Toy Makers: Wings, Wheels, and Wonders

Empathize

Students will launch the toy design challenge, observe how younger children play, gather ideas from community experiences, and record picture-based evidence about what makes a toy fun, safe, and worth keeping for a preschooler.

Days 1 - 7

🎁 Toy Challenge Mystery Bags

Launch 40m

🧠 Preschool Play Noticing Lesson

Knowledge/Skill Building 35m

🗣️ Preschool Interview Practice Cards

Knowledge/Skill Building 40m

🧸 Preschool Buddy Play Visit

Community Experience 40m

🏛️ Denver Toy Museum Sketch Walk

Community Experience 40m

🌿 Wheels Wings Soft Sort

Deliverable 40m

📁 User Research Picture Page

Assessment 40m

Define

Students will sort and study what they learned from preschool interviews, museum observations, and nature play experiences to define a clear toy problem for a younger child. They will use pictures, talk, movement, and simple design tools to name preschooler needs, choose whether a toy should use wheels, wings, or soft materials, and create a picture-supported problem statement that guides later sketching and building.

Days 8 - 14

🧺 Toy Clue Sorting Mat

Knowledge/Skill Building 40m

🖼️ Preschool Need Picture Map

Knowledge/Skill Building 40m

🎭 Safe Play Puppet Scenes

Knowledge/Skill Building 35m

🌿 Wheels Wings Soft Hunt

Research 40m

🧩 My Preschool Toy Problem Card

Deliverable 45m

💬 Two Friends Feedback Swap

Project Work 40m

✅ Problem Card Build Conference

Assessment 40m

Ideate

Students will use what they learned from preschool interviews, museum observations, and play notes to generate many toy ideas, sort them into wings, wheels, or soft-material options, and choose a strong direction for a preschool toy design. They will practice imaginative play, sketching, quick modeling, peer feedback, and revision so their next prototype choices clearly match a younger child’s needs.

Days 15 - 23

🧺 Toy Idea Bag Launch

Launch 40m

🖼️ Preschool Need-to-Toy Match

Knowledge/Skill Building 35m

✏️ Three Toy Sketches

Deliverable 40m

🛠️ Shape and Material Try-It

Knowledge/Skill Building 40m

🎭 Play-It-Out Toy Stories

Project Work 35m

🧱 Quick Model Build

Project Work 40m

💬 Two Friends Feedback Round

Deliverable 40m

🌿 Nature Shapes Idea Sort

Knowledge/Skill Building 35m

✅ Best Idea Build Conference

Assessment 40m

Draft

Students will turn their toy ideas into first prototypes by studying how shape and material choices affect play, building with simple tools and classroom materials, trying out their designs through dramatic play and movement, and revising from teacher and peer feedback before a draft checkpoint.

Days 24 - 35

🧺 Toy Parts Match-Up

Knowledge/Skill Building 40m

✏️ Labeled Toy Plan Board

Deliverable 40m

🛠️ Tape, Hole Punch, Stuff Demo

Knowledge/Skill Building 40m

🧱 First Toy Prototype Build

Project Work 40m

🎭 Safe Play Toy Tryout

Knowledge/Skill Building 40m

👂 Two Friends Feedback Cards

Deliverable 40m

🔧 Prototype Revision Build

Project Work 40m

🌿 Nature Movement Toy Check

Research 40m

🏫 Preschool Teacher Safety Look

Community Experience 40m

🪡 Stronger Draft Build Day

Project Work 40m

🗣️ Draft Share and Revise

Deliverable 40m

✅ Draft Prototype Checkpoint

Assessment 40m

Test

Students will test their first toy prototypes with classmates and community users, notice what works for preschool play, gather picture-supported feedback, and make evidence-based changes before moving into deeper critique.

Days 36 - 44

🧸 Toy Test Rules Circle

Knowledge/Skill Building 30m

👀 Preschool Play Look-Fors

Knowledge/Skill Building 35m

🛠️ Feedback Tags and Photos

Knowledge/Skill Building 35m

🎯 Partner Toy Tryout

Project Work 40m

📝 Test Board Checkpoint

Deliverable 40m

🏫 Preschool Buddy Toy Trial

Community Experience 40m

🔁 Revise One Toy Part

Project Work 40m

🎭 Safe Play Demo Round

Deliverable 40m

📸 Before-and-After Build Conference

Assessment 40m

Critique

Students will study feedback from play tests, use kind critique routines with peers and adults, and improve their toy so it better matches a preschooler’s needs for fun, safety, and play.

