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⭐ Week 16: Star of Wonder

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

Week 16: Star of Wonder

🎯 Learning Objectives

STEM Objectives

Students will be able to: 1. Understand that stars are distant suns 2. Identify that stars appear to move across the sky 3. Explain why stars were important for ancient navigation 4. Create a star-related craft or project

Faith Integration Objectives

Students will be able to: 1. Connect the Christmas star to the Magi's journey 2. Understand how God uses creation to guide us 3. Recognize that seeking Jesus is life's most important journey

Week 16: Star of Wonder

🙏 Faith-Reason Integration

Catholic Teaching Connection

God Guides Through Creation — God used a star to guide the Magi to Jesus. Throughout history, God has used the natural world to speak to people. Creation points us to the Creator.

Scripture Connection

"We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him." — Matthew 2:2

Saint Connection

The Magi (Wise Men) — These ancient scientists studied the stars. When they saw a special star, they knew it meant something important. They followed it for months until they found Jesus!

📚 Materials Needed

  • Pictures of stars and constellations

  • Star charts (simple)

  • Black paper

  • Gold/silver star stickers or yellow paper

  • Hole punches

  • Flashlights for "constellation viewers"

  • The Magi story (book or printout)

📝 Lesson Procedure (30 minutes)

Opening Prayer & Introduction (5 min)

Advent Prayer: "Star of Wonder, Star of Light! Lord, just as You guided the Magi with a star, guide us to Jesus this Christmas season. Amen."

Read/Tell: Brief telling of the Magi following the star (Matthew 2:1-12).

Wonder questions:

  • "How did the Magi know to follow the star?"

  • "How long do you think they traveled?"

  • "What did they find at the end?"

Star Science (8 min)

Star facts for 1st-2nd graders:

  • Stars are very far away suns

  • They look small because they're so far

  • At night, we can see stars because the sun isn't lighting up the sky

  • People have used stars to find their way for thousands of years

Discussion:

  • "Have you ever seen stars at night?"

  • "Why can't we see stars during the day?"

Star patterns: Show simple constellations (Big Dipper, Orion).

Faith Connection: "The Magi were star scientists! They studied the sky carefully. When they saw a new, special star, they knew God was doing something amazing!"

Star Project (12 min)

Choose one activity:

Option A: Constellation Viewer

  • Black paper rolled into tube

  • Poke holes in one end in a pattern

  • Look through tube toward light to see "stars"

Option B: Star of Bethlehem Craft

  • Large star shape

  • Decorate with gold/silver

  • Write "Follow the Star to Jesus"

Option C: Magi Journey Map

  • Draw simple map

  • Add star in sky

  • Show path from East to Bethlehem

Closing Reflection (5 min)

Share creations.

Discuss:

  • "The Magi traveled a long way to find Jesus. What 'journey' can we take to get closer to Jesus?" (Prayer, Mass, being kind, reading the Bible)

Faith Connection: "The Magi were scientists who found Jesus! Studying the world God made can help us know God better. This Christmas, let the star remind you that Jesus is worth seeking!"

Closing Prayer: "Lord, like the Magi, help us follow the star to You. Guide our journey this Advent. We want to find You and worship You like the Wise Men did. Amen."

✅ Assessment

  • Shared one fact about stars

  • Connected the Christmas star to the Magi story

  • Completed star project

📎 Home Connection

"We learned about the Star of Bethlehem! Go outside on a clear night and look at stars together. Talk about how the Magi followed a star to find Jesus. How can your family 'follow the star' to Jesus this Christmas?"

Lesson Version: 1.0 | **