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🌷 Week 33: Easter Engineering

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

Week 33: Easter Engineering

🎯 Learning Objectives

STEM Objectives

Students will be able to: 1. Apply engineering to Easter-themed challenges 2. Explore spring science concepts 3. Design with celebration in mind 4. Connect new life in nature to engineering

Faith Integration Objectives

Students will be able to: 1. Celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus 2. Connect spring new life to Easter hope 3. Express faith through creation

Week 33: Easter Engineering

🙏 Faith-Reason Integration

Catholic Teaching Connection

The Resurrection — Easter is the most important celebration of the Christian year! Jesus rose from the dead, conquering death and bringing us hope of eternal life. All of nature echoes this theme in spring.

Scripture Connection

"I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die." — John 11:25

Saint Connection

Mary Magdalene — First witness to the Resurrection! She went to the tomb expecting death and found LIFE. She was the first to announce "He is risen!" — the greatest news ever.

📚 Materials Needed

  • Engineering challenge materials (varies by challenge)

  • Spring nature items

  • Art supplies

  • Egg-related materials

  • Building supplies

  • Celebration items

📝 Lesson Procedure (40 minutes)

Opening Prayer (2 min)

"Risen Lord Jesus, You conquered death and brought us life! Fill us with Easter joy today. Help us see new life everywhere. Mary Magdalene, help us share the Good News! Alleluia! Amen."

Easter & New Life (8 min)

The greatest event:

What happened:

  • Jesus died on Good Friday

  • He was buried in a tomb

  • On the third day — Easter Sunday — He ROSE!

  • Death could not hold Him!

Mary Magdalene's story:

  • She went to the tomb while it was still dark

  • Found the stone rolled away

  • Thought someone took Jesus' body

  • Jesus appeared to her — ALIVE!

  • "Go tell the others!"

New life everywhere:

  • Spring bursting forth

  • Flowers blooming from dead-looking bulbs

  • Trees leafing from bare branches

  • Baby animals being born

  • "All of nature proclaims resurrection!"

Discussion:

  • "How is spring like Easter?"

  • "Where do you see new life?"

  • "How does Easter give us hope?"

Easter Engineering Challenges (27 min)

Choose or rotate through challenges:

Challenge 1: Egg Drop Protection (10 min) Design a container that protects an egg from a fall.

Materials: Cardboard, cotton, tape, straws, fabric scraps

Constraints:

  • Must fit in a paper bag

  • No larger than 6 inches in any dimension

  • Egg must be retrievable

Connection: "The tomb couldn't contain Jesus! But our container protects new life."

Test: Drop from increasing heights.

Challenge 2: Resurrection Garden (10 min) Build a model Easter garden scene.

Materials: Clay, small stones, sticks, moss, small plants

Elements to include:

  • Empty tomb (cave with rolled stone)

  • Garden setting

  • Cross on hill (optional)

  • Path to tomb

Connection: "Create the scene Mary Magdalene saw that first Easter morning!"

Challenge 3: Spring Launcher (10 min) Build a device that launches a pompom "chick" into a nest.

Materials: Popsicle sticks, rubber bands, spoon, tape, cup "nest"

Design:

  • Create catapult or launcher

  • Target: nest 3 feet away

  • Points for accuracy

Connection: "New life springs forth! Baby birds launch into the world!"

Challenge 4: Butterfly Life Cycle Model (10 min) Create a 3D model showing metamorphosis stages.

Materials: Clay, paper, pipe cleaners, small containers

Stages to show: 1. Egg 2. Caterpillar 3. Chrysalis 4. Butterfly

Connection: "The caterpillar 'dies' and becomes something COMPLETELY NEW — like resurrection!"

Quick showcase:

  • Show what you built

  • Explain the Easter connection

  • Celebrate creativity!

Closing Prayer: "Alleluia! Christ is risen! Thank You, Lord, for the hope of Easter. Thank You for new life in spring and new life in You. Help us be like Mary Magdalene — running to share the Good News with everyone. May our projects remind us that NOTHING is impossible with God — not even rising from the dead! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! Amen."

📎 Home Connection

"We celebrated Easter with engineering today! Ask your child about their Easter project and its faith connection. Discuss: 'What is the Resurrection?' 'How is spring like Easter?' 'Who was Mary Magdalene?' Take a family spring walk to look for signs of new life. HE IS RISEN!"

✅ Assessment

  • Completed engineering challenge

  • Connected project to Easter themes

  • Demonstrated understanding of Resurrection

  • Expressed joy in creation

Lesson Version: 1.0 — Year B | **