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🆘 C-STREAM Substitute Teacher Guide

Location: Our Lady of the Prairie Catholic School · Belle Plaine, MN · Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis

Welcome, Substitute Teacher! This guide will help you successfully lead a C-STREAM class even without prior experience. C-STREAM stands for Catholic Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, Art & Music, and Mathematics—it's Catholic STEM education.

🚨 Quick Start (Read This First!)

⏱️ Session Length by Grade

Grade Level Session Length
Kindergarten 25 minutes
Grades 1-2 30 minutes
Grades 3-4 40 minutes
Grades 5-6 45 minutes

Your 5-Minute Prep

  1. Check the lesson folder for today's topic (ask office or check schedule)
  2. Find the Quick Reference Card (one page with all essential info)
  3. Locate materials (listed on Quick Reference Card)
  4. Read the Catholic Integration section (prayer and faith connection)
  5. Have a backup plan ready (see Emergency Activities below)

Classroom Flow by Grade

Kindergarten (25 min): | Time | Activity | |------|----------| | 0-3 min | Opening prayer + wonder question | | 3-5 min | Brief introduction | | 5-20 min | Guided activity | | 20-25 min | Reflection + closing |

Grades 1-2 (30 min): | Time | Activity | |------|----------| | 0-3 min | Opening prayer + wonder question | | 3-7 min | Introduction | | 7-25 min | Main activity | | 25-30 min | Reflection + closing |

Grades 3-4 (40 min): | Time | Activity | |------|----------| | 0-4 min | Opening prayer + wonder question | | 4-10 min | Introduction | | 10-33 min | Main activity | | 33-40 min | Reflection + closing |

Grades 5-6 (45 min): | Time | Activity | |------|----------| | 0-5 min | Opening prayer + wonder question | | 5-12 min | Introduction | | 12-38 min | Main activity | | 38-45 min | Reflection + closing |

📋 Standard Lesson Structure

Every STREAM lesson follows this pattern:

1. Opening (5 minutes)

Prayer Script:

"Dear God, thank You for the gift of learning. Help us today to explore Your amazing creation with wonder and curiosity. Guide our minds and hands as we learn and create. Amen."

Wonder Question: Ask students: "What's something amazing you've noticed in God's creation this week?"

2. Introduction (5 minutes)

  • Briefly explain today's activity

  • Review any vocabulary

  • Show examples if available

  • Answer quick questions

3. Main Activity (25-30 minutes)

  • Follow the lesson plan steps

  • Circulate and help students

  • Ask guiding questions (don't give answers)

  • Remind students of time remaining

4. Reflection (5 minutes)

Reflection Questions:

  • "What worked well in your project?"

  • "What was challenging?"

  • "How does this connect to our faith?"

Closing Prayer:

"Lord, thank You for what we learned today. Help us to use our knowledge and creativity to serve You and others. Amen."

🆘 Emergency Backup Activities

If technology fails or planned materials aren't available, use these:

Activity 1: Paper Engineering Challenge (All Grades)

Time: 25-30 minutes
Materials: Paper, tape, scissors

Challenge: Build the tallest tower using only 5 sheets of paper and 12 inches of tape.

Catholic Connection: "God calls us to build each other up. How can we use our skills to help our community?"

Discussion Questions:

  • What made structures strong?

  • How did you solve problems?

  • How is this like building a strong community?

Activity 2: Creation Observation (All Grades)

Time: 25-30 minutes
Materials: Paper, pencils, (optional) magnifying glasses

Activity: Students observe and draw something from God's creation (plant, view from window, their hand). They should include 5 detailed observations.

Catholic Connection: "The heavens declare the glory of God" (Psalm 19:1)

Discussion Questions:

  • What amazing details did you notice?

  • How does this show God's creativity?

  • What questions do you have about what you observed?

Activity 3: Design for Others (All Grades)

Time: 25-30 minutes
Materials: Paper, pencils, colored pencils

Activity: Design an invention that would help someone in your community. Draw and label your design.

Catholic Connection: Catholic Social Teaching calls us to care for one another.

Discussion Questions:

  • Who does your invention help?

  • How does it show love for neighbor?

  • What materials would you need to build it?

Activity 4: STREAM Career Exploration (Grades 3-6)

Time: 25-30 minutes
Materials: Paper for notes

Activity: Discuss STREAM careers and Catholic scientists (see list below). Students choose one career and write/draw about how it helps others.

