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🤲 Weeks 26-27: Helping Hands Design

Unit Overview
Grade Level Grades 1-2
Duration 2 sessions (30 min each)
STREAM Focus E (Engineering), R (Religion), A (Art)

Weeks 26-27: Helping Hands Design

🎯 Learning Objectives

STEM Objectives

Students will be able to: 1. Apply human-centered design thinking 2. Create solutions that address real needs 3. Test and iterate on designs 4. Present design solutions

Faith Integration Objectives

Students will be able to: 1. Connect Catholic Social Teaching to design 2. Understand preferential option for the poor 3. Practice empathy and compassion in design thinking

Weeks 26-27: Helping Hands Design

🙏 Faith-Reason Integration

Catholic Teaching Connection

Catholic Social Teaching: Preferential Option for the Poor — God calls us to care especially for those who are struggling. Engineers and designers can create things that help people in need.

Scripture Connection

"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

Saint Connection

St. Vincent de Paul — He organized practical help for poor people. He found creative solutions to help those in need with food, medicine, and shelter.

📚 Materials Needed

  • Design scenario cards

  • Planning worksheets

  • Building materials: cardboard, paper, tape, craft supplies

  • Testing materials

  • Presentation space

Session 1: Design for Others

📝 Lesson Procedure (30 minutes)

Opening Prayer & Introduction (4 min)

Prayer: "Jesus, You said when we help others, we help You. Open our hearts to see the needs of others. Guide our hands as we design to help. Amen."

Read Matthew 25:40: "Whatever you did for one of the least of these... you did for me."

Discuss: "Who are 'the least of these'? Who needs help?"

Design Challenge Introduction (6 min)

Present scenarios (choose one for class):

Scenario A: "An elderly person has trouble carrying groceries."

  • What's hard for them?

  • What would help?

Scenario B: "A child in a wheelchair can't reach drinking fountains."

  • What's the problem?

  • What could we design?

Scenario C: "Someone who can't see needs help knowing what's around them."

  • What challenges do they face?

  • How could we help?

Empathy discussion:

  • "How would YOU feel if you had this challenge?"

  • "What would you want someone to design for you?"

Design Thinking: Brainstorm & Plan (15 min)

Individual brainstorm (4 min): Draw 2-3 ideas.

Partner share (4 min): Share ideas with partner. Combine ideas!

Choose and plan (7 min):

  • Select one design to build

  • Draw detailed plan

  • List materials needed

  • Identify how you'll test if it works

Closing Preview (5 min)

Share plans with another group.

Faith Connection: "When we design to help others, we're doing what Jesus asked! We're being His hands in the world."

Closing Prayer: "Bless our designs, Lord. Help us think carefully about how to help others. Amen."

Session 2: Build & Present

📝 Lesson Procedure (30 minutes)

Opening Prayer & Review (3 min)

Prayer: "Jesus, help us build with love today. May our creations serve others and honor You. Amen."

Review plans: "What are you building? How will it help?"

Building Time (17 min)

Students build their designs.

Teacher circulates:

  • "Tell me how this helps."

  • "How will you test it?"

  • "What changes are you making?"

Encourage iteration:

  • Test as you build

  • It's okay to change your plan

  • Ask for help when needed

Quick Testing (4 min)

Test designs with the challenge scenario.

  • Does it work?

  • What would make it better?

Presentations (4 min)

Quick presentations: Each group shares:

  • "We designed this for..." (who it helps)

  • "It works by..." (how it helps)

  • "We learned..." (what they discovered)

Closing Celebration (2 min)

Faith Connection: "You were Jesus's hands today! You thought about others' needs and created to help them. That's what Catholic engineers do — they use their skills to serve!"

Closing Prayer: "Thank you, God, for minds that create and hearts that care. Help us always use our gifts to serve 'the least of these.' We want to be Your hands in the world. Amen."

✅ Assessment

  • Demonstrated empathy for the user's needs

  • Created a design plan

  • Built a prototype

  • Explained how design helps others

📎 Home Connection

"We were designers for others! Ask your child: 'Who did you design for?' 'How does your invention help them?' 'What would you improve?' Talk about how your family can be 'helping hands' for people in need in your community."

Unit Version: 1.0 | Last Updated: 2025-12-05