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🌆 Weeks 24-27: Sustainable City

Unit Overview
Grade Level Grades 3-4
Duration 4 sessions (40 min each)
Curriculum Year B
STREAM Focus E (Engineering), S (Science), R (Religion), A (Arts)

Weeks 24-27: Sustainable City

🎯 Learning Objectives

STEM Objectives

Students will be able to: 1. Understand sustainability principles 2. Design eco-friendly city features 3. Calculate energy and resource usage 4. Build model sustainable city

Faith Integration Objectives

Students will be able to: 1. Connect creation care to Catholic teaching 2. Apply Laudato Si' principles 3. See stewardship as faith response

Weeks 24-27: Sustainable City

🙏 Faith-Reason Integration

Catholic Teaching Connection

Laudato Si' — Pope Francis calls us to care for our "common home." Sustainable cities represent our response to this call — designing human communities that live in harmony with God's creation.

Scripture Connection

"The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it." — Genesis 2:15

Saint Connection

St. Kateri Tekakwitha — "Lily of the Mohawks," first Native American saint. She lived in harmony with nature and saw God in all creation. She reminds us of the sacred relationship between humans and Earth.

📚 Materials Needed

Week 24

  • Sustainability concept images

  • City planning maps

  • Problem scenario cards

  • Planning worksheets

Weeks 25-27

  • Building materials (cardboard, boxes, recycled items)

  • Craft supplies

  • Solar panels (toy/model)

  • Green roof materials (moss, plants)

  • Labels and signs

  • Assessment rubrics

📝 Week 24 Procedure: Sustainability Basics (40 minutes)

Opening Prayer (2 min)

"Creator God, You made the Earth and called it GOOD! Help us learn to care for Your creation. St. Kateri, teach us to see God in nature. Amen."

What is Sustainability? (10 min)

Definition: "Meeting our needs TODAY without hurting the ability of FUTURE generations to meet their needs."

Key questions:

  • If we use all the water now, what about our grandchildren?

  • If we pollute the air, who breathes it later?

  • If we destroy forests, what's left for the future?

Three pillars:

  • 🌍 Environmental — Care for nature

  • 👥 Social — Care for people

  • 💰 Economic — Can we afford it long-term?

St. Kateri connection:

  • Lived simply in harmony with nature

  • Saw God's presence in creation

  • Her people cared for the land

  • "We don't inherit the Earth — we borrow it"

Laudato Si' Introduction (8 min)

Pope Francis' message:

Key points:

  • "The Earth is our common home"

  • "Everything is connected"

  • "We are called to care for creation"

  • "The poor suffer most from environmental damage"

Read excerpt:

"Each creature reflects something of God and has a message to convey to us." (LS 239)

Discussion:

  • Why does the Pope write about environment?

  • How is caring for Earth a faith issue?

  • What can WE do?

City Problems to Solve (12 min)

Current city challenges:

Problem cards activity:

  • Energy waste

  • Water pollution

  • Air pollution

  • Too much trash

  • Not enough green space

  • Traffic congestion

  • Flooding

For each problem:

  • What causes it?

  • Who is affected?

  • What solutions exist?

Sustainable city features:

  • Renewable energy (solar, wind)

  • Public transportation

  • Green spaces (parks, trees)

  • Water recycling

  • Waste reduction

  • Walkable neighborhoods

City Planning Introduction (6 min)

Your sustainable city:

Teams assigned (groups of 3-4)

City features to include:

  • Energy system

  • Transportation

  • Water management

  • Waste management

  • Green spaces

  • Housing

  • Community spaces

Design document:

  • City name

  • Key sustainability features

  • Map sketch

  • Roles for team members

Closing (2 min)

Homework:

  • Research one sustainable city feature

  • Bring one recyclable building material

Closing Prayer: "Thank You, God, for calling us to care for Your creation. Help us design cities that honor You and protect the Earth. St. Kateri, pray for us! Amen."

📝 Week 25 Procedure: Detailed Planning (40 minutes)

Opening Prayer (2 min)

"Lord, bless our planning today! Help us think carefully about how to care for creation. Amen."

Share Research (5 min)

Quick shares:

  • What sustainable feature did you research?

  • How does it help the environment?

  • Can we include it in our city?

Detailed City Planning (25 min)

Design each system:

Team planning worksheet:

1. Energy System (5 min)

  • Power source (solar, wind, etc.)

  • How much energy needed?

  • Where will panels/turbines go?

