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🔧 Weeks 19-22: Invention Labs

Unit Overview
Grade Level Grades 1-2
Duration 4 sessions (30 min each)
Curriculum Year B
STREAM Focus Student-Directed (All Areas)

Weeks 19-22: Invention Labs

🎯 Learning Objectives

STEM Objectives

Students will be able to: 1. Identify problems and brainstorm solutions 2. Design and build original creations 3. Test ideas and iterate 4. Present inventions and explain thinking

Faith Integration Objectives

Students will be able to: 1. See themselves as creative like God 2. Design inventions that help others 3. Practice perseverance when things don't work

Weeks 19-22: Invention Labs

🙏 Faith-Reason Integration

Catholic Teaching Connection

Human Creativity — Made in God's image, we share in His creativity. Inventors use their God-given imagination to solve problems and help others. When we create, we reflect our Creator!

Scripture Connection

"See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?" — Isaiah 43:19

Saint Connection

Servant of God Thomas Dooley — A doctor who invented creative medical solutions to help people in need in Laos. He used creativity and faith together to serve.

📚 Materials Needed

  • Recycled materials collection

  • Cardboard, tape, glue

  • Craft supplies

  • Simple tools (kid-safe scissors)

  • Invention planning sheets

  • Testing space

Session 1: Inventor Thinking

📝 Lesson Procedure (30 minutes)

Opening Prayer (2 min)

"Dear God, You are the great Creator. You made us creative too! Help us think like inventors today — seeing problems and imagining solutions. May our ideas help others. Amen."

What is an Inventor? (8 min)

Discussion:

  • "What is an inventor?"

  • "What inventions do you use every day?"

  • Pencils, zippers, velcro, books...everything was invented!

Inventor mindset:

  • "I see a problem"

  • "I wonder how to fix it"

  • "I try something"

  • "If it doesn't work, I try again!"

Dr. Tom Dooley:

  • "He was a doctor who helped sick people in Asia"

  • "He invented new ways to bring medicine to villages"

  • "He used his creativity to help others"

  • "That's what inventors can do!"

Finding Problems to Solve (10 min)

Brainstorm problems:

  • "What's hard to do?"

  • "What could be better?"

  • "What does someone need?"

Categories:

  • School problems (carrying things, organizing)

  • Home problems (reaching, cleaning)

  • Play problems (storing toys, playing games)

  • Helping problems (pets, siblings, parents)

Choose YOUR invention focus:

  • Pick ONE problem you want to solve

  • Draw the problem

  • Think: Who would this help?

Initial Sketches (8 min)

Draw your invention idea:

  • What will it look like?

  • What will it do?

  • What materials might you need?

Not perfect — just IDEAS!

Share with partner:

  • Explain your problem

  • Explain your invention idea

  • Get feedback

Closing (2 min)

Preview: "Next time: Start building!"

Closing Prayer: "Thank You, God, for creative minds. Help us think of ways to help others. Bless our invention ideas! Amen."

Session 2: Design & Build

📝 Lesson Procedure (30 minutes)

Opening Prayer (2 min)

"Creative God, guide our hands today as we build. When things don't work, help us keep trying. Amen."

Planning Review (5 min)

Review your invention plan:

  • What problem are you solving?

  • What will you build?

  • What materials do you need?

Get materials:

  • Choose from available supplies

  • Think creatively — what could work?

Building Time! (20 min)

Create your invention!

Inventor rules:

  • It doesn't have to be perfect

  • It's okay if it doesn't work the first time

  • Ask for help when stuck

  • Be safe with materials

Teacher circulates:

  • "Tell me about your invention"

  • "What problem does it solve?"

  • "What's working? What's tricky?"

When stuck:

  • Try a different material

  • Try a different shape

  • Ask a friend for ideas

  • Look at other inventions for inspiration

Progress Check (3 min)

Quick share:

  • Show your progress

  • What's working?

  • What do you still need to figure out?

Closing Prayer: "Thank You for time to build today. Help us keep working on our inventions. Amen."

Session 3: Test & Improve

📝 Lesson Procedure (30 minutes)

Opening Prayer (2 min)

"Dear God, help us test our inventions and make them better. When things don't work, give us perseverance to try again. Amen."

Testing Phase (12 min)

Test your invention:

  • Does it work?

  • Does it solve the problem?

  • What happens when you use it?

Inventor observation:

  • What works well?

  • What doesn't work?

  • What could be better?

Record results:

  • Draw what happened

  • Note what to change

Improvement Phase (13 min)

Make it better!

Iteration — the inventor's secret:

  • "Real inventors never get it right the first time"

  • "They try, learn, and improve"

  • "That's called ITERATION"

Make changes:

  • Fix what didn't work

  • Add features

  • Strengthen weak parts

  • Make it look better

Test again:

  • Does the improvement help?

  • Keep adjusting!

Closing (3 min)

Perseverance reflection:

  • "Was it hard when things didn't work?"

  • "What helped you keep trying?"

  • "Inventors never give up!"

Preview: "Next time: Share your inventions!"

Closing Prayer: "Thank You, God, for perseverance. Help us keep trying even when it's hard. Amen."

Session 4: Invention Fair

📝 Lesson Procedure (30 minutes)

Opening Prayer (2 min)

"Thank You, God, for these weeks of inventing. Help us share our creations with joy. May our inventions inspire others! Amen."

Final Preparations (5 min)

Get ready to share:

  • Final touches on invention

  • Practice your explanation

  • Set up display

Invention Fair (18 min)

Each inventor presents: 1. "The problem I wanted to solve was..." 2. "My invention is called..." 3. "Here's how it works..." 4. "I want it to help..."

Demonstration:

  • Show the invention

  • Show how it works

  • Let others try it (if appropriate)

Audience response:

  • "I like how you..."

  • "I wonder if..."

Celebration (5 min)

Inventor celebration:

  • Everyone clap for everyone!

  • "You are ALL inventors!"

  • "You used your God-given creativity"

Inventor certificates or stickers.

Faith connection:

  • "God is the ultimate Creator"

  • "You are made in His image"

  • "When you create, you're like God!"

  • "Keep inventing ways to help others!"

Closing Prayer: "Thank You, God, for making us creative. Thank You for the problems that make us think and the inventions that help people. Help us keep seeing problems as opportunities to create solutions. Bless these young inventors! Amen."

📎 Home Connection

"We had an Invention Lab! Your child designed and built an original invention to solve a problem. Ask them: 'What problem did you solve?' 'How does your invention work?' 'What was hard?' 'What did you learn?' Encourage inventing at home — cardboard boxes are great invention materials!"

✅ Assessment

  • Identified problem to solve

  • Designed and built invention

  • Tested and improved design

  • Presented invention and explained thinking

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