Empathize
Empathize
Students will embark on virtual tours to various geographical locations, engage in mapping the landscape of their classroom, and participate in collaborative discussions to deeply understand and empathize with how geography shapes individual and community life, setting the stage for their own 'Mapping My World' projects.
Days 1 - 5
Define
Define
Students will synthesize insights from their empathy work by co-creating a problem statement that defines how geography uniquely impacts California’s communities and ecosystems, preparing them to explore diverse solutions in the next phase.
Days 6 - 10
20 min over capacity (300 min available across 5 days)
Ideate
Ideate
Students will brainstorm diverse ways California's unique geography influences local life and create visual storyboards linking cultural lifestyle elements to specific geographic conditions, setting the stage for building 3D models in the next phase.
Days 11 - 15
45 min over capacity (300 min available across 5 days)
Prototype
Prototype
Students will design and construct low-fidelity models of California's geographical features, integrating elements of land, water, and climate, and collaboratively present how these features affect local ecosystems and human activities.
Days 16 - 20
15 min over capacity (300 min available across 5 days)
Test
Test
Students will gather peer and teacher feedback on their annotated maps and 3D models, critically evaluate this input to improve their projects, and participate in a 'Mapping My World' exhibition where they present a refined version of their work alongside a self-reflection on the influence of geography on their community and daily life.
Days 21 - 25
Empathize
Days 1–5
Day 1
Virtual Tour Exploration
Launch
60m
Day 2
Mapping My Classroom Environment
Activity
50m
Day 3
Classroom Map Project
Assessment
Collaborative Discussion on Geography
Activity
45m
Day 4
Peer Feedback on Classroom Map
Deliverable
40m
Day 5
Define
Days 6–10
Day 6
Geography's Role in Ecosystems
Launch
45m
Day 7
Research Cultures and Geography
Activity
50m
Day 8
Local Ecosystems Exploration
Activity
60m
Day 9
Map Skills Workshop
Activity
45m
Collaborative Map Drafting
Deliverable
90m
Day 10
Comparative Geography Discussion
Activity
30m
Ideate
Days 11–15
Day 11
Exploring California's Geography
Launch
60m
Day 12
Defining Our Problem Statement
Activity
60m
Day 13
Collaborative Problem Statement
Assessment
Day 14
Storyboard Brainstorming Session
Activity
45m
Day 15
Creating Visual Storyboards
Activity
90m
Prototype
Days 16–20
Day 16
Peer Feedback Exchange
Deliverable
45m
Day 17
Final Storyboard Refinement
Activity
45m
Day 18
Storyboard Presentation
Assessment
Day 19
Introduction to California's Ecosystems
Launch
45m
Day 20
Collaborative 3D Model Workshop
Activity
60m
Test
Days 21–25
Day 21
Peer Review of 3D Models
Deliverable
45m
Exploring Human Activities and Geography
Activity
45m
Day 22
Ecosystem Map Drafting Session
Activity
60m
Day 23
Final Touches on 3D Models and Maps
Activity
60m
Day 24
3D Geographic Model Presentation
Assessment
Collaborative Ecosystem Map
Assessment
Day 25
Mapping Gallery Walk
Deliverable
60m
Day 26
Interactive Map Revision Workshop
Activity
45m
Day 27
3D Model Showcase
Deliverable
60m
Day 28
Presentation Rehearsal
Activity
60m
Day 29
Annotated Map Presentation
Assessment
Day 30
3D Model Exhibition and Reflection
Assessment
October 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
19
Day 1
Empathize
Virtual Tour Exploration
20
Day 2
Mapping My Classroom Environment
21
Day 3
Classroom Map Project
Collaborative Discussion on Geography
22
Day 4
Peer Feedback on Classroom Map
23
Day 5
26
Day 6
Define
Geography's Role in Ecosystems
27
Day 7
Research Cultures and Geography
28
Day 8
Local Ecosystems Exploration
29
Day 9
Map Skills Workshop
Collaborative Map Drafting
30
Day 10
Comparative Geography Discussion
November 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
2
Day 11
Ideate
Exploring California's Geography
3
Day 12
Defining Our Problem Statement
4
Day 13
Collaborative Problem Statement
5
Day 14
Storyboard Brainstorming Session
6
Day 15
Creating Visual Storyboards
9
Day 16
Prototype
Peer Feedback Exchange
10
Day 17
Final Storyboard Refinement
11
Day 18
Storyboard Presentation
12
Day 19
Introduction to California's Ecosystems
13
Day 20
Collaborative 3D Model Workshop
16
Day 21
Test
Peer Review of 3D Models
Exploring Human Activities and Geography
17
Day 22
Ecosystem Map Drafting Session
18
Day 23
Final Touches on 3D Models and Maps
19
Day 24
3D Geographic Model Presentation
Collaborative Ecosystem Map
20
Day 25
Mapping Gallery Walk
23
Day 26
Interactive Map Revision Workshop
24
Day 27
3D Model Showcase
25
Day 28
Presentation Rehearsal
26
Day 29
Annotated Map Presentation
27
Day 30
3D Model Exhibition and Reflection