When I homeschooled our children, our Catholic Lenten lesson plans centered on prayer, fasting and almsgiving, in solidarity with the poor and imitation of our Lord Jesus. A favorite Lenten service project was to help with church missions for our twin parish in Haiti. Here's a Lenten almsgiving service project.
Make personal care kits and school supplies kits for those in need.
Fill gallon size zippered plastic bags with hygiene products. Discuss needs. Do they require certain
hair care products or weather-related items (sunscreen, hand warmers)? If they lack water, how will
that affect the products you send? What products are most necessary and useful? What items will
break or spill? What might not get through customs? What items will expire (medicine)? Then, buy
these basic supplies: bar of soap, washcloth (items can be wrapped in this for travel), brush, comb,
tissues, socks, hair bands, lip balm, toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, small towel, bandages.
Make school kits: buy pencils, pencil sharpener, paper, notepads, notebooks, scissors, tape, glue stick,
solar calculator, colored pencils, crayons, ruler, protractor, markers, folder. Package items in
inexpensive backpack.
Teach time and money math. Have students make lists, plan shopping, organize time, read maps, plan
routes and coordinate trips.
Teach students to compare prices, read ads, do the math on bulk purchases,
figure sales and percentage discounts, calculate tax, use coupons and budget. Make several kits.
Teach story problems with multiplication, division, money, fractions. Ask questions like "if one
toothbrush costs $.79, how many do 6 cost?"
Teach ecology, recycling and environmental science. Have children remove packaging: boxes, plastic
wrapping, inserts before bagging items. Sort and recycle. Explain that extra packaging cost more.
Wrap items in reusable things: washcloth, bandanna, socks, towel, to prevent breakage.
Students learn social studies, geography, history and earth science. As you assemble kits, discuss
countries where the kits will be sent. Locate on the globe. Explore the country's resources,
agriculture, climate, terrain, history. Consider factors leading to poverty: water sources, weather,
drought, sanitation, war, governmental policies, military coups. Discuss what the needs are and why.
Teach empathy, by helping children understand how much they have compared to many around the
world.
Now celebrate. Explore customs, foods, religion, traditions, mores. Sample regional foods. Listen to
local music. Make native crafts
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