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🦃 Week 11: Thankful Coding

Lesson Overview
Grade Level Grades 1-2
Duration 30 minutes
STREAM Focus T (Technology), R (Religion), A (Art)

Week 11: Thankful Coding

🎯 Learning Objectives

STEM Objectives

Students will be able to: 1. Create a multi-scene ScratchJr project 2. Use speech bubbles to display text 3. Add backgrounds that match their message 4. Sequence events with wait blocks

Faith Integration Objectives

Students will be able to: 1. Express gratitude to God through digital creation 2. Identify blessings in their lives 3. Connect thankfulness to prayer

Week 11: Thankful Coding

🙏 Faith-Reason Integration

Catholic Teaching Connection

Gratitude as Prayer — When we say "thank you" to God, we are praying. Gratitude opens our hearts to see all the gifts God gives us every day — family, friends, food, creation, and life itself.

Scripture Connection

"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." — 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Saint Connection

St. Francis of Assisi — Known for his Canticle of the Creatures, a prayer of thanks to God for Brother Sun, Sister Moon, and all of creation.

📚 Materials Needed

  • iPads with ScratchJr (1 per student or pair)

  • "I Am Thankful For" planning sheet

  • Sample thankful project (teacher-created)

  • Thankful word list poster

📝 Lesson Procedure (30 minutes)

Opening Prayer & Introduction (5 min)

Prayer: "Loving God, thank You for this day. Open our eyes to see all the blessings around us. Help us show our thanks through our creations today. Amen."

Gratitude brainstorm:

  • "What are you thankful for?"

  • List ideas: family, pets, food, school, friends, nature, God, health

Introduce project: "Today we'll create a ScratchJr animation that shows what we're thankful for!"

Planning (5 min)

Planning sheet: Students draw/write 3 things they're thankful for.

Each scene will show: 1. A picture of the blessing 2. Words saying "I am thankful for..." 3. A character expressing thanks

ScratchJr Thankful Project (16 min)

Teacher demonstration (3 min):

  • Create new project

  • Add background

  • Add character with speech bubble

  • Add "say" block with thankful message

Student creation (13 min): Students create their thankful animation with:

  • At least 2 scenes

  • Speech bubbles with thankful messages

  • Characters and backgrounds

Coding elements:

  • Green flag to start

  • "Say" block for thankful message

  • Wait blocks between messages

  • Switch background for new scenes

Support prompts:

  • "What blessing are you showing?"

  • "What does your character say?"

  • "What background shows this best?"

Sharing & Closing (4 min)

Quick share: 2-3 students share their thankful animations.

Faith Connection: "Your animations are like prayers of thanks! When we notice our blessings and say thank you, we're talking to God."

Closing Prayer: "Thank You, God, for [students call out their blessings]. Help us always remember to be thankful. Amen."

✅ Assessment

  • Created ScratchJr project with thankful message

  • Used speech bubbles and appropriate backgrounds

  • Expressed genuine gratitude for blessings

📎 Home Connection

"We coded thankful animations! Ask your child to show you their ScratchJr project and tell you what they're thankful for. Create a family thankful list together!"

Lesson Version: 1.0 | **