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🏫 Week 23: Catholic Schools Week Engineering

Lesson Overview
Grade Level Grades 5-6
Duration 45 minutes
STREAM Focus All Areas (Leadership Focus)

Week 23: Catholic Schools Week Engineering

🎯 Learning Objectives

STEM Objectives

Students will be able to: 1. Design and lead STREAM activities for younger students 2. Explain concepts at appropriate levels 3. Manage group activities effectively 4. Demonstrate STREAM leadership

Faith Integration Objectives

Students will be able to: 1. Model servant leadership 2. Share what makes Catholic STREAM education distinctive 3. Demonstrate the integration of faith and reason

Week 23: Catholic Schools Week Engineering

🙏 Faith-Reason Integration

Catholic Teaching Connection

Servant Leadership — Jesus modeled servant leadership: "Whoever wants to be great must be servant of all." Leading younger students in STREAM activities is an act of service that develops leadership while helping others.

Scripture Connection

"Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity." — 1 Timothy 4:12

Saint Connection

St. John Bosco — Patron of youth who pioneered engaging educational methods. He met young people where they were and used play, activity, and hands-on learning to teach both academics and faith.

📚 Materials Needed

  • Materials for teaching stations (varies)

  • Simple activity supplies

  • Teaching instruction cards

  • Assessment rubrics

  • Reflection journals

📝 Lesson Procedure (45 minutes)

Opening Prayer & Mission (5 min)

Prayer: "Lord Jesus, You showed us servant leadership. Help us lead younger students today with patience, kindness, and joy. May we share the gift of STREAM learning and our Catholic faith. Amen."

Catholic Schools Week context:

  • "This week we celebrate what makes Catholic schools special"

  • "Today YOU are the teachers"

  • "This is servant leadership in action"

Mission:

  • Design and lead a 10-15 minute STREAM activity for younger students

  • Activity must include faith connection

  • Must be hands-on and engaging

  • You'll present to K-2 or 3-4 classes (or parents/guests)

Activity Design (15 min)

Choose or assign station topics:

Station A: Building Challenge

  • Simple structure challenge

  • Clear instructions

  • Faith connection: building together

Station B: Robot Demo

  • Demonstrate Sphero or Dash

  • Let visitors try simple commands

  • Faith connection: humans as creative like God

Station C: Code Introduction

  • Simple coding concept

  • Unplugged or device-based

  • Faith connection: order and logic in creation

Station D: Science Investigation

  • Simple experiment

  • Clear scientific question

  • Faith connection: discovering God's creation

Station E: Engineering Design

  • Simple design challenge

  • Engineering process

  • Faith connection: problem-solving to help others

Design requirements: 1. Opening (1 min): Welcome, faith connection, instructions 2. Activity (8-12 min): Hands-on engagement 3. Closing (2 min): What they learned, closing thought

Develop:

  • Script/outline for your station

  • Materials list

  • Practice explanation

  • Backup plan if something doesn't work

Practice & Feedback (15 min)

Peer practice:

  • Run through your station with classmates

  • Time it

  • Get feedback

Feedback focus:

  • Is the explanation clear?

  • Is the activity engaging?

  • Is the faith connection natural?

  • What could be improved?

Refine based on feedback.

Teaching Preparation (8 min)

Teaching tips:

  • Get down to their level (physically)

  • Speak slowly and clearly

  • Check for understanding: "Show me..."

  • Encourage, encourage, encourage

  • If something goes wrong, stay calm

  • Remember: relationship first

Servant leadership reminder:

  • "This isn't about showing off — it's about SERVING"

  • "Success = THEY learn and have fun"

  • "Your patience and kindness matter more than perfection"

Logistics:

  • Rotation schedule

  • Station locations

  • Materials placement

  • Transition signals

Closing & Sending (2 min)

Commissioning:

  • "You represent STREAM and Catholic education"

  • "Be patient, kind, and joyful"

  • "You can do this!"

Closing Prayer: "Lord, bless our teaching today. Help us be patient and kind. May the younger students learn and have fun. May they see Your love through us. Give us confidence and joy. Amen."

After Teaching: Reflection (follow-up)

Reflection questions: 1. What went well? 2. What was challenging? 3. How did you see growth in the students you taught? 4. What did YOU learn about teaching? 5. How did you integrate faith?

Leadership reflection:

  • What does it mean to be a servant leader?

  • How did teaching younger students change your understanding of the material?

  • How might God be calling you to use leadership skills?

✅ Assessment

  • Designed appropriate activity

  • Led station effectively

  • Demonstrated patience and encouragement

  • Integrated faith naturally

  • Reflected on experience

📎 Home Connection

"During Catholic Schools Week, your 5th/6th grader led STREAM activities for younger students! Ask them: 'What did you teach?' 'How did it go?' 'What was challenging?' 'What did you learn about teaching?' We discussed servant leadership — leading by serving others. How does your child show leadership at home?"

Lesson Version: 1.0 | **