Days 45 - 52

🧠 Feedback Picture Sort

Knowledge/Skill Building 35m

💬 Kind Critique Talk Moves

Knowledge/Skill Building 30m

🧸 Toy Checkpoint Circle

Deliverable 40m

👫 Two-Peer Feedback Round

Project Work 40m

✏️ Revision Sketch and Plan

Knowledge/Skill Building 35m

🛠️ Maker Space Fix-It Build

Project Work 50m

🎭 Safe Play Demo Critique

Community Experience 40m

✅ Improved Toy Build Conference

Assessment 40m

Notice & Reflect

Students will organize evidence from their toy-design journey, rehearse how to explain their choices, present and gift their finished toy to a preschooler, and reflect on how observation, feedback, testing, and kindness shaped their final work.

Days 53 - 60

🖼️ Toy Journey Photo Sort

Knowledge/Skill Building 40m

🗣️ Preschool Toy Talk Practice

Knowledge/Skill Building 40m

👂 Toy Showcase Peer Coaching

Deliverable 40m

🎭 Safe Play Demo Circle

Project Work 40m

🧺 Toy Treasure Showcase Setup

Deliverable 40m

🎁 Preschool Gift and Gallery Walk

Community Experience 40m

✅ Final Toy Story Conference

Assessment 40m

⚽ Maker Reflection Ball Share

Deliverable 40m

Empathize Days 1–7

Day 1

🎁 Toy Challenge Mystery Bags

Launch 40m

Day 2

🧠 Preschool Play Noticing Lesson

Knowledge/Skill Building 35m

Day 3

🗣️ Preschool Interview Practice Cards

Knowledge/Skill Building 40m

Day 4

🧸 Preschool Buddy Play Visit

Community Experience 40m

Day 5

🏛️ Denver Toy Museum Sketch Walk

Community Experience 40m

Day 6

🌿 Wheels Wings Soft Sort

Deliverable 40m

Day 7

📁 User Research Picture Page

Assessment 40m

Define Days 8–14

Day 8

🧺 Toy Clue Sorting Mat

Knowledge/Skill Building 40m

Day 9

🖼️ Preschool Need Picture Map

Knowledge/Skill Building 40m

Day 10

🎭 Safe Play Puppet Scenes

Knowledge/Skill Building 35m

Day 11

🌿 Wheels Wings Soft Hunt

Research 40m

Day 12

🧩 My Preschool Toy Problem Card

Deliverable 45m

Day 13

💬 Two Friends Feedback Swap

Project Work 40m

Day 14

✅ Problem Card Build Conference

Assessment 40m

Ideate Days 15–23

Day 15

🧺 Toy Idea Bag Launch

Launch 40m

Day 16

🖼️ Preschool Need-to-Toy Match

Knowledge/Skill Building 35m

Day 17

✏️ Three Toy Sketches

Deliverable 40m

Day 18

🛠️ Shape and Material Try-It

Knowledge/Skill Building 40m

Day 19

🎭 Play-It-Out Toy Stories

Project Work 35m

Day 20

🧱 Quick Model Build

Project Work 40m

Day 21

💬 Two Friends Feedback Round

Deliverable 40m

Day 22

🌿 Nature Shapes Idea Sort

Knowledge/Skill Building 35m

Day 23

✅ Best Idea Build Conference

Assessment 40m

Draft Days 24–35

Day 24

🧺 Toy Parts Match-Up

Knowledge/Skill Building 40m

Day 25

✏️ Labeled Toy Plan Board

Deliverable 40m

Day 26

🛠️ Tape, Hole Punch, Stuff Demo

Knowledge/Skill Building 40m

Day 27

🧱 First Toy Prototype Build

Project Work 40m

Day 28

🎭 Safe Play Toy Tryout

Knowledge/Skill Building 40m

Day 29

👂 Two Friends Feedback Cards

Deliverable 40m

Day 30

🔧 Prototype Revision Build

Project Work 40m

Day 31

🌿 Nature Movement Toy Check

Research 40m

Day 32

🏫 Preschool Teacher Safety Look

Community Experience 40m

Day 33

🪡 Stronger Draft Build Day

Project Work 40m

Day 34

🗣️ Draft Share and Revise

Deliverable 40m

Day 35

✅ Draft Prototype Checkpoint

Assessment 40m

Test Days 36–44

Day 36

🧸 Toy Test Rules Circle

Knowledge/Skill Building 30m

Day 37

👀 Preschool Play Look-Fors

Knowledge/Skill Building 35m

Day 38

