Week 33: New Life Engineering¶
Lesson Overview¶
| Grade Level | Kindergarten |
| Duration | 25 minutes |
| Lesson Type | Single-Week |
| STREAM Focus | E (Engineering), S (Science), R (Religion), A (Art) |
Week 33: New Life Engineering¶
🎯 Learning Objectives¶
STEM Objectives¶
Students will be able to: 1. Understand the concept of transformation (changing from one thing to another) 2. Create a simple craft that shows transformation 3. Connect transformation in nature to engineering design 4. Observe examples of transformation in the natural world
Faith Integration Objectives¶
Students will be able to: 1. Connect transformation to the Easter story (death to new life) 2. Recognize that God brings new life from old 3. Celebrate the hope of Easter
🙏 Faith-Reason Integration¶
Catholic Teaching Connection¶
Resurrection and New Life — Easter celebrates the most important transformation ever — Jesus rising from the dead! Just like caterpillars transform into butterflies and seeds transform into plants, Jesus shows us that God brings new life from what seemed like an ending.
Scripture Connection¶
"I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying." — John 11:25
Wonder Question¶
"Have you ever wondered how a crawling caterpillar becomes a flying butterfly? God loves transformation — changing things into something new and beautiful!"
📚 Materials and Preparation¶
Materials Needed¶
| Item | Quantity | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Paper/cardstock | 1 per student | Classroom |
| Craft sticks | 2 per student | Classroom |
| Tissue paper (butterfly wings) | Various colors | Classroom |
| Pipe cleaners | 1 per student | Classroom |
| Crayons/markers | Class set | Classroom |
| Tape/glue | Shared | Classroom |
| Butterfly life cycle pictures | Set | Teacher prepared |
Teacher Preparation¶
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Print butterfly life cycle pictures
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Prepare craft materials
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Create sample transformation craft
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Review butterfly metamorphosis (simple)
📝 Lesson Procedure¶
⏱️ Timing Guide (25 minutes)¶
| Section | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| Opening Prayer & Wonder | 4 min | Easter and transformation |
| Transformation in Nature | 6 min | Caterpillar to butterfly |
| Transformation Craft | 12 min | Create butterfly craft |
| Closing & Celebration | 3 min | Share and pray |
1. Opening Prayer & Wonder (4 minutes)¶
Prayer:
"Dear Jesus, thank you for Easter! Thank you for showing us that death is not the end — You bring new life! Help us to see Your new life all around us. Amen. Alleluia!"
Easter Connection:
"We just celebrated Easter! What happened on Easter?" (Jesus rose from the dead!)
"Jesus was dead, but then He was ALIVE again! That's called TRANSFORMATION — changing into something new. God loves transformation!"
2. Transformation in Nature (6 minutes)¶
Show caterpillar to butterfly:
"Look at this! A caterpillar is a wiggly creature that crawls on the ground. But something AMAZING happens..."
Show life cycle: 1. Egg — "It starts as a tiny egg" 2. Caterpillar — "Then a caterpillar comes out and eats and eats" 3. Chrysalis — "The caterpillar wraps itself up in a cocoon" 4. Butterfly — "And then... a BUTTERFLY comes out! It can FLY!"
Wonder moment:
"Isn't that amazing?! The caterpillar didn't die — it transformed into something MORE beautiful!"
Connect to Easter:
"This is like what happened to Jesus! It looked like the end when Jesus died, but God transformed everything — Jesus came back to life! And butterflies remind us of that every spring."
Other transformations:
-
Seed → Plant
-
Tadpole → Frog
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Egg → Chick
"God is always making things NEW!"
3. Transformation Craft (12 minutes)¶
Project: Caterpillar-to-Butterfly Reveal
Option A: Sliding Butterfly 1. Draw a caterpillar on paper 2. Make a butterfly from tissue paper on stick 3. Slide butterfly out from behind caterpillar picture
Option B: Folding Transformation Card 1. Outside: Draw/glue a caterpillar 2. Inside: Create a butterfly with tissue paper 3. Open the card to see the transformation!
Simple Option: Paper Plate Butterfly 1. Fold paper plate in half (wings) 2. Decorate with colors 3. Add pipe cleaner antennae 4. Talk about transformation while creating
While crafting:
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"What color will your butterfly be?"
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"Remember — the caterpillar transforms into this!"
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"God made butterflies to remind us of Easter!"
4. Closing & Celebration (3 minutes)¶
Share butterflies:
"Hold up your butterfly! Look at all these beautiful transformations!"
Flap wings together:
"Let's make our butterflies fly! Flap, flap, flap!"
Easter Message:
"Every time you see a butterfly, remember that God brings NEW LIFE! Just like the caterpillar transforms into a butterfly, Jesus showed us that death is not the end. God makes everything new!"
Closing Prayer:
"Thank you, God, for butterflies that remind us of Easter. Thank you that You make all things new. Thank you for Jesus, who brings us new life. Alleluia! Amen."
Optional Song: "I'm a Little Caterpillar" (to the tune of "I'm a Little Teapot")
"I'm a little caterpillar, short and round, I crawl on leaves and on the ground, When I get all tired, I take a rest, Wake up as a butterfly — I am blessed!"
✅ Assessment¶
Observation Checklist¶
| Skill | Observed |
|---|---|
| Understands transformation concept | ☐ |
| Can describe caterpillar → butterfly | ☐ |
| Connects transformation to Easter | ☐ |
| Creates transformation craft | ☐ |
| Expresses wonder at new life | ☐ |
Success Criteria¶
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Student can explain that caterpillars turn into butterflies
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Student creates a butterfly craft
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Student connects butterflies to Easter/new life
🔄 Differentiation¶
For Students Who Need Support¶
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Pre-made butterfly pieces to assemble
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Focus on one part of life cycle
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Simple coloring of butterfly
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Partner for craft creation
For Advanced Learners¶
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Learn names of stages (chrysalis, metamorphosis)
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Draw all four stages of life cycle
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Compare to other transformations (frog, plant)
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Tell the transformation story to a friend
🆘 Substitute Teacher Notes¶
Simplified version: 1. Prayer about Easter and new life 2. Talk about caterpillars becoming butterflies 3. Color or create a simple butterfly craft 4. Discuss: "Butterflies remind us that God makes things new!" 5. Closing prayer
Key message:
"God transforms things — caterpillars into butterflies, and Jesus from death to life! Easter is about NEW LIFE!"
📖 Vocabulary¶
| Word | Definition | Visual Cue |
|---|---|---|
| Transform | To change into something new | Caterpillar → butterfly |
| Caterpillar | The crawling stage of a butterfly | Fuzzy worm |
| Butterfly | A flying insect with colorful wings | 🦋 |
| Chrysalis | The case where transformation happens | Cocoon shape |
| New life | Living again, starting fresh | Sunrise |
| Easter | When Jesus rose from the dead | Cross with sun |
📎 Home Connection¶
Family Note:
"Today we learned about transformation — how God changes things into something new and beautiful. We talked about how caterpillars transform into butterflies, and connected this to Easter — when Jesus rose from the dead. Your child made a butterfly craft to remind them of new life! When you see butterflies this spring, talk about how God makes all things new. 'Alleluia!' is the word of Easter — practice saying it together!"
Lesson Version: 1.2
Last Updated: 2025-12-05