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Session 01: Welcome to Wonder

Overview

Grade: Kindergarten | Duration: 25 minutes | Session: 1 of 17

Welcome to C-STREAM! This opening session introduces students to the wonder of exploring God's amazing world through their senses.

Session 01: Welcome to Wonder

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session, students will:

  • Understand that C-STREAM is about discovering God's world

  • Use their five senses to notice things around them

  • Practice the "I wonder..." phrase

  • Feel excited about being explorers

Materials Needed

  • 📦 Magnifying glasses (1 per pair)

  • 🎨 Wonder Journal (paper folded in half)

  • 🖍️ Crayons

  • 🌿 Nature items: pinecone, leaf, rock, flower (or pictures)

  • ⭐ "I Wonder" poster

Catholic Integration

Saint Connection

St. Francis of Assisi — He loved all of God's creation and saw wonder in every creature!

Scripture

"God saw all that he had made, and it was very good." — Genesis 1:31

Opening Prayer

Dear God, thank you for giving us eyes to see, ears to hear, hands to touch, a nose to smell, and a tongue to taste. Help us notice the wonderful world you made. Amen.

Lesson Procedure

Opening Circle (5 minutes)

  1. Welcome Song — Sing to tune of "Twinkle Twinkle":
  2. "Wonder, wonder, what do I see?
  3. God's amazing world for me!
  4. I can look and touch and hear,

  5. So many wonders everywhere!"

  6. Introduce C-STREAM

  7. "This is our special time to discover and explore!"
  8. "We are going to be WONDER DETECTIVES"
  9. Show the "I Wonder..." poster

Main Activity: Five Senses Wonder Walk (12 minutes)

  1. Introduce the Senses (2 minutes)
  2. Point to eyes: "What do we see?"
  3. Point to ears: "What do we hear?"
  4. Touch hands: "What do we feel?"

  5. Point to nose: "What do we smell?"

  6. Wonder Stations (10 minutes)

  7. Divide into pairs with magnifying glasses
  8. Visit 3-4 nature items around the room
  9. At each station: "I wonder..." (color, texture, smell)
  10. Teacher models: "I wonder why this leaf has lines?"

Wonder Journal (5 minutes)

  1. Give each child their folded paper "Wonder Journal"
  2. Draw ONE thing they noticed today
  3. Teacher writes their "I wonder..." sentence

Closing Circle (3 minutes)

  1. Share — 2-3 students share their wonder
  2. Preview — "Next time we'll explore more of God's amazing world!"
  3. Closing Prayer — "Thank you, God, for helping us wonder today. Amen."

Assessment

Observation Checklist:

  • Used "I wonder..." phrase

  • Engaged with senses exploration

  • Drew in Wonder Journal

  • Participated in group activities

Differentiation

For Students Who Need Support

  • Pair with a buddy

  • Provide sentence frame: "I wonder about the ___"

  • Use pictures instead of writing

For Advanced Students

  • Write their own "I wonder" words

  • Find additional items to observe

  • Help others with their journals

Wonder at Home 🏠

Family Activity: Take a "Wonder Walk" around your neighborhood. Use your five senses and find 5 things that make you say "Wow, God made that!"

Teacher Notes

  • Create the "I Wonder" poster to use all year

  • Start a class "Wonder Wall" where students can add questions

  • Take photos of students exploring for documentation

Next Session: Session 02 — God's Amazing World