Skip to content

🚀 Weeks 19-22: Passion Project Labs

Unit Overview
Grade Level Grades 5-6
Duration 4 sessions (45 min each)
STREAM Focus Student-directed

Weeks 19-22: Passion Project Labs

🎯 Learning Objectives

STEM Objectives

Students will be able to: 1. Design and manage an independent project 2. Conduct research and apply findings 3. Create meaningful output (product, program, presentation) 4. Present and defend their work

Faith Integration Objectives

Students will be able to: 1. Connect personal interests to serving others 2. Identify faith connections within their topic 3. Practice stewardship of God-given talents and interests

Weeks 19-22: Passion Project Labs

🙏 Faith-Reason Integration

Catholic Teaching Connection

Stewardship of Talents — God gives each person unique gifts, interests, and abilities. We're called to develop these fully and use them for good. Passion projects allow students to pursue God-given interests deeply.

Scripture Connection

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters." — Colossians 3:23

Saint Connection

Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati — Young man who pursued his passions (mountain climbing, engineering studies) while serving the poor and living his faith joyfully. He showed that pursuing interests and serving God go together.

📚 Materials Needed

  • Project proposal templates

  • Research resources

  • Building/making materials (varied based on projects)

  • Computers for research and creation

  • Presentation materials

Session 1: Proposal Development

📝 Lesson Procedure (45 minutes)

Opening Prayer & Introduction (5 min)

Prayer: "Lord, You have given each of us unique interests and gifts. Help us discover what YOU want us to explore. Guide our choices and bless our learning. Amen."

Passion project introduction:

  • "For the next four weeks, YOU choose what to learn"

  • "Deep dive into something that fascinates you"

  • "Must include STREAM elements"

  • "Must connect to faith"

  • "Must produce something shareable"

Project Categories & Examples (10 min)

Categories:

Engineering/Building:

  • Design and build a robot

  • Create a kinetic sculpture

  • Engineer a solution to a problem

Programming/Technology:

  • Code a game or app

  • Build an interactive website

  • Create animations or digital art

Science Research:

  • Investigate a scientific question

  • Conduct experiments

  • Research and present findings

Making/Art:

  • Design and fabricate an invention

  • Create artistic work with technical elements

  • Build musical instruments

Service Design:

  • Design something that helps others

  • Create resources for a cause

  • Build accessibility tools

Faith connection requirement:

  • How does your topic connect to faith?

  • Historical Catholic connection?

  • Service/ethical dimension?

  • Theological reflection?

Proposal Development (25 min)

Proposal requirements:

1. Project Description (What?)

  • What will you create or investigate?

  • Why does this interest you?

  • What will your final product be?

2. STREAM Connection (How?)

  • Which STREAM areas does this involve?

  • What skills will you develop?

  • What will you learn?

3. Faith Connection (Why does it matter?)

  • How does this connect to Catholic faith?

  • How might this serve others?

  • What values does this project express?

4. Plan & Timeline

  • Week 2 goal:

  • Week 3 goal:

  • Week 4 goal (presentation):

5. Resources Needed

  • Materials needed

  • Help needed

  • Research sources

Teacher conferences during work time:

  • Review proposals

  • Provide guidance

  • Approve projects

Closing (5 min)

Proposal share:

  • Brief share of project ideas

  • Generate excitement

  • Identify potential collaborators

Homework: Finalize proposal, gather initial resources.

Session 2: Research & Development

📝 Lesson Procedure (45 minutes)

Opening Prayer & Status Check (5 min)

Prayer: "Lord, bless our work today. Help us focus, persevere, and create something meaningful. Amen."

Quick status:

  • Where are you in your plan?

  • What do you need today?

  • Any obstacles?

Research Phase (15 min)

Quality research:

  • Multiple sources

  • Credible sources (how to evaluate)

  • Take organized notes

  • Record citations

Teacher available for:

  • Research guidance

  • Source evaluation

  • Direction when stuck

Development/Creation Phase (20 min)

Active work time:

  • Building

  • Programming

  • Creating

  • Experimenting

Teacher circulates:

  • Check progress

  • Troubleshoot

  • Encourage

  • Document work

Progress Documentation (5 min)

Update project log:

  • What did you accomplish today?

  • What challenges did you face?

  • What's your plan for next session?

Session 3: Creation & Refinement

📝 Lesson Procedure (45 minutes)

Opening Prayer & Status (3 min)

Prayer: "Lord, help us refine our work today. Give us attention to detail and commitment to excellence. Amen."

Extended Work Time (35 min)

Focused creation time:

  • Continue building/creating

  • Refine and improve

  • Test and iterate

  • Prepare presentation elements

Mid-session check (brief):

  • How are you progressing?

  • What will you present?

  • What help do you need?

Presentation Preparation (7 min)

Presentation requirements:

  • 4-5 minutes presentation

  • Show your work/product

  • Explain your process

  • Discuss faith connection

  • What you learned

  • What you'd do differently

Plan your presentation structure.

Session 4: Presentations & Celebration

📝 Lesson Procedure (45 minutes)

Opening Prayer (2 min)

Prayer: "Lord, thank You for these weeks of learning. Help us present well and learn from each other. May we celebrate the gifts You've given each person. Amen."

Presentations (35 min)

Format: 4-5 minutes per student + 1 minute Q&A

Presentation elements: 1. What did you create/investigate? 2. Show/demonstrate your work 3. What did you learn? 4. How does this connect to faith? 5. What would you do next?

Audience:

  • Active listening

  • One positive comment

  • One thoughtful question

Celebration & Reflection (8 min)

Celebrate:

  • Recognize achievements

  • Appreciate diversity of interests

  • Acknowledge growth and effort

Reflection questions:

  • What surprised you about this process?

  • What did you learn about yourself?

  • How might you continue this interest?

Faith Connection: "Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati loved mountain climbing, loved his engineering studies, loved his friends, AND loved serving the poor and his faith. He showed that pursuing your passions and loving God go together. Your interests are gifts from God — develop them and use them for good!"

Closing Prayer: "Thank You, God, for the unique gifts and interests You've given each of us. Thank You for these weeks to explore them. Help us continue developing our talents and using them for Your glory and others' good. Amen."

✅ Assessment

Project Assessment

  • Clear proposal with STREAM and faith connections

  • Consistent work across sessions

  • Quality final product/presentation

  • Reflection on learning

Presentation Assessment

  • Clear explanation of project

  • Demonstrated learning

  • Articulated faith connection

  • Responded to questions

📎 Home Connection

"We completed passion projects! Each student chose a topic and created something meaningful over four weeks. Ask your child: 'What was your project?' 'Show me what you created!' 'What did you learn?' 'How did it connect to faith?' Encourage them to continue pursuing their interests — they're gifts from God!"

Unit Version: 1.0 | Last Updated: 2025-12-05