Discover
Students will experience the Chicago teen budgeting challenge through a launch simulation, identify teen users and their needs, and produce initial framing documents that define the challenge and guide later research and design work.
Days 1 - 2
🚌 Chicago Cost Shock Simulation
Launch 55m
🧩 Challenge Definition
Deliverable 60m
Examine
Students will investigate Chicago teen living costs through source analysis, user research, and budget strategy comparison, then use evidence to identify root causes and propose a realistic direction for a Chicago teen budget solution.
Days 3 - 10
🧭 Chicago Cost Inquiry Map
Launch 45m
📊 CTA Fare and Budget Math
Knowledge/Skill Building 60m
📰 Source Evaluation Report
Deliverable 70m
🎤 Teen Budget Interview Notes
Research 55m
🧩 Cause-and-Effect Evidence Wall
Knowledge/Skill Building 55m
🌳 Root Cause Analysis
Deliverable 65m
💬 Budget Strategy Feedback Round
Project Work 60m
📝 Solution Proposal
Deliverable 70m
Engineer
Students will turn their Chicago teen budgeting research into testable design ideas, study effective financial advice models, plan a user-centered product, build and revise a budget prototype, and document how feedback improves the realism and usefulness of their recommendation.
Days 11 - 15
🧭 Chicago Budget Mentor Texts
Knowledge/Skill Building 60m
📝 Exemplar Exploration
Deliverable 60m
📊 Hypothesis
Deliverable 30m
🛠️ Creation Plan
Deliverable 60m
🔁 Solution Development Report
Deliverable 90m
Do
Students will implement and test their Chicago teen budget recommendations with peers and community-connected reviewers, collect evidence about realism and usefulness, and use that evidence to improve their budgeting advice before the final share phase.
Days 16 - 17
🧭 Implementation and Data Collection Plan
Deliverable 35m
💬 Peer Test and Revision Notes
Project Work 25m
📊 Implementation Results
Deliverable 60m
Share
Students will present their Chicago teen budget recommendations to an authentic audience, document how feedback shaped their final choices, and complete a culminating reflection on their learning, skills, and community impact.
Day 18
🌆 Growth Reflection
Assessment 60m