Launch
Launch
Students will launch the Future Auto Challenge by observing a real-world phenomenon, testing starter materials, and building shared expectations for how they will design a future car that balances performance, chemical energy, and environmental impact. They will begin using evidence, questions, and early feedback routines that carry into later phases.
Days 1 - 3
User Research Synthesis
User Research Synthesis
Students will synthesize interview, observation, and quick evidence from real users to identify transportation and environmental needs, build empathy artifacts, check assumptions against data, and refine the design problem their future car should address.
Days 4 - 9
Design Brief Creation
Design Brief Creation
Students will turn user research and science evidence into a focused future-car design brief by defining a clear problem, checking assumptions against evidence, and setting measurable success criteria for materials, energy systems, and environmental impact before moving into concept generation.
Days 10 - 15
Concepts Prototyped
Concepts Prototyped
Students will turn their design briefs into multiple future-car concepts, compare options with evidence-based criteria, build low-fidelity prototypes, and use peer and user feedback to revise a chosen direction for the next phase.
Days 16 - 21
Prototype Validated Expo
Prototype Validated Expo
Students will refine their future-car prototype through two documented feedback-and-revision cycles, validate design choices with a new user or community voice, and assemble an evidence-based Future Auto Expo presentation that explains materials, fuel chemistry, environmental impact, and next steps.
Days 22 - 27
Showcase
Showcase
Students will finalize and present their future car solutions to an authentic audience, use audience and peer feedback to explain and defend their design decisions, and reflect on how chemistry evidence, user needs, and environmental impact shaped their prototype revisions.
Days 28 - 30
Launch
Days 1–3
Day 1
🚗 Future Auto Challenge Gallery
Launch
75m
Day 2
🧪 Car Body Material Test Lab
Knowledge/Skill Building
75m
Day 3
✏️ Car Idea Sketch Critique
Deliverable
75m
User Research Synthesis
Days 4–9
Day 4
👀 Transit Needs Interview Practice
Knowledge/Skill Building
75m
Day 5
🗺️ User Notes to Empathy Map
Knowledge/Skill Building
75m
Day 6
⚙️ Material Samples and Pollution Clues
Knowledge/Skill Building
75m
Day 7
📞 Community Voices on Cleaner Cars
Community Experience
75m
Day 8
🧩 Problem Themes and Need Statements
Deliverable
75m
Day 9
✅ Empathy Evidence Checkpoint
Assessment
75m
Design Brief Creation
Days 10–15
Day 10
🧭 Future Car Needs Sort
Launch
75m
Day 11
⚛️ Materials and Bonding Evidence Lab
Knowledge/Skill Building
75m
Day 12
🧪 Fuel Reaction Decision Tools
Knowledge/Skill Building
75m
Day 13
🌊 CO2 Impact Criteria Check
Research
75m
Day 14
✍️ How Might We Brief Draft
Deliverable
75m
Day 15
✅ Design Brief Milestone Review
Assessment
75m
Concepts Prototyped
Days 16–21
Day 16
🧪 Fuel Reaction Choice Lab
Knowledge/Skill Building
75m
Day 17
🧱 Body Materials Bonding Sort
Knowledge/Skill Building
60m
Day 18
✏️ Three Future Car Concepts
Project Work
75m
Day 19
📐 Low-Tech Prototype Build
Deliverable
75m
Day 20
💬 Prototype Feedback Carousel
Community Experience
75m
Day 21
✅ Concept Gate Review
Assessment
75m
Prototype Validated Expo
Days 22–27
Day 22
🧪 Reaction Claims Mini-Clinic
Knowledge/Skill Building
60m
Day 23
🛠️ Prototype Revision Sprint One
Project Work
75m
Day 24
💬 Two-Peer Critique Protocol
Deliverable
75m
Day 25
🌍 CO2 Water Impact Check
Knowledge/Skill Building
60m
Day 26
🚗 Expert Validation and Sprint Two
Community Experience
90m
Day 27
🖼️ Future Auto Expo Draft
Assessment
75m
Showcase
Days 28–30
Day 28
🧭 Future Auto Expo Rehearsal
Deliverable
75m
Day 29
💬 Expo Feedback and Revision
Project Work
75m
Day 30
🚗 Community Showcase Presentations
Assessment
75m
October 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
19
Day 1
Launch
🚗 Future Auto Challenge Gallery
20
Day 2
🧪 Car Body Material Test Lab
21
Day 3
✏️ Car Idea Sketch Critique
22
Day 4
User Research Synthesis
👀 Transit Needs Interview Practice
23
Day 5
🗺️ User Notes to Empathy Map
26
Day 6
⚙️ Material Samples and Pollution Clues
27
Day 7
📞 Community Voices on Cleaner Cars
28
Day 8
🧩 Problem Themes and Need Statements
29
Day 9
✅ Empathy Evidence Checkpoint
30
Day 10
Design Brief Creation
🧭 Future Car Needs Sort
November 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
2
Day 11
⚛️ Materials and Bonding Evidence Lab
3
Day 12
🧪 Fuel Reaction Decision Tools
4
Day 13
🌊 CO2 Impact Criteria Check
5
Day 14
✍️ How Might We Brief Draft
6
Day 15
✅ Design Brief Milestone Review
9
Day 16
Concepts Prototyped
🧪 Fuel Reaction Choice Lab
10
Day 17
🧱 Body Materials Bonding Sort
11
Day 18
✏️ Three Future Car Concepts
12
Day 19
📐 Low-Tech Prototype Build
13
Day 20
💬 Prototype Feedback Carousel
16
Day 21
✅ Concept Gate Review
17
Day 22
Prototype Validated Expo
🧪 Reaction Claims Mini-Clinic
18
Day 23
🛠️ Prototype Revision Sprint One
19
Day 24
💬 Two-Peer Critique Protocol
20
Day 25
🌍 CO2 Water Impact Check
23
Day 26
🚗 Expert Validation and Sprint Two
24
Day 27
🖼️ Future Auto Expo Draft
25
Day 28
Showcase
🧭 Future Auto Expo Rehearsal
26
Day 29
💬 Expo Feedback and Revision
27
Day 30
🚗 Community Showcase Presentations