Catholic Scientists to Mention:

  • Gregor Mendel (genetics)

  • Georges Lemaître (Big Bang theory)

  • Louis Pasteur (vaccines)

🎯 Grade-Specific Tips

Kindergarten

Expectations:

  • Short attention spans (10-15 minutes max per activity)

  • Need lots of modeling

  • Will need help with materials

  • Focus on exploration over perfection

Helpful Phrases:

  • "Let's try..."

  • "What do you notice?"

  • "Show me what you made!"

  • "It's okay if it doesn't work—that's how we learn!"

Management:

  • Use a timer they can see

  • Give 2-minute warnings before transitions

  • Praise specific behaviors ("I love how you're sharing the blocks!")

Grades 1-3

Expectations:

  • Can follow 3-4 step directions

  • Need reminders to share and take turns

  • May need help reading instructions

  • Enjoy partner work

Helpful Phrases:

  • "What's your plan?"

  • "How could you make it better?"

  • "Work together to solve this."

Management:

  • Write steps on board

  • Assign partners if not already arranged

  • Check in with each group

Grades 4-6

Expectations:

  • Can work more independently

  • Capable of complex problem-solving

  • May test boundaries with substitute

  • Can help explain to others

Helpful Phrases:

  • "What's your strategy?"

  • "How does this connect to what you've learned before?"

  • "Explain your thinking."

Management:

  • Set clear expectations at start

  • Give meaningful responsibilities

  • Challenge fast finishers with extensions

🔧 Common Materials & Locations

Material Likely Location What It's For
KEVA Planks STREAM closet Building structures
iPads Tech cart Coding apps, research
Chromebooks Computer cart Scratch coding
Spheros STREAM closet Robotics/movement
Craft supplies Supply cabinet Design challenges

If you can't find materials: Ask the office or a neighboring teacher. If still unavailable, use an emergency backup activity.

🙏 Catholic Integration Scripts

Opening Prayer Options

Standard:

"Dear God, thank You for creating such an amazing world for us to explore. Help us learn something new today and use our knowledge to serve You and others. Amen."

For Building Activities:

"Lord, You are the master builder of all creation. Guide our hands as we build today, and help us remember to build each other up in love. Amen."

For Coding/Technology:

"Creator God, You gave us minds to think and create. Help us use technology wisely and for good purposes. Amen."

For Nature/Science:

"God of all creation, open our eyes to see the wonders of Your world. Fill us with curiosity and gratitude. Amen."

Faith Connection Questions

Use these during reflection time:

  • "How did today's activity show us something about God's creation?"

  • "How can we use what we learned to help others?"

  • "What made you say 'wow' today? How might that be connected to God's design?"

  • "If you could use these skills to serve your community, what would you do?"

Closing Prayer Options

Standard:

"Thank You, God, for what we learned today. Help us to keep wondering about Your amazing world. Amen."

After Challenges/Failures:

"Lord, thank You for helping us learn from our mistakes today. Remind us that You love us even when things don't go perfectly. Amen."

After Group Work:

"Thank You, God, for the gift of working together. Help us to always be kind teammates and to build each other up. Amen."

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What if the technology doesn't work? A: Use an emergency backup activity. Students are used to problem-solving—model flexibility!

Q: What if students finish early? A: Have them help others, add to their project, or draw/write about their creation and what they learned.

Q: What if I don't know the answer to a student's question? A: Say "That's a great question! Let's figure it out together" or "I'm not sure—that's something you could research!"

Q: What if students are off-task? A: Redirect positively. Ask them about their work. Move closer to their group.

Q: What if students argue about sharing materials? A: Remind them of Catholic values—we share and work together. Set a timer for turns if needed.

📝 End-of-Day Notes

Please leave notes for the regular teacher:

What we accomplished:

What worked well:

Challenges/concerns:

Students who need follow-up:

Materials that need restocking:

📞 Help Contacts

Need Who to Contact
Supplies/Materials Office
Technology Help Tech coordinator
Student Behavior Office
Schedule Questions Neighboring teacher

Thank you for teaching STREAM today! Your willingness to step in helps ensure students continue learning about God's amazing creation.

Guide Version: 2.0
Framework: C-STREAM