Skip to content

🎓 Week 34: STREAM Expo & Graduation

Lesson Overview
Grade Level Grades 5-6
Duration 45 minutes (plus Expo time)
STREAM Focus All Areas (Celebration)

Week 34: STREAM Expo & Graduation

🎯 Learning Objectives

STEM Objectives

Students will be able to: 1. Present STREAM learning to authentic audience 2. Demonstrate technical and presentation skills 3. Reflect on year-long growth 4. Articulate future learning goals

Faith Integration Objectives

Students will be able to: 1. Express gratitude for STREAM journey 2. Recognize growth as gift from God 3. Commit to continued faith-reason integration 4. Celebrate as community

Week 34: STREAM Expo & Graduation

🙏 Faith-Reason Integration

Catholic Teaching Connection

Graduation and Sending Forth — The Mass ends with "Go forth" — a sending into the world. Our STREAM graduation sends students forth equipped with skills, knowledge, and the integration of faith and reason to make a difference.

Scripture Connection

"I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus." — Philippians 1:6

Saint Connection

St. John Paul II — Called young people to be "not afraid" and to go into the world with faith and reason together. He championed both science and faith, showing they work in harmony.

📚 Materials Needed

  • Expo display materials

  • Portfolio collections

  • Certificates

  • Photo documentation

  • Reflection journals

  • Celebration supplies

📝 Lesson Procedure (45 minutes + Expo)

Part 1: Preparation & Reflection (45-minute class)

Opening Prayer (3 min)

Prayer of St. Ignatius (adapted): "Lord, take and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will. You have given me all these gifts. To You, Lord, I return them. Everything is Yours. Use me for Your glory. Give me only Your love and Your grace — that is enough for me. Amen."

Celebration spirit:

  • "This is a day of JOY!"

  • "You've learned SO much this year"

  • "Today we celebrate and look forward"

Portfolio Completion (10 min)

Final portfolio reflection:

Write reflection on your STREAM year: 1. Most proud accomplishment: What work are you most proud of? 2. Biggest growth area: Where did you improve most? 3. Favorite project/lesson: What did you enjoy most? 4. Faith-reason integration: How did faith and science connect for you? 5. Challenge overcome: What was hard that you conquered? 6. Future goals: How will you continue STREAM learning?

Select portfolio highlights:

  • 3-5 best works from the year

  • Variety across STREAM areas

  • Include reflection notes

Expo Preparation (15 min)

Prepare presentation/display:

Display options:

  • Portfolio highlights

  • Key project demonstrations

  • Interactive elements

  • Before/after documentation

Presentation elements:

  • What did you learn this year?

  • What's your best work?

  • How did faith and reason connect?

  • What advice for future students?

Practice:

  • 2-3 minute presentation

  • Answer anticipated questions

  • Speak clearly and confidently

Graduation Reflection (12 min)

5th-6th grade reflection:

For 6th graders (or those leaving):

  • "What will you take with you?"

  • "How will you continue integrating faith and reason?"

  • "What's your mission going forward?"

For 5th graders (returning):

  • "How will you be leaders next year?"

  • "What do you want to accomplish?"

  • "How can you help younger students?"

Letter to future self: Write a letter to yourself 5 years from now:

  • What you learned in STREAM

  • Your hopes and goals

  • How faith and reason work together

  • What you commit to

Commissioning & Closing (5 min)

Commissioning for 6th graders:

  • "You are being sent forth"

  • "You have skills and knowledge"

  • "You have faith and reason together"

  • "Go make a difference!"

Charge to all:

  • "Keep asking questions"

  • "Keep making things"

  • "Keep connecting faith and learning"

  • "Keep serving others with your gifts"

Closing Prayer: "Lord, thank You for this year of learning. Thank You for each student and their unique gifts. As they go forth, equip them to use STREAM for good. Help them never stop wondering, never stop creating, never stop believing. We send them forth in Your name. Amen."

Part 2: STREAM Expo (separate event time)

Expo Format

Stations/displays by students:

  • Each student has space for portfolio/project display

  • Interactive demonstrations welcome

  • Students present to visitors

Visitors:

  • Parents/families

  • Other classes

  • School leadership

  • Community guests

Expo Flow

  1. Welcome & Prayer (5 min)
  2. Brief program overview (5 min)
  3. Open viewing/presentations (30-45 min)
  4. Recognition ceremony (10 min)
  5. Closing celebration (10 min)

Recognition

Award categories:

  • Growth awards

  • Innovation awards

  • Faith integration awards

  • Collaboration awards

  • Perseverance awards

  • Service awards

Every student recognized for something meaningful.

Closing Celebration

  • Photos

  • Refreshments

  • Informal fellowship

  • Gratitude expressions

✅ Assessment

  • Completed portfolio reflection

  • Prepared quality expo presentation

  • Demonstrated learning to visitors

  • Reflected on growth and future goals

📎 Home Connection

"We celebrated our STREAM year with an Expo and graduation! Thank you for supporting your child's STREAM learning this year. Ask your child to share their portfolio and reflections. Discuss: 'What was your favorite part of STREAM?' 'How did faith and science connect?' 'How will you continue exploring?' Keep encouraging curiosity, creativity, and the integration of faith and reason. The journey continues!"

End-of-Year Message to Students

Dear STREAM Engineers, Scientists, and Innovators:

You did it! You spent this year wondering, building, coding, testing, failing, trying again, and succeeding. You've learned that:

  • Faith and reason go together — Science and faith aren't enemies; they're partners in understanding truth.

  • Failure is part of learning — Every engineer fails. The good ones learn from failure.

  • Your gifts are for serving others — The best STREAM work helps people.

  • You are creative like God — You're made in the image of the Creator, and you can CREATE!

As you go forward:

  • Keep asking "Why?" and "How?" and "What if?"

  • Keep making things with your hands and mind

  • Keep connecting your learning to your faith

  • Keep using your gifts to serve others

You're ready. Go make a difference!

"The one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it." — Philippians 1:6

Congratulations, STREAM Graduate!

Lesson Version: 1.0 | **