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Week 11: Coding Thankfulness

Lesson Overview
Grade Level Kindergarten
Duration 25 minutes
Lesson Type Single-Week
STREAM Focus T (Technology), R (Religion), A (Art)

Week 11: Coding Thankfulness

🎯 Learning Objectives

STEM Objectives

Students will be able to: 1. Open and navigate ScratchJr on an iPad 2. Add a character (sprite) to a project 3. Use the "move" block to make a character move 4. Connect coding to expressing gratitude

Faith Integration Objectives

Students will be able to: 1. Express thankfulness to God 2. Understand that we can use technology to share our gratitude 3. Create something that shows what they're thankful for

🙏 Faith-Reason Integration

Catholic Teaching Connection

Gratitude — Giving thanks is an important part of our faith. We thank God for His gifts every time we pray. Using technology to create something that shares our thankfulness is a way to use our gifts to honor God.

Scripture Connection

"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever." — Psalm 107:1

Wonder Question

"Have you ever wondered how people who live far away can share thankful messages? Technology helps us share our thankfulness with the whole world!"

📚 Materials and Preparation

Materials Needed

Item Quantity Source
iPads with ScratchJr installed 1 per student or pair School inventory
Projector/display screen 1 Classroom
"I am thankful for..." word/picture cards Set Teacher-made

Technology Setup

  • ScratchJr app installed on all iPads

  • iPads charged

  • Teacher iPad connected to projector

  • Practice creating a simple thankful animation

Teacher Preparation

  • Test ScratchJr on teacher iPad

  • Create sample "thankful" animation to show

  • Prepare discussion questions about thankfulness

  • Have backup paper/crayons for tech issues

📝 Lesson Procedure

⏱️ Timing Guide (25 minutes)

Section Time Activity
Opening Prayer & Discussion 4 min What are we thankful for?
ScratchJr Introduction 6 min Teacher demonstration
Student Creation 12 min Make a thankful animation
Sharing & Closing 3 min Share and pray

1. Opening Prayer & Thankfulness Discussion (4 minutes)

Prayer:

"Dear God, thank you for all Your gifts — our families, friends, food, and this beautiful world. Help us to always have thankful hearts. Amen."

Discussion:

"Thanksgiving is coming soon! It's a special time to thank God for all the good things in our lives."

Quick Share:

"Think of ONE thing you're thankful for. Turn to your neighbor and share!"

Collect responses:

"Who wants to share with everyone?" (Take 3-4 responses)

Connect to coding:

"Today we're going to use technology to CREATE something that shows what we're thankful for!"

2. ScratchJr Introduction (6 minutes)

Show on projector:

"This app is called ScratchJr. It helps us make things move and tell stories!"

Demonstrate step-by-step:

Step 1: Meet the screen

  • Show the cat character (sprite)

  • Show the stage (where things happen)

  • Show the block area (where coding blocks are)

Step 2: Add a character

  • Tap the "+" to add a new character

  • Show how to find characters (people, animals, etc.)

  • Add a character that represents something to be thankful for

Step 3: Make it move

  • Show the "motion" blocks (blue)

  • Drag the "move right" block

  • Tap to make it go!

  • Show "start on green flag" block

Teacher example:

"Watch — I'm thankful for my family, so I added a person. Now I'll make them move and jump for joy!"

3. Student Creation Time (12 minutes)

Distribute iPads.

Instructions:

"Your job: 1. Add a character that shows something you're thankful for 2. Make it MOVE!"

Teacher circulates:

  • Help with adding characters

  • Help with attaching motion blocks

  • Ask: "What are you thankful for? How will your character move?"

Troubleshooting tips:

  • Can't find character? Use the search or draw your own

  • Not moving? Make sure blocks are connected

  • Crashed? Close and reopen app

Simple success target:

  • Added at least one character

  • Character moves when tapped or green flag pressed

Extension for fast finishers:

  • Add a background

  • Add more characters

  • Make character jump or spin

4. Sharing & Closing (3 minutes)

Quick Share:

"Who wants to show us their thankful animation?"

Show 2-3 examples on the projector (keep it quick!).

Celebrate:

"You created something with technology that shows your thankful heart! That's amazing!"

Faith Connection:

"We can use technology to share good things — like thankfulness! God gives us creative minds to make beautiful things that honor Him."

Closing Prayer:

"Thank you, God, for all Your gifts. Thank you for families, friends, food, and fun. Help us to always say thank you. Amen."

Save and Close: Show students how to save their project (it auto-saves), then close iPads.

✅ Assessment

Observation Checklist

Skill Observed
Opened ScratchJr successfully ☐
Added a character ☐
Attached a motion block ☐
Character moves when activated ☐
Could explain what they're thankful for ☐

Success Criteria

  • Student created an animation with at least one character

  • Character moves in some way

  • Student can verbally share what they're thankful for

🔄 Differentiation

For Students Who Need Support

  • Pre-open ScratchJr on their iPad

  • Hand-over-hand guidance

  • Partner with a tech-confident buddy

  • Focus on just adding a character (movement optional)

For Advanced Learners

  • Add speech bubble that says "Thank you!"

  • Add multiple characters

  • Create a scene with background

  • Add sounds

📱 Tech Troubleshooting

Problem Solution
App won't open Close completely, reopen
Character won't move Check that block is attached to start block
Can't find character Use search or draw own
iPad frozen Hold power button to restart

🆘 Substitute Teacher Notes

No-tech backup plan: 1. Discuss what we're thankful for 2. Draw a picture of something you're thankful for 3. Add "motion lines" to show movement 4. Share drawings with partners 5. Prayer of thanksgiving

📖 Vocabulary

Word Definition Visual Cue
Thankful Feeling happy about something good Heart with smile
Code Instructions that tell a computer what to do Block pieces
Animation A picture that moves Flipbook
Character/Sprite The person or thing in your project Cat icon
Move To go from one place to another Arrow

📎 Home Connection

Family Note:

"Today in STREAM, we used an app called ScratchJr to create 'thankful animations.' Your child chose something they're thankful for and made it move on the screen! This is an introduction to coding — giving computers instructions. This Thanksgiving, talk as a family about things you're thankful for. ScratchJr is free to download if you'd like to explore at home!"

Lesson Version: 1.0
Last Updated: 2025-12-05