Toy Tales and Buddy-Made Magic

Empathize

Students will meet their Pre-K buddies, gather firsthand evidence about what makes them smile, play, and learn, and turn those observations into early empathy notes that will guide later toy and story design.

Days 1 - 2

🚍 Buddy Connection Day

Launch 45m

🎭 Toy Stories and Empathy Map

Deliverable 45m

Define

Students will sort buddy research into clear patterns, connect those patterns to story and play needs, and write a simple problem statement that explains how a toy can help a specific Pre-K buddy smile, play, and learn.

Days 3 - 4

🧸 Buddy Needs Sort

Knowledge/Skill Building 40m

📝 Toy Problem Statement Card

Deliverable 45m

Ideate

Students will generate several toy ideas for their Pre-K buddy, use story and play evidence to compare options, and choose one promising toy direction to carry into drafting.

Days 5 - 7

🎭 Toy Character Drama Moves

Knowledge/Skill Building 35m

🖍️ Three Toy Idea Sketches

Project Work 50m

✅ Buddy Toy Choice Card

Deliverable 45m

Draft

Students will turn their toy ideas into first drafts by practicing simple prototype-building moves, drafting a toy-centered story plan, building a labeled low-tech toy model, and revising after a structured peer feedback round.

Days 8 - 11

🧰 Toy Parts Build Lab

Knowledge/Skill Building 35m

🎭 Toy Story Map Drama

Knowledge/Skill Building 40m

🧸 Buddy Toy Prototype Draft

Deliverable 60m

💬 Two-Friend Toy Tune-Up

Project Work 45m

Test

Students will test their toy drafts and story ideas with peers and Pre-K users, gather clear evidence about what helps a younger child smile, play, and learn, and document specific revisions for the next phase.

Days 12 - 14

🗣️ Toy Test Talk Stems

Knowledge/Skill Building 30m

🧸 Buddy Toy Tryout

Community Experience 45m

🔁 Two Friends Feedback Round

Deliverable 45m

Critique

Students will use structured critique to compare their toy prototype and companion book against buddy evidence, story elements, and play-and-learn goals, then revise both products before the final showcase phase.

Days 15 - 17

🎭 Toy Story Feedback Walk

Knowledge/Skill Building 40m

🧸 Buddy Toy Critique Circles

Deliverable 50m

✏️ Revision Plan Conference

Project Work 45m

Notice & Reflect

Students will present their finished toy-and-book work to an authentic audience, notice evidence of how their design helped a younger child smile, play, and learn, and document their growth through spoken, visual, and video reflection.

Days 18 - 20

🖼️ Toy-and-Book Showcase Walk

Deliverable 45m

🎉 Play & Story Premiere

Community Experience 45m

🎤 Smile, Play, Learn Reflection

Assessment 45m

Empathize Days 1–2

Day 1

🚍 Buddy Connection Day

Launch 45m

Day 2

🎭 Toy Stories and Empathy Map

Deliverable 45m

Define Days 3–4

Day 3

🧸 Buddy Needs Sort

Knowledge/Skill Building 40m

Day 4

📝 Toy Problem Statement Card

Deliverable 45m

Ideate Days 5–7

Day 5

🎭 Toy Character Drama Moves

Knowledge/Skill Building 35m

Day 6

🖍️ Three Toy Idea Sketches

Project Work 50m

Day 7

✅ Buddy Toy Choice Card

Deliverable 45m

Draft Days 8–11

Day 8

🧰 Toy Parts Build Lab

Knowledge/Skill Building 35m

Day 9

🎭 Toy Story Map Drama

Knowledge/Skill Building 40m

Day 10

🧸 Buddy Toy Prototype Draft

Deliverable 60m

Day 11

💬 Two-Friend Toy Tune-Up

Project Work 45m

Test Days 12–14

Day 12

🗣️ Toy Test Talk Stems

Knowledge/Skill Building 30m

Day 13

🧸 Buddy Toy Tryout

Community Experience 45m

Day 14

🔁 Two Friends Feedback Round

Deliverable 45m

Critique Days 15–17

Day 15

🎭 Toy Story Feedback Walk

Knowledge/Skill Building 40m

Day 16

🧸 Buddy Toy Critique Circles

Deliverable 50m

Day 17

✏️ Revision Plan Conference

Project Work 45m

Notice & Reflect Days 18–20

Day 18

🖼️ Toy-and-Book Showcase Walk

Deliverable 45m

Day 19

🎉 Play & Story Premiere

Community Experience 45m

Day 20

🎤 Smile, Play, Learn Reflection

Assessment 45m

August 2026

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

24 Day 1

Empathize

🚍 Buddy Connection Day

25 Day 2

🎭 Toy Stories and Empathy Map

26 Day 3

Define

🧸 Buddy Needs Sort

27 Day 4

📝 Toy Problem Statement Card

28 Day 5

Ideate

🎭 Toy Character Drama Moves

September 2026

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

31 Day 6

🖍️ Three Toy Idea Sketches

1 Day 7

✅ Buddy Toy Choice Card

2 Day 8

Draft

🧰 Toy Parts Build Lab

3 Day 9

🎭 Toy Story Map Drama

4 Day 10

🧸 Buddy Toy Prototype Draft

7 Day 11

💬 Two-Friend Toy Tune-Up

8 Day 12

Test

🗣️ Toy Test Talk Stems

9 Day 13

🧸 Buddy Toy Tryout

10 Day 14

🔁 Two Friends Feedback Round

11 Day 15

Critique

🎭 Toy Story Feedback Walk

14 Day 16

🧸 Buddy Toy Critique Circles

15 Day 17

✏️ Revision Plan Conference

16 Day 18

Notice & Reflect

🖼️ Toy-and-Book Showcase Walk

17 Day 19

🎉 Play & Story Premiere

18 Day 20

🎤 Smile, Play, Learn Reflection

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August 2026

September 2026