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🎃 Week 10: Fall Festival Engineering

Lesson Overview
Grade Level Grades 3-4
Duration 40 minutes
Curriculum Year B
STREAM Focus E (Engineering), S (Science), R (Religion)

Week 10: Fall Festival Engineering

🎯 Learning Objectives

STEM Objectives

Students will be able to: 1. Apply engineering skills to festival challenges 2. Design solutions with constraints 3. Work collaboratively under time pressure 4. Connect harvest to agricultural science

Faith Integration Objectives

Students will be able to: 1. Give thanks for God's provision 2. Understand harvest as blessing 3. Connect stewardship to creation care

Week 10: Fall Festival Engineering

🙏 Faith-Reason Integration

Catholic Teaching Connection

Harvest Thanksgiving — Throughout history, people have celebrated harvest as a time to thank God for His provision. The Church's blessing of crops and harvest festivals remind us that all good things come from God.

Scripture Connection

"You crown the year with your bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance." — Psalm 65:11

Saint Connection

St. Isidore the Farmer — Patron saint of farmers and agriculture. He showed that humble work on the land is holy work. While he plowed, angels reportedly helped him, showing God's blessing on faithful labor.

📚 Materials Needed

  • Pumpkins (mini or small)

  • Fall items (leaves, acorns, corn)

  • Building materials (cardboard, tape, straws)

  • Challenge stations supplies

  • Timers

  • Award certificates

📝 Lesson Procedure (40 minutes)

Opening Prayer (2 min)

"St. Isidore, patron of farmers, pray for us! Thank You, God, for the harvest that feeds us. Thank You for farmers who work the land. Help us be grateful for Your bounty! Amen."

Harvest & Gratitude (5 min)

Fall blessings:

Discussion:

  • What are you grateful for this fall?

  • Where does our food come from?

  • How is farming both science AND faith?

St. Isidore's story:

  • Poor farmer in Spain

  • Prayed while he worked

  • Fed the hungry from his own food

  • Showed that work is worship

Agricultural science:

  • Seeds → Plants → Harvest

  • Requires: soil, water, sun, care

  • God's design in nature!

Engineering Challenges (30 min)

Fall Festival Engineering Stations:

Divide class into groups, rotate through stations (8-10 min each):

Station 1: Pumpkin Protector Challenge: Design packaging to protect a mini pumpkin from a 3-foot drop.

Materials: Cardboard, paper, tape, cotton balls, straws

Rules:

  • Pumpkin must be retrievable

  • Package must fit in a shoebox-sized space

  • 8 minutes to design and build

Test: Drop and check for damage

Engineering principles: Cushioning, shock absorption, protection

Station 2: Leaf Glider Challenge: Create a glider that carries a leaf the farthest distance.

Materials: Paper, straws, tape, actual leaves

Rules:

  • Leaf must stay attached

  • Must launch from standing position

  • 3 flight attempts

Test: Measure distance traveled

Engineering principles: Lift, drag, balance (connects to earlier flight unit!)

Station 3: Harvest Hauler Challenge: Build a device to transport "crops" (small items) across a distance.

Materials: Cardboard, straws, tape, string, wheels (optional)

Rules:

  • Must move at least 3 items

  • Must travel at least 2 feet

  • Human power only (pushing, pulling, rolling)

Test: Successfully transport harvest

Engineering principles: Wheels, friction, load distribution

Station 4: Corn Maze Mapper Challenge: Create a simple maze and program a partner to navigate it.

Materials: Paper for maze design, obstacle items

Rules:

  • Draw a maze on paper

  • Write "code" (directions) to navigate

  • Partner follows code exactly

Test: Does the code work?

Engineering principles: Algorithms, precise instructions, debugging

Celebration & Awards (3 min)

Recognize achievements:

  • Best Pumpkin Protector

  • Farthest Leaf Glider

  • Most Efficient Hauler

  • Best Maze Code

  • Best Team Collaboration

Share gratitude:

  • One thing thankful for from today

  • One thing learned

Closing Prayer: "Thank You, God, for fall harvest and fun challenges! Thank You for the engineers and farmers who help feed the world. Help us be grateful stewards of all You provide. St. Isidore, pray for us! Amen."

📎 Home Connection

"We celebrated fall with engineering challenges! Ask your child about the challenges they completed and what they learned. Discuss: 'How do farmers use science?' 'What are you thankful for this harvest season?' 'Who was St. Isidore?' Consider visiting a farm or pumpkin patch together!"

✅ Assessment

  • Participated actively in challenges

  • Applied engineering problem-solving

  • Demonstrated teamwork

  • Expressed harvest gratitude

Lesson Version: 1.0 — Year B | **