Session 11: Lenten Engineering 💜¶

Overview¶

Grades: 5-6 | Duration: 45 minutes | Session: 11 of 17

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

Session 11: Lenten Engineering¶

Learning Objectives¶

By the end of this session, students will:

Connect Lenten practices to service
Identify meaningful service opportunities
Design comprehensive service project
Create implementation and impact plans

Session 11: Lenten Engineering¶

Materials Needed¶

📋 Project planning templates
📦 Prototyping materials
📓 Engineering journals
💻 Research resources

Catholic Integration¶

Saint Connection¶

Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy — Traditional Catholic ways to serve: Feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, visit the sick, comfort the sorrowful, counsel the doubtful...

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 through service. Help us use our skills to serve "the least of these." Guide our designs and our hearts. Amen.

Lesson Procedure¶

Opening Circle (7 minutes)¶

Lent Season:
40 days of preparation
Prayer, Fasting, Almsgiving
Growing through sacrifice and service
Works of Mercy:
Corporal: Feed, clothe, shelter, visit, care for
Spiritual: Counsel, instruct, comfort, forgive, pray
Engineering for Service:
Apply our skills to serve
Design thinking meets Catholic Social Teaching
Create lasting impact

Main Activity: Service Project Design (30 minutes)¶

Part 1: Need Assessment (8 minutes)

Identify Service Opportunity:

School community needs
Parish outreach needs
Local organization needs
Global mission needs

Research Questions:

Who specifically needs help?
What are the root causes?
What's already being done?
Where can we add value?

Select Project Focus:

Must be actionable
Must use our skills
Must have real impact

Part 2: Project Design (15 minutes)

Comprehensive Project Plan:

Problem Statement (2 min):
Clear, specific need
Who benefits and how
Solution Design (5 min):
What exactly will you create/do?
How does it address the need?
What makes it effective?
Implementation Plan (4 min):
Timeline
Resources needed
Team roles
Partnerships required
Impact Measurement (2 min):
How will you know it worked?
What will change?
How many people helped?
Sustainability (2 min):
Can this continue beyond this project?
How can others replicate it?

Part 3: Project Pitches (7 minutes)

Present project plans
Class selects project(s) to implement
Assign teams/roles

Engineering Journal (5 minutes)¶

Your project summary
Your role and responsibilities
Implementation timeline
Write: "Service is important during Lent because..."
Personal Lenten commitment: ___

Closing Circle (3 minutes)¶

Commitment — "What will you sacrifice and serve?"
Works of Mercy — "Which work are we practicing?"
Closing Prayer — "Jesus, you came to serve, not to be served. Help us follow your example this Lent. Bless our projects and those we serve. Amen."

Assessment¶

Observation Checklist:

Identified meaningful service opportunity
Created comprehensive project plan
Considered implementation details
Made personal commitment

Differentiation¶

For Students Who Need Support¶

Join established project
Specific role assignment
Scaffolded planning

For Advanced Students¶

Lead project component
Create promotional materials
Coordinate partnerships

Wonder at Home 🏠¶

Family Activity: Family Lenten service project! Discuss Works of Mercy. Choose one to practice as a family. Rice Bowl, volunteering, visiting elderly. Design thinking at home for service!

Teacher Notes¶

Connect to school/parish Lent initiatives
Schedule follow-up implementation sessions
Partner with outreach organizations
Document service for portfolio

Previous: Session 10 — Environmental Science
Next: Session 12 — Life Science