In the Seekers program, our youngest learners begin their journey by discovering the beauty and wonder of God’s creation. Through hands-on play and simple challenges, children grow in joy, patience, and curiosity. With a focus on listening, observing, and following directions, Seekers develop the foundational soft skills needed for learning while being introduced to the dignity of every person as made in the image of God. This early STEAM experience nurtures a sense of awe and kindness toward the world around them.
Example Lesson
In the example lesson above, students engage in a hands-on engineering design challenge called "Rainy Day Rescue," where they are asked to protect toy houses from simulated flooding using absorbent materials. This activity introduces preschool learners to early concepts of testing, problem-solving, and teamwork while grounding the experience in Catholic teaching and virtue formation.The lesson begins with a picture book that sets the theme and context, inviting children to wonder about how we protect the things we love during a storm. A brief science or history video related to water absorption and flooding helps students connect their everyday experiences to real-world engineering and natural processes. This cross-disciplinary connection nurtures curiosity and wonder while making abstract concepts accessible and age-appropriate.As a class, students then walk through the Engineering Design Process—Ask, Imagine, Plan, Create, Test, and Improve—using a guided graphic organizer. Each child imagines their own ideas, draws a labeled diagram, and collaborates with a small group to agree on a final plan.
Group roles are introduced to develop soft skills such as listening, cooperation, and leadership, which are explicitly named and reinforced throughout the project.In this particular lesson, the virtue of Responsibility is explored through both words and actions. Students learn that being responsible means taking care of what God has made—both people and the planet. Tied to the Catholic Social Teaching principle of Care for God’s Creation, the lesson emphasizes that our role as stewards of the Earth is rooted in our faith. The engineering challenge becomes more than just testing sponges and felt—it becomes a way for children to live out the Gospel by designing solutions that protect life and honor God’s creation.After creating and testing their models using droppers to simulate rain, students reflect on what worked and what could be improved. They revisit their designs, make changes, and try again—learning that failure is not the end but a step on the path to better solutions.
Peer feedback and class discussions help reinforce respectful communication and shared growth.This lesson reflects the Kingdom Builders STEAM format, which is consistent across all grade levels. Every project follows the same engaging structure, while introducing new virtues (modeled after Catholic saints), Catholic Social Teaching themes, and age-appropriate soft skills. From preschool to middle school, each lesson invites students to grow not only as young engineers but as faithful, compassionate problem-solvers in God’s Kingdom.
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This Lesson also ties into one of the Kingdom Builder STEAM Adventure books: The Case of the Flooded Park! All 6 books are featured as resources in the Kingdom Builder STEAM Curriculum. Learn more about the Kingdom Builders STEAM Adventures by clicking on the image below!