  • Backup system?

2. Transportation (5 min)

  • How do people get around?

  • Public transit options

  • Bike lanes, walking paths

  • Reduced car use?

3. Water System (5 min)

  • Where does water come from?

  • How is it cleaned?

  • How do you reduce waste?

  • Rain collection?

4. Waste Management (5 min)

  • Recycling system

  • Composting

  • Reducing trash

  • No landfill goal?

5. Green Spaces (5 min)

  • Parks and gardens

  • Trees and plants

  • Wildlife habitats

  • Community gardens

Teacher guidance:

  • Help with realistic planning

  • Connect to real examples

  • Ensure faith integration

Materials Planning (6 min)

What do you need to build?

Materials list:

  • Check what's available

  • Plan recyclable materials to bring

  • Assign who brings what

Building schedule:

  • Week 26: Build main structures

  • Week 27: Add details, present

Closing (2 min)

Checklist:

  • All systems planned

  • Materials identified

  • Roles assigned

  • Ready to build!

Closing Prayer: "Thank You for time to plan, Lord! Help us be good stewards as we build. Amen."

📝 Week 26 Procedure: Construction (40 minutes)

Opening Prayer (2 min)

"Creator God, guide our hands as we build! Help us work together in peace. Amen."

Build Time (35 min)

Construct your sustainable city:

Building phases:

Phase 1: Base and Layout (10 min)

  • Set up base (cardboard, board)

  • Mark areas for different features

  • Begin major structures

Phase 2: Main Features (15 min)

  • Energy systems (solar panels, wind turbines)

  • Buildings (homes, schools, stores)

  • Transportation (roads, bus stops, bike lanes)

  • Water features (treatment, rain gardens)

Phase 3: Green Spaces (10 min)

  • Parks and gardens

  • Trees and plants

  • Wildlife areas

  • Community spaces

Building tips:

  • Use recycled materials

  • Make features identifiable

  • Include labels

  • Think about scale

  • Work as team

Teacher circulation:

  • Check on progress

  • Ensure all systems included

  • Ask about design choices

  • Support collaboration

Progress Check (3 min)

Assessment:

  • What's done?

  • What needs finishing?

  • What help is needed?

Photo documentation

Closing Prayer: "Thank You for progress, Lord! Bless our continued work. Amen."

📝 Week 27 Procedure: Completion & Presentation (40 minutes)

Opening Prayer (2 min)

"Lord, help us finish well and share our learning with others! Amen."

Final Construction (10 min)

Complete your city:

  • Finish any structures

  • Add labels and signs

  • Clean up presentation

  • Prepare for sharing

Presentation Preparation (5 min)

Team presentation plan:

  • Who introduces the city?

  • Who explains energy?

  • Who explains transportation?

  • Who explains water/waste?

  • Who explains green spaces?

  • Who explains faith connection?

Key points to cover:

  • City name and vision

  • How each system is sustainable

  • How it reflects Laudato Si'

  • What you're proudest of

City Presentations (18 min)

Each team presents (4-5 min):

  • Show city model

  • Explain sustainable features

  • Answer questions

  • Receive feedback

Audience task:

  • Listen respectfully

  • Notice sustainability features

  • Prepare one compliment

  • Prepare one question

View all cities:

  • Walk around quietly

  • Appreciate details

  • Silent reflection

Recognition categories:

  • Most Sustainable

  • Most Creative Design

  • Best Use of Recycled Materials

  • Most Beautiful Green Space

  • Best Faith Integration

Closing Reflection (2 min)

Discussion:

  • "What did you learn about sustainability?"

  • "How can we apply this to real life?"

  • "How is caring for creation a faith response?"

Action commitment: Each student: "I will help the Earth by..."

Closing Prayer: "Thank You, God, for teaching us to care for Your creation! Thank You for teammates and creativity. Help us take what we learned and live it every day. May we be good stewards of our common home. St. Kateri, pray for us and for our Earth! Amen."

📎 Home Connection

"We completed Sustainable City projects! Ask your child: 'What is your city called?' 'What makes it sustainable?' 'What did you learn about Laudato Si'?' 'What will you do to help the Earth?' Consider family eco-practices: recycling, reducing energy, planting trees!"

✅ Assessment

  • Demonstrated understanding of sustainability

  • Included all required city systems

  • Applied Laudato Si' principles

  • Collaborated effectively

  • Presented clearly

Lesson Version: 1.0 — Year B | **