prayer chain to display

Option C: Kindness Jar

  • Decorate a jar

  • Fill with kindness ideas on paper strips:

  • "Give a hug"
  • "Help clean up"

  • "Share a toy"

  • Take home to use during Lent

Option D: Care Packages Design

  • Design what would go in a care package

  • Draw items that would help someone in need

  • Plan actual collection

Part 3: Dedication (2 minutes)

  • "Who will receive your act of love?"

  • "Why is this important?"

Design Detective Journal (4 minutes)

  1. Draw your service project
  2. Write: "I made this for... because..."
  3. Write: "One way I can show love this Lent is..."

Closing Circle (2 minutes)

  1. Share Projects — Show what you made
  2. Lenten Commitment — What will YOU do for love?
  3. Closing Prayer — "Jesus, help us be like Mother Teresa—doing small things with great love. Bless our Lenten journey. Amen."

Assessment

Observation Checklist:

  • Understood Lenten practices

  • Designed with others in mind

  • Created service project

  • Made Lenten commitment

Differentiation

For Students Who Need Support

  • Choose one project focus

  • Partner work

  • Pre-cut materials

For Advanced Students

  • Create multiple items

  • Plan a family service project

  • Write prayer intentions

Wonder at Home 🏠

Family Activity: Plan a family Lent service project! Ideas: Donate to food shelf, visit someone lonely, do extra chores, give up something and give the money away. Create a Lenten calendar together.

Teacher Notes

  • Coordinate with school Lenten service projects

  • Consider delivering cards to nursing home

  • Connect to Rice Bowl or other parish initiatives

  • Purple is the liturgical color of Lent

Previous: Session 10 — Magnets & Motion
Next: Session 12 — Butterfly Wonder