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🎁 Week 12: Gifts for Others

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

Week 12: Gifts for Others

🎯 Learning Objectives

STEM Objectives

Students will be able to: 1. Design solutions to help others 2. Apply engineering design for service 3. Create functional, thoughtful gifts 4. Consider user needs in design

Faith Integration Objectives

Students will be able to: 1. Connect gift-giving to Christ's gift of Himself 2. Practice service-oriented thinking 3. Experience joy in giving

Week 12: Gifts for Others

🙏 Faith-Reason Integration

Catholic Teaching Connection

The Gift of Self — Jesus gave us the ultimate gift — Himself! When we create gifts for others, we share our time, talent, and love. The best gifts come from the heart and serve others' needs.

Scripture Connection

"Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace." — 1 Peter 4:10

Saint Connection

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton — First American-born saint! She founded schools and served the poor. She used her gifts of teaching and organizing to help thousands. She showed that our talents are meant to be shared.

📚 Materials Needed

  • Cardboard, paper, fabric scraps

  • Scissors, glue, tape

  • Markers, crayons

  • Gift recipients information (see prep)

  • Design worksheets

  • Packaging materials

📝 Pre-Lesson Preparation

Identify gift recipients:

  • Nursing home residents

  • Younger students

  • Hospital patients

  • Family members

  • Community helpers (firefighters, etc.)

Gather needs information:

  • What would help them?

  • What might brighten their day?

  • Any specific requests or restrictions?

📝 Lesson Procedure (40 minutes)

Opening Prayer (2 min)

"Jesus, You gave us the greatest gift of all — Yourself! Help us give from our hearts today. St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, pray that we use our talents to serve others. Amen."

The Gift of Service (5 min)

Why give gifts?

Discussion:

  • What makes a gift meaningful?

  • Is it the cost or the thought?

  • How do you feel when you make something for someone?

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton's story:

  • Wealthy woman who lost everything

  • Used her talents to teach and serve

  • Founded first Catholic schools in America

  • "The best gift is giving of ourselves"

Our challenge: "Today we design and create gifts that SERVE others — gifts that meet a real need or bring real joy."

Design for Service (10 min)

User-Centered Design:

Step 1: Know your recipient

  • Who will receive this?

  • What do they need?

  • What would bring them joy?

  • What limitations should we consider?

Example recipients and needs: | Recipient | Possible Need | Gift Idea | |-----------|--------------|-----------| | Nursing home resident | Companionship | Card with photos, bookmarks | | Kindergartener | Learning tools | Counting games, puzzles | | Hospital patient | Comfort | Decorated pillowcase, cards | | Firefighter | Appreciation | Thank you collection, snacks |

Step 2: Design worksheet

  • Who is this for?

  • What is their need?

  • My gift idea:

  • How will this help them?

  • Materials needed:

  • Sketch of design:

Teacher approval before building

Gift Creation (18 min)

Build your service gift:

Project ideas:

For elderly/lonely:

  • Photo cards with drawings

  • Bookmarks with encouraging messages

  • Activity books (word searches, coloring)

For younger children:

  • Educational games

  • Counting manipulatives

  • Story cards

For patients:

  • Encouragement cards

  • Decorated bags

  • Comfort items

For community helpers:

  • Thank you cards/posters

  • Appreciation certificates

  • Decorated containers for supplies

Building guidelines:

  • Quality matters — make it with care

  • Include personal touch

  • Think about the user

  • Add encouraging message

Teacher circulation:

  • "How does this meet their need?"

  • "What makes this special?"

  • "How is this gift 'giving yourself'?"

Sharing & Blessing (5 min)

Share creations:

  • Brief show-and-tell

  • Explain who it's for and why

Prepare for delivery:

  • Package gifts carefully

  • Add gift tags

  • Write recipient's name

Blessing of gifts: "Lord, bless these gifts made with love. May they bring joy to those who receive them. Help the recipients know they are loved by You and by us. Amen."

Closing Prayer: "Thank You, Jesus, for teaching us to give. Thank You, St. Elizabeth, for showing us that our talents are meant to serve. Help us always look for ways to use our gifts to help others. May our hands be Your hands, bringing Your love to the world. Amen."

📝 Post-Lesson

Delivery options:

  • Class trip to deliver

  • Mail gifts

  • Send with parent volunteers

  • School-wide collection

Follow-up:

  • Share any thank-you responses received

  • Reflect on the experience of giving

📎 Home Connection

"We designed and created gifts to serve others today! Ask your child: 'Who is your gift for?' 'What need does it meet?' 'How did it feel to make something for someone else?' Consider a family service project during Advent — perhaps making care packages together."

✅ Assessment

  • Identified user needs in design

  • Created thoughtful, quality gift

  • Demonstrated understanding of service

  • Participated in blessing and sharing

Lesson Version: 1.0 — Year B | **