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Session 7: Advent Coding 💫

Overview

Grades: 5-6 | Duration: 45 minutes | Session: 7 of 17

Students create interactive digital Advent experiences, using coding skills to share the Christmas story or Advent traditions.

Session 7: Advent Coding

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session, students will:

  • Create interactive narrative with code

  • Apply programming to faith expression

  • Design meaningful Advent experience

  • Combine creativity with technical skills

Session 7: Advent Coding

Materials Needed

  • 💻 Computers with Scratch

  • 📱 Sphero robots (optional)

  • 📓 Engineering journals

  • ⭐ Advent visual resources

Catholic Integration

Saint Connection

The Prophets — Isaiah, Micah, and others foretold Christ's coming. Advent is about joyful waiting and preparing for the Light of the World!

Scripture

"The people walking in darkness have seen a great light." — Isaiah 9:2

Opening Prayer

Dear God, during Advent we prepare our hearts for Jesus. Help us use our coding skills to share the hope and joy of Christmas. May our projects point others to the Light of the World. Amen.

Lesson Procedure

Opening Circle (6 minutes)

  1. Advent Meaning:
  2. Four weeks of preparation
  3. Waiting in hope
  4. Light in darkness theme
  5. Interactive Faith Experiences:
  6. Technology can share faith stories
  7. Interactive > passive learning
  8. Our code can evangelize!
  9. Project Options:
  10. Interactive Nativity
  11. Advent calendar experience
  12. Christmas story animation
  13. Light in darkness visualization
  14. Sphero Star of Bethlehem

Main Activity: Advent Project Creation (31 minutes)

Part 1: Project Planning (6 minutes)

Choose Your Platform:

  • Scratch (interactive story/game)

  • Sphero (physical demonstration)

  • Combination approach

Choose Your Focus:

Option A: Interactive Nativity

  • Characters tell their perspectives

  • User clicks to hear: Mary, Joseph, shepherds, magi

  • Scene builds as story unfolds

Option B: Advent Calendar

  • 4 "doors" (one per week of Advent)

  • Each opens to reveal:

  • Scripture
  • Advent practice

  • Interactive element

  • Countdown to Christmas

Option C: Christmas Story Animation

  • Animated retelling

  • Key scenes: Annunciation, Journey, Birth, Shepherds, Star

  • Narration and visuals

Option D: Light in Darkness

  • Visual exploration of light/darkness theme

  • Interactive: Light grows, darkness recedes

  • Connection to Isaiah prophecy

Option E: Sphero Journey

  • Sphero as Star of Bethlehem

  • Leads to Nativity scene

  • Programmed light display

Part 2: Development (22 minutes)

For Scratch Projects:

  • Create sprites (Nativity figures)

  • Program interactions

  • Add narrative elements

  • Include Scripture references

  • Design user experience

Key Coding Elements:

  • Events (when clicked, key pressed)

  • Dialogue/speech

  • Scene changes

  • Sound/music

  • Variables (if tracking progress)

For Sphero Projects:

  • Program light sequences

  • Create navigation path

  • Coordinate multiple Spheros

  • Design physical scene interaction

Part 3: Preview (3 minutes)

  • Quick demonstrations

  • Peer feedback

  • Note improvements for completion

Engineering Journal (5 minutes)

  1. Project concept sketch
  2. Programming elements used: ___
  3. Advent message communicated: ___
  4. Write: "Advent is about..."
  5. Write: "Technology can share faith by..."

Closing Circle (3 minutes)

  1. Advent Anticipation — "What are you most waiting for?"
  2. Light Theme — "How does your project show light in darkness?"
  3. Closing Prayer — "Lord Jesus, you are the Light of the World. Help us prepare our hearts for your coming and share your light with others. Amen."

Assessment

Observation Checklist:

  • Created interactive experience

  • Communicated Advent message

  • Applied coding concepts

  • Designed meaningful experience

Differentiation

For Students Who Need Support

  • Simpler project scope

  • Template to modify

  • Partner work

For Advanced Students

  • Complete Advent calendar (all 4 weeks)

  • Multi-platform integration

  • Shareable final product

Wonder at Home 🏠

Family Activity: Share your Advent project with family! Practice Advent traditions: wreath, calendar, prayers. Discuss: How does your family prepare for Christmas? Create family digital Advent experience!

Teacher Notes

  • Projects can continue for sharing

  • Display at school Advent event

  • Connect to parish/school liturgies

  • Copyright-free Nativity images helpful

Previous: Session 6 — Gratitude Design
Next: Session 8 — App Design