Empathize
Students will launch the Orange County geography project by observing local landforms, listening to a parks ranger perspective, and gathering early evidence about how geography affects travel, recreation, and care for local places. They will begin empathizing with park users and map readers by recording wonderings, noticing how people use land differently, and creating a first evidence-based context sketch for later map and atlas work.
Days 1 - 2
🗺️ Geo-Quest Ranger Kickoff
Launch 45m
📸 Park User Photo Journal
Deliverable 45m
Define
Students will sort evidence from maps, photos, notes, and early observations to define a clear problem statement about how Orange County landforms shape travel, recreation, and care for local places, then draft and revise a simple design direction for their map poster and atlas page work.
Days 3 - 4
Landform Trace and Movement Paths
Knowledge/Skill Building 45m
🧩 Landform Clue Card Sort
Deliverable 35m
Ideate
Students will generate and compare possible map poster and atlas page ideas, use evidence from earlier fieldwork and sources to choose promising directions, and revise rough concepts through quick peer and teacher feedback before moving into drafting.
Days 5 - 7
🧭 Orange County Map Idea Sort
Knowledge/Skill Building 35m
✏️ Poster and Atlas Sketch Burst
Deliverable 45m
💬 Two-Peer Sketch Feedback
Deliverable 45m
Draft
Students will turn their ideas into first-draft Orange County map posters and class atlas pages by using map features, landform evidence, and short feedback cycles to improve accuracy, clarity, and usefulness for real visitors.
Days 8 - 11
🧭 Orange County Map Feature Mini-Lesson
Knowledge/Skill Building 30m
✏️ Poster and Atlas Draft Build
Deliverable 60m
🖼️ Sticky-Note Draft Gallery Walk
Project Work 45m
🌿 Ranger Use-and-Care Details
Knowledge/Skill Building 40m
Test
Students will test their draft Orange County map posters, atlas pages, and oral map talks with peers and a county parks ranger, collect evidence-based feedback, and make targeted revisions to improve landform accuracy, map features, and explanations about travel, recreation, and conservation.
Days 12 - 14
🧭 Draft Map Feature Check
Knowledge/Skill Building 30m
📝 Sticky Note Poster Test
Deliverable 45m
🎤 Ranger Talk Practice
Community Experience 45m
Critique
Students will use structured critique routines to examine draft Orange County map posters and atlas pages, give and receive specific feedback, and revise for stronger landform accuracy, map features, and explanations of travel, recreation, and conservation.
Days 15 - 17
🧭 Map Feature Check Mini-Lesson
Knowledge/Skill Building 20m
🖼️ Sticky-Note Poster Critique
Deliverable 45m
🗣️ Oral Map Talk Partner Round
Deliverable 45m
Notice & Reflect
Students will present their finished Orange County geography work to an authentic audience, document what they learned from the ranger visit and revision process, and show how feedback improved their map poster, atlas page thinking, and oral explanation.
Days 18 - 20
🖼️ Landforms and Life Gallery Walk
Assessment 45m
📸 Ranger Visit Photo Journal
Deliverable 40m
🗣️ Map Talk Interviews and Revision Proof
Deliverable 45m