Skip to content

Session 11: Lenten Service 💜

Overview

Grades: 3-4 | Duration: 40 minutes | Session: 11 of 17

Students design and implement service projects during Lent, applying engineering skills to serve others.

Session 11: Lenten Service

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session, students will:

  • Connect Lenten practices to service

  • Identify needs in their community

  • Design a service project using design thinking

  • Create actionable implementation plan

Session 11: Lenten Service

Materials Needed

  • 📋 Design thinking worksheets

  • 📦 Prototyping materials

  • 📓 Engineering journals

  • 💜 Lent visual materials

Catholic Integration

Saint Connection

Corporal Works of Mercy — Feed the hungry, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, visit the sick, visit prisoners, bury the dead, give alms to the poor.

Scripture

"Truly I tell you, 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 for Easter by growing closer to you. Help us serve others as you served us. Guide our designs to truly help those in need. Amen.

Lesson Procedure

Opening Circle (6 minutes)

  1. Lent Season:
  2. 40 days of preparation
  3. Prayer, Fasting, Almsgiving
  4. Growing closer to God
  5. Works of Mercy:
  6. How Jesus calls us to serve
  7. Practical ways to help
  8. "Whatever you did for the least..."
  9. Design Thinking for Service:
  10. Use our engineering skills
  11. Identify real needs
  12. Create real solutions

Main Activity: Service Design Sprint (26 minutes)

Part 1: Identify Needs (6 minutes)

Community Scan:

  • Who needs help around us?
  • 🏠 Elderly neighbors
  • 🏥 Sick or hospitalized
  • 😔 Lonely or isolated
  • 🍽️ Food insecure families
  • 🌍 Environmental needs
  • 🎒 Students in need

Select Focus:

  • Which need can our class address?

  • What resources do we have?

  • Who can we partner with?

Part 2: Empathize & Define (5 minutes)

  • Put yourself in their shoes:
  • What does it feel like to have this need?
  • What would REALLY help?

  • What do they actually want (not just what we assume)?

  • Write problem statement:

  • "[Group] needs [solution] because [reason]"

Part 3: Ideate Solutions (5 minutes)

  • Brainstorm many ideas

  • Don't judge—generate!

  • Wild ideas welcome

  • Build on others' ideas

  • Vote on best idea(s)

Part 4: Plan & Prototype (8 minutes)

For Chosen Project:

  • What exactly will we do?

  • When will we do it?

  • What materials/resources do we need?

  • Who needs to help?

  • Create timeline

Prototype:

  • Build/create sample if physical project

  • Write plan if service action

  • Prepare presentation for approval

Part 5: Commitment (2 minutes)

  • Class commitment to action

  • Individual roles

  • Schedule follow-up

Engineering Journal (5 minutes)

  1. Describe the need you identified
  2. Sketch/write your solution
  3. Write: "My role in this project is..."
  4. Write: "I will sacrifice _____ during Lent for others"

Closing Circle (3 minutes)

  1. Service Commitment — What will we do?
  2. Lenten Journey — "How does serving others bring us closer to God?"
  3. Closing Prayer — "Jesus, you came to serve, not to be served. Help us follow your example this Lent. Bless our service projects. Amen."

Assessment

Observation Checklist:

  • Identified real community need

  • Applied design thinking process

  • Created actionable plan

  • Made personal commitment

Differentiation

For Students Who Need Support

  • Join existing school service project

  • Partner support

  • Specific role assignment

For Advanced Students

  • Lead project component

  • Create promotional materials

  • Coordinate with partners

Wonder at Home 🏠

Family Activity: Discuss family Lent service! Choose a Works of Mercy to practice as a family. Rice Bowl, volunteering, donation collection. Make Lent about ACTION, not just giving things up!

Teacher Notes

  • Connect to school/parish Lent initiatives

  • Follow through on project implementation

  • Document service for end-of-year portfolio

  • Works of Mercy fit all grade levels

Previous: Session 10 — Geology Rocks
Next: Session 12 — Life Cycles