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Week 12: Making Gifts for Others

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

Week 12: Making Gifts for Others

🎯 Learning Objectives

STEM Objectives

Students will be able to: 1. Design and create a simple gift or card for someone else 2. Make choices about materials and design 3. Follow a simple design process (plan, create) 4. Understand that creating things for others is a way to show love

Faith Integration Objectives

Students will be able to: 1. Connect gift-giving to God's gift of Jesus 2. Understand that the best gifts come from our hearts 3. Practice thinking about what others need and want

🙏 Faith-Reason Integration

Catholic Teaching Connection

Option for the Poor / Love of Neighbor — During Advent, we prepare for God's greatest gift — Jesus! One way we can share God's love is by making things for others, especially those who might need extra love or help.

Scripture Connection

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son." — John 3:16

Saint Connection

St. Nicholas — St. Nicholas gave gifts secretly to people who needed help. He showed love through giving. That's why we think of giving at Christmas time!

Wonder Question

"Have you ever wondered why we give gifts at Christmas? It's because God gave us the best gift ever — Jesus!"

📚 Materials and Preparation

Materials Needed

Item Quantity Source
Card stock or construction paper 2-3 per student Classroom
Crayons/markers Class set Classroom
Stickers Variety Classroom
Glue sticks Class set Classroom
Scissors Class set Classroom
Decorative items (sequins, ribbon, etc.) Various Classroom
"Gift Planning Sheet" 1 per student Teacher-made

Teacher Preparation

  • Create a sample gift/card to show

  • Set up materials stations

  • Prepare planning sheet (Who? What? Why?)

  • Have envelopes for finished cards (optional)

📝 Lesson Procedure

⏱️ Timing Guide (25 minutes)

Section Time Activity
Opening Prayer & Story 4 min St. Nicholas & giving
Planning 5 min Who will you make a gift for?
Creating 13 min Make your gift
Closing & Reflection 3 min Share and pray

1. Opening Prayer & Story (4 minutes)

Prayer:

"Dear God, thank you for the gift of Jesus. Help us to share Your love by making something special for someone else today. Amen."

Tell the story of St. Nicholas (simplified):

"Long ago, there was a man named Nicholas. He loved God very much. Nicholas saw people who needed help, and he secretly gave them gifts! He didn't want anyone to know — he just wanted to help. That's why we think of giving at Christmas. We give because God gave us Jesus."

Connect:

"Today, YOU get to be like St. Nicholas! We're going to make gifts or cards for people we love."

2. Planning: Who Will You Make a Gift For? (5 minutes)

Think about who:

"Think about someone who might really love a gift from you. It could be: - Mom, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa - A brother or sister - A friend - Someone who might be lonely or sad"

Planning Questions:

"Once you think of someone, think about: - What do they like? - What would make them smile?"

Fill out planning sheet: Simple sheet with:

  • Who is your gift for? (draw their face or write name)

  • What will you make? (card, decoration, bookmark)

  • Why? (to say I love you, to make them smile, etc.)

3. Creating: Make Your Gift (13 minutes)

Show options:

"You can make: - A special card with a picture and message - A decorated bookmark - A paper ornament - A picture to frame"

Show your example:

"I made a card for my mom. I drew a picture of us together and wrote 'I love you.' See how I used stickers to decorate?"

Creating Time:

  • Students select materials

  • Work at tables

  • Teacher circulates with support and encouragement

Guiding questions:

  • "Who is this for? That's so thoughtful!"

  • "What colors does that person like?"

  • "What would make them smile?"

  • "Tell me about your picture."

Encourage love and effort, not perfection:

"The best gifts come from your heart. Your person will love it because YOU made it!"

4. Closing & Reflection (3 minutes)

Quick share:

"Hold up your gift! Who is it for?"

Let a few students share who they made a gift for and why.

Faith Connection:

"When we make something for someone else, we're sharing God's love. Just like God gave us Jesus, we can give our love to others. Your gift will make someone very happy!"

Instructions for taking home:

"You can give this to your special person whenever you want — maybe save it for Christmas!"

Closing Prayer:

"Dear God, thank you for helping us make gifts today. Bless the people who will receive these gifts. Help them to feel loved. Amen."

✅ Assessment

Observation Checklist

Skill Observed
Identified a recipient for their gift ☐
Made thoughtful choices about design ☐
Created a complete gift/card ☐
Showed care and effort in creating ☐
Connected gift-giving to sharing love ☐

Success Criteria

  • Student planned and created a gift for someone

  • Student can explain who the gift is for

  • Gift shows effort and intention (not rushed)

🔄 Differentiation

For Students Who Need Support

  • Provide a card template with fold line

  • Pre-cut shapes for decorating

  • Scribe a message for them

  • Focus on decorating rather than drawing

  • Pair with a helper

For Advanced Learners

  • Write their own message inside

  • Make gifts for multiple people

  • Create a more complex craft (pop-up card)

  • Help other students

🆘 Substitute Teacher Notes

Simplified version: 1. Talk about why we give gifts (to show love) 2. Have students make a card for someone at home 3. Decorate with stickers and drawings 4. Share who it's for 5. Prayer

Key message:

"Gifts from the heart are the best gifts. When we make something for someone, we share God's love."

📖 Vocabulary

Word Definition Visual Cue
Gift Something you give to show love Present with bow
Generous Willing to give and share Hands giving
Thoughtful Thinking about what someone else needs or likes Heart with brain
Create To make something new Art supplies
Advent The time we prepare for Jesus's birthday Candles/wreath

📎 Home Connection

Family Note:

"Today in STREAM, we learned about St. Nicholas and made gifts for people we love. Your child put thought and creativity into making something special. The best gifts come from the heart! During this Advent season, encourage your child to think of ways to give — not just things, but also kindness, help, and time."

🎁 Gift Planning Sheet

+---------------------------------------------------------+
|              MY GIFT FROM THE HEART                     |
|                                                         |
|  Who is my gift for?                                    |
|  [Box to draw face or write name]                       |
|                                                         |
|  What will I make?                                      |
|  [ ] Card  [ ] Bookmark  [ ] Picture  [ ] Other: ____   |
|                                                         |
|  Why am I making this gift?                             |
|  [ ] To say I love you                                  |
|  [ ] To make them smile                                 |
|  [ ] To help them feel special                          |
|                                                         |
|  My gift will look like: [Box for sketch]               |
+---------------------------------------------------------+

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