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Session 6: Thanksgiving Design 🦃

Overview

Grades: 3-4 | Duration: 40 minutes | Session: 6 of 17

Students design and create projects that express gratitude, combining engineering skills with thankfulness.

Session 6: Thanksgiving Design

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session, students will:

  • Reflect on gratitude and blessings

  • Apply design thinking to express thanks

  • Create a gratitude-focused project

  • Share appreciation with others

Session 6: Thanksgiving Design

Materials Needed

  • 📦 Various making materials

  • 📝 Gratitude planning sheets

  • 📓 Engineering journals

  • 🎨 Art supplies

Catholic Integration

Saint Connection

St. Paul — His letters overflow with thanksgiving! "I thank my God every time I remember you." (Philippians 1:3)

Scripture

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever." — Psalm 107:1

Opening Prayer

Dear God, you have given us so many blessings! Help us have grateful hearts and creative minds to express our thanks to you and to others. Amen.

Lesson Procedure

Opening Circle (6 minutes)

  1. Thanksgiving Season:
  2. Time to pause and give thanks
  3. Not just food—gratitude for everything!
  4. St. Paul's Example:
  5. Started letters with THANKS
  6. Gratitude even in prison!
  7. Design Challenge:
  8. Use creativity to EXPRESS gratitude
  9. Create something that shows thanks

Main Activity: Gratitude Design Sprint (26 minutes)

Part 1: Gratitude Reflection (5 minutes)

  • List 10 things you're grateful for

  • Circle the 3 most important

  • Who do you want to thank?

  • What would make them feel appreciated?

Part 2: Design & Create (17 minutes)

Choose a Project:

Option A: Gratitude Machine

  • Build a mechanical card

  • Pull tab reveals message

  • Moving parts express thanks

Option B: Thank You Engineering

  • Design something useful for recipient

  • Phone holder, pencil organizer, bookmark

  • Personalized for them!

Option C: Gratitude Display

  • Create 3D representation of blessings

  • Show what you're thankful for

  • Interactive elements

Option D: Appreciation Invention

  • Design something NEW to help someone

  • Show gratitude through service

  • Prototype your idea

Build Process: 1. Sketch design (3 min) 2. Gather materials (2 min) 3. Build/create (10 min) 4. Add personal touches (2 min)

Part 3: Sharing Circle (4 minutes)

  • Share creations

  • Explain: Who is this for? What does it express?

  • Receive appreciation!

Engineering Journal (5 minutes)

  1. Draw your gratitude project
  2. Write: "I made this for... because..."
  3. List 5 things you're thankful for
  4. Write: "Gratitude is important because..."

Closing Circle (3 minutes)

  1. Delivery Plan — "How will you give your project?"
  2. Gratitude as Practice — "How can we be grateful every day?"
  3. Closing Prayer — "Thank you, God, for every blessing! Help us always have grateful hearts. Bless our families this Thanksgiving. Amen."

Assessment

Observation Checklist:

  • Reflected on blessings

  • Applied design process

  • Created meaningful project

  • Plans to share with recipient

Differentiation

For Students Who Need Support

  • Focused project options

  • Partner support

  • Template provided

For Advanced Students

  • Complex mechanisms

  • Multiple recipients

  • Written gratitude letter included

Wonder at Home 🏠

Family Activity: Share your project with the recipient! Create a family gratitude list. Write thank you notes together. Start a gratitude practice: each day, name something new you're thankful for!

Teacher Notes

  • Time before Thanksgiving break

  • Help ensure projects reach recipients

  • Gratitude journaling builds positive mindset

  • Connect to school Thanksgiving activities

Previous: Session 5 — Scratch Games
Next: Session 7 — Christmas Circuits