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🔬 Week 1: Welcome Back Scientists

Lesson Overview
Grade Level Grades 3-4
Duration 40 minutes
Curriculum Year B
STREAM Focus All Areas (Introduction)

Week 1: Welcome Back Scientists

🎯 Learning Objectives

STEM Objectives

Students will be able to: 1. Review the scientific method 2. Explore Year B curriculum themes 3. Establish lab expectations and procedures 4. Practice observation and questioning

Faith Integration Objectives

Students will be able to: 1. Understand faith and science as complementary 2. Appreciate God's gift of curiosity 3. Commit to learning with integrity

Week 1: Welcome Back Scientists

🙏 Faith-Reason Integration

Catholic Teaching Connection

Faith and Reason — As Catholics, we believe faith and science work together. Science helps us understand HOW God's creation works, while faith helps us understand WHY God created it. Great Catholic scientists throughout history have made incredible discoveries!

Scripture Connection

"Great are the works of the LORD, studied by all who delight in them." — Psalm 111:2

Saint Connection

St. Albert the Great — Teacher of St. Thomas Aquinas, Albert was a scientist who studied nature, chemistry, biology, and geography. He believed studying creation brought us closer to the Creator. He's the patron saint of scientists!

📚 Materials Needed

  • Science journals/notebooks

  • Year B curriculum preview images

  • Mystery objects for observation

  • Lab safety posters

  • Exit ticket templates

📝 Lesson Procedure (40 minutes)

Opening Prayer (2 min)

"St. Albert the Great, patron of scientists, pray for us! Lord, give us curious minds that seek to understand Your creation. Help us learn with honesty and wonder. Bless our Year B STREAM adventures! Amen."

Year B Preview (8 min)

What's coming this year:

Show preview images for each unit:

  • ✈️ Flight & Aviation — "We'll learn how planes fly!"

  • 🏛️ Architecture — "We'll design buildings like cathedral architects!"

  • 🌊 Marine Science — "We'll explore ocean ecosystems!"

  • 🎮 Game Design — "We'll create our own games in Scratch!"

  • 🌆 Sustainable Cities — "We'll design cities that care for creation!"

  • 🌤️ Weather Science — "We'll become meteorologists!"

Discussion:

  • What are you most excited about?

  • What questions do you already have?

  • What do you wonder about these topics?

Scientific Method Review (10 min)

The process scientists use:

  1. Observe — Use your senses carefully
  2. Question — Ask "Why?" and "How?"
  3. Hypothesize — Make an educated guess
  4. Experiment — Test your hypothesis
  5. Analyze — Look at your results
  6. Conclude — What did you learn?
  7. Share — Tell others!

Quick practice:

  • Present mystery object

  • Students observe silently (1 min)

  • Share observations (descriptive, not guesses!)

  • Form questions

  • "How is observation different from guessing?"

St. Albert connection:

  • "St. Albert carefully observed nature"

  • "He wrote detailed notes about plants, animals, minerals"

  • "He asked questions and tested ideas"

  • "His faith inspired his curiosity!"

Lab Expectations (8 min)

Year B Lab Norms:

Safety:

  • Follow all instructions carefully

  • Never taste materials unless told

  • Report accidents immediately

  • Treat materials with respect

Collaboration:

  • Listen to all ideas

  • Share materials fairly

  • Help teammates succeed

  • Disagree respectfully

Integrity:

  • Record honest data

  • Accept unexpected results

  • Learn from failures

  • Give credit to others

Faith:

  • See God in all discoveries

  • Thank God for curious minds

  • Use science to serve others

  • Respect all of creation

Create class agreement:

  • Students suggest key rules

  • Record on poster

  • Everyone signs commitment

Science Journal Setup (10 min)

Create Year B journal:

Page 1: Title Page

  • Name

  • Grade

  • "Year B Science Journal"

  • Decorate with STREAM themes

Page 2: Table of Contents

  • Leave blank, fill in as year progresses

Page 3: My Scientific Self

  • What am I curious about?

  • What's my favorite science topic?

  • One science goal for Year B

  • Draw yourself as a scientist

Page 4: Faith & Science

  • "I believe faith and science..."

  • Draw or write what that means

Closing (2 min)

Preview: "Next week we begin our first unit: FLIGHT! We'll learn how things fly through the air!"

Exit ticket:

  • One thing I'm excited about

  • One question I have about Year B

Closing Prayer: "Thank You, God, for this new year of learning! Thank You for the gift of curiosity. Help us be like St. Albert — careful observers who see Your hand in all creation. Bless our Year B journey! Amen."

📎 Home Connection

"We started Year B today! Ask your child about: 'What units are you excited about?' 'What is the scientific method?' 'Who is St. Albert the Great?' Review their science journal and talk about how faith and science work together."

✅ Assessment

  • Participated in curriculum preview discussion

  • Demonstrated understanding of scientific method

  • Set up science journal correctly

  • Made faith-science connection

Lesson Version: 1.0 — Year B | **