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🦋 Week 33: New Life Engineering

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

Week 33: New Life Engineering

🎯 Learning Objectives

STEM Objectives

Students will be able to: 1. Design and build a project related to new life/spring 2. Observe signs of new life in nature 3. Apply engineering design process 4. Connect science of life cycles to project

Faith Integration Objectives

Students will be able to: 1. Connect new life in nature to Jesus's Resurrection 2. Understand that Easter brings new life 3. Recognize God's power over death and darkness

Week 33: New Life Engineering

🙏 Faith-Reason Integration

Catholic Teaching Connection

Resurrection and New Life — At Easter, we celebrate Jesus rising from the dead. Spring shows us new life all around — flowers blooming, butterflies emerging, baby animals being born. Creation reflects the Resurrection!

Scripture Connection

"I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die." — John 11:25

Saint Connection

St. Mary Magdalene — She was the first to see Jesus risen from the dead on Easter morning. She went from sadness to JOY when she saw that new life had conquered death.

📚 Materials Needed

  • Pictures of spring/new life (butterflies, flowers, baby animals)

  • Building materials: paper, cardboard, pipe cleaners, pom poms

  • Scissors and tape

  • Spring nature items (optional: seeds, flowers)

  • Resurrection story visual

📝 Lesson Procedure (30 minutes)

Opening Prayer & Introduction (5 min)

Easter Prayer: "Risen Jesus, You conquered death and brought us new life! As we see new life in spring, help us remember Your Resurrection. Alleluia! Amen."

Signs of new life:

  • "What signs of spring do you see?"

  • List: flowers, butterflies, baby birds, green leaves, longer days

  • "After the cold and darkness of winter, new life comes!"

Faith Connection: "Easter is like the biggest spring ever! Jesus was in the dark tomb, but He rose to new life. He's stronger than death!"

Engineering Challenge Introduction (4 min)

Today's Challenge: Build something that shows NEW LIFE

Options: 1. Butterfly — Design a butterfly with moving wings 2. Flower — Create a flower that can "bloom" (open and close) 3. Bird Nest — Build a nest that can hold eggs 4. Anything else that shows new life in spring!

Design criteria:

  • Shows the idea of "new life"

  • Has at least one moving or interactive part

  • Uses available materials creatively

Design & Build (16 min)

Quick plan (3 min):

  • Choose your project

  • Sketch your idea

  • List materials

Building time (13 min): Students create their new life projects.

Teacher prompts:

  • "How does this show new life?"

  • "What's your moving part?"

  • "What would make it better?"

Encourage creativity:

  • There's no one right way!

  • Try different approaches

  • It's okay if it's not perfect

Sharing & Closing (5 min)

Quick share: Students show creations and explain:

  • "This shows new life because..."

  • "It moves like this..."

Faith Connection: "Your creations show new life! Every butterfly, flower, and baby bird reminds us that God brings new life from what seemed dead. Jesus's Resurrection is the greatest new life of all!"

Closing Prayer: "Risen Jesus, thank You for the gift of new life! Thank You for spring, for Easter, and for the promise that we will live forever with You. Help us share the joy of Your Resurrection with everyone we meet. Alleluia! Amen."

✅ Assessment

  • Created a project representing new life

  • Included an interactive or moving element

  • Explained how project connects to new life theme

  • Connected spring/new life to Resurrection

📎 Home Connection

"We celebrated new life today! Your child made a project showing spring and new life. Ask them: 'How does your project show new life?' 'How is Easter like spring?' Look for signs of new life together in your neighborhood. Talk about how Jesus's Resurrection is the ultimate new life!"

Lesson Version: 1.0 | **