Empathize
Empathize
Students will engage with a local farm to interview farmers, gathering insights on agricultural practices and plant growth, while documenting their findings and reflecting on how these insights might guide their own raised vegetable garden project.
Days 1 - 5
265 min over capacity (225 min available across 5 days)
Define
Define
Students will collaboratively combine insights from a local farm visit and soil tests to develop a shared problem statement that addresses the environmental and community impact of their raised vegetable gardens.
Days 6 - 10
Ideate
Ideate
Students will brainstorm and sketch diverse design ideas for their raised vegetable gardens, utilizing collaborative group discussions and imaginative thinking to explore various planting strategies, and will integrate learnings from field visits and soil experiments to refine their plans, ensuring all ideas align with their essential question and community impact goals.
Days 11 - 17
75 min over capacity (315 min available across 7 days)
Prototype
Prototype
Students will focus on building and testing model garden structures, experimenting with various designs to optimize plant health and growth, while documenting their findings and refining concepts through feedback from peers and local farmers.
Days 18 - 26
110 min over capacity (405 min available across 9 days)
Test/Present
Test/Present
Students will showcase their multimedia presentations and interactive garden map exhibit to parents, peers, and community members, inviting them to participate in garden-inspired activities, sample recipes from the 'Garden Recipe Book,' and contribute to the collaborative mural while engaging with feedback from local farmers to refine their garden projects.
Days 27 - 35
70 min over capacity (405 min available across 9 days)
Empathize
Days 1–5
Day 1
Meet the Farmers
Launch
60m
Farm Life Sneak Peek: Watch and Sketch
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Day 2
Question Cards for Farmers: Empathy Interview
Knowledge/Skill Building
50m
Day 3
Farmer Insight Journal
Deliverable
75m
Mind Mapping Garden Ideas Together
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Day 4
Garden Perspectives Mapping Across Viewpoints
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Day 5
How Might We for Garden POV
Knowledge/Skill Building
50m
Define
Days 6–10
Day 6
Garden POV and HMW Studio
Deliverable
45m
Soil, Sun, Water: Garden Science
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Day 7
Identifying Garden Roles and Plant Needs
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Day 8
Observe Local Gardens and Collect Data
Knowledge/Skill Building
50m
Day 9
Mini-Lessons on Soil, Sun, and Water
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Day 10
Brainstorm Garden Ideas and Sketch Concepts
Knowledge/Skill Building
60m
Ideate
Days 11–17
Day 11
Prototype Plan with Roles and Materials
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Day 12
Gallery Walk: Final Concept Drafts
Knowledge/Skill Building
40m
Day 13
Garden Concept Studio
Deliverable
60m
Community Helpers: Invite a Guest
Knowledge/Skill Building
40m
Day 14
Clarify Audience Needs and Goals
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Day 15
Generate Design Ideas with Criteria
Knowledge/Skill Building
50m
Day 16
Sketch Concepts and Storyboard Solutions
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Day 17
Build Quick Paper Prototype Models
Knowledge/Skill Building
60m
Prototype
Days 18–26
Day 18
Peer Testing and Feedback Reflection
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Day 19
Paper Prototype Iteration
Deliverable
60m
Empathize Circle: Sharing Understandings
Knowledge/Skill Building
35m
Day 20
Plan Roles and Scenarios for Testing
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Day 21
Practice Observation Logs and Data Recording
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Day 22
Create Visual User Test Report Drafts
Knowledge/Skill Building
60m
Day 23
User Testing Documentation
Deliverable
60m
Ethical Empathy: Respectful Observing Practices
Knowledge/Skill Building
35m
Day 24
Plan Garden Exhibit Roles and Rubrics
Knowledge/Skill Building
50m
Day 25
Measure Plant Growth with Simple Tools
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Day 26
Create Exhibit Posters and Labels
Knowledge/Skill Building
40m
Test/Present
Days 27–35
Day 27
Practice Presentations and Peer Feedback
Knowledge/Skill Building
40m
Day 28
Set Up Practice Exhibit and Reflect
Knowledge/Skill Building
60m
Day 29
Refine Garden Models with Evidence
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Day 30
Practice Public Speaking for Exhibit
Knowledge/Skill Building
40m
Day 31
Science Inquiry: Testing Garden Results
Knowledge/Skill Building
50m
Day 32
Design Session: Final Exhibit Layout
Knowledge/Skill Building
60m
Day 33
Peer Review and Revision Before Showcase
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Day 34
Community Case Study: Simple Scenario
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Day 35
Final Garden Exhibit
Assessment
Empathy Summary: Our User Profile
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Day 36
Milestone Prep: Empathize to Design Plan
Knowledge/Skill Building
60m
October 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
19
Day 1
Empathize
Meet the Farmers
Farm Life Sneak Peek: Watch and Sketch
20
Day 2
Question Cards for Farmers: Empathy Interview
21
Day 3
Farmer Insight Journal
Mind Mapping Garden Ideas Together
26
Day 4
Garden Perspectives Mapping Across Viewpoints
27
Day 5
How Might We for Garden POV
28
Day 6
Define
Garden POV and HMW Studio
Soil, Sun, Water: Garden Science
November 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
2
Day 7
Identifying Garden Roles and Plant Needs
3
Day 8
Observe Local Gardens and Collect Data
4
Day 9
Mini-Lessons on Soil, Sun, and Water
9
Day 10
Brainstorm Garden Ideas and Sketch Concepts
10
Day 11
Ideate
Prototype Plan with Roles and Materials
11
Day 12
Gallery Walk: Final Concept Drafts
16
Day 13
Garden Concept Studio
Community Helpers: Invite a Guest
17
Day 14
Clarify Audience Needs and Goals
18
Day 15
Generate Design Ideas with Criteria
23
Day 16
Sketch Concepts and Storyboard Solutions
24
Day 17
Build Quick Paper Prototype Models
25
Day 18
Prototype
Peer Testing and Feedback Reflection
December 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
30
Day 19
Paper Prototype Iteration
Empathize Circle: Sharing Understandings
1
Day 20
Plan Roles and Scenarios for Testing
2
Day 21
Practice Observation Logs and Data Recording
7
Day 22
Create Visual User Test Report Drafts
8
Day 23
User Testing Documentation
Ethical Empathy: Respectful Observing Practices
9
Day 24
Plan Garden Exhibit Roles and Rubrics
14
Day 25
Measure Plant Growth with Simple Tools
15
Day 26
Create Exhibit Posters and Labels
16
Day 27
Test/Present
Practice Presentations and Peer Feedback
21
Day 28
Set Up Practice Exhibit and Reflect
22
Day 29
Refine Garden Models with Evidence
23
Day 30
Practice Public Speaking for Exhibit
28
Day 31
Science Inquiry: Testing Garden Results
29
Day 32
Design Session: Final Exhibit Layout
30
Day 33
Peer Review and Revision Before Showcase
January 2027
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
4
Day 34
Community Case Study: Simple Scenario
5
Day 35
Final Garden Exhibit
Empathy Summary: Our User Profile
6
Day 36
Milestone Prep: Empathize to Design Plan