🛠️ Feedback Tags and Photos

Knowledge/Skill Building 35m

Day 39

🎯 Partner Toy Tryout

Project Work 40m

Day 40

📝 Test Board Checkpoint

Deliverable 40m

Day 41

🏫 Preschool Buddy Toy Trial

Community Experience 40m

Day 42

🔁 Revise One Toy Part

Project Work 40m

Day 43

🎭 Safe Play Demo Round

Deliverable 40m

Day 44

📸 Before-and-After Build Conference

Assessment 40m

Critique Days 45–52

Day 45

🧠 Feedback Picture Sort

Knowledge/Skill Building 35m

Day 46

💬 Kind Critique Talk Moves

Knowledge/Skill Building 30m

Day 47

🧸 Toy Checkpoint Circle

Deliverable 40m

Day 48

👫 Two-Peer Feedback Round

Project Work 40m

Day 49

✏️ Revision Sketch and Plan

Knowledge/Skill Building 35m

Day 50

🛠️ Maker Space Fix-It Build

Project Work 50m

Day 51

🎭 Safe Play Demo Critique

Community Experience 40m

Day 52

✅ Improved Toy Build Conference

Assessment 40m

Notice & Reflect Days 53–60

Day 53

🖼️ Toy Journey Photo Sort

Knowledge/Skill Building 40m

Day 54

🗣️ Preschool Toy Talk Practice

Knowledge/Skill Building 40m

Day 55

👂 Toy Showcase Peer Coaching

Deliverable 40m

Day 56

🎭 Safe Play Demo Circle

Project Work 40m

Day 57

🧺 Toy Treasure Showcase Setup

Deliverable 40m

Day 58

🎁 Preschool Gift and Gallery Walk

Community Experience 40m

Day 59

✅ Final Toy Story Conference

Assessment 40m

Day 60

⚽ Maker Reflection Ball Share

Deliverable 40m

August 2026

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

24 Day 1

Empathize

🎁 Toy Challenge Mystery Bags

25 Day 2

🧠 Preschool Play Noticing Lesson

26 Day 3

🗣️ Preschool Interview Practice Cards

27 Day 4

🧸 Preschool Buddy Play Visit

28 Day 5

🏛️ Denver Toy Museum Sketch Walk

September 2026

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

31 Day 6

🌿 Wheels Wings Soft Sort

1 Day 7

📁 User Research Picture Page

2 Day 8

Define

🧺 Toy Clue Sorting Mat

3 Day 9

🖼️ Preschool Need Picture Map

4 Day 10

🎭 Safe Play Puppet Scenes

7 Day 11

🌿 Wheels Wings Soft Hunt

8 Day 12

🧩 My Preschool Toy Problem Card

9 Day 13

💬 Two Friends Feedback Swap

10 Day 14

✅ Problem Card Build Conference

11 Day 15

Ideate

🧺 Toy Idea Bag Launch

14 Day 16

🖼️ Preschool Need-to-Toy Match

15 Day 17

✏️ Three Toy Sketches

16 Day 18

🛠️ Shape and Material Try-It

17 Day 19

🎭 Play-It-Out Toy Stories

18 Day 20

🧱 Quick Model Build

21 Day 21

💬 Two Friends Feedback Round

22 Day 22

🌿 Nature Shapes Idea Sort

23 Day 23

✅ Best Idea Build Conference

24 Day 24

Draft

🧺 Toy Parts Match-Up

25 Day 25

✏️ Labeled Toy Plan Board

28 Day 26

🛠️ Tape, Hole Punch, Stuff Demo

29 Day 27

🧱 First Toy Prototype Build

30 Day 28

🎭 Safe Play Toy Tryout

1 Day 29

👂 Two Friends Feedback Cards

2 Day 30

🔧 Prototype Revision Build

October 2026

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

5 Day 31

🌿 Nature Movement Toy Check

6 Day 32

🏫 Preschool Teacher Safety Look

7 Day 33

🪡 Stronger Draft Build Day

8 Day 34

🗣️ Draft Share and Revise

9 Day 35

✅ Draft Prototype Checkpoint

12 Day 36

Test

🧸 Toy Test Rules Circle

13 Day 37

👀 Preschool Play Look-Fors

14 Day 38

🛠️ Feedback Tags and Photos

15 Day 39

🎯 Partner Toy Tryout

16 Day 40

📝 Test Board Checkpoint

19 Day 41

🏫 Preschool Buddy Toy Trial

20 Day 42

🔁 Revise One Toy Part

21 Day 43

🎭 Safe Play Demo Round

22 Day 44

📸 Before-and-After Build Conference

23 Day 45

Critique

🧠 Feedback Picture Sort

26 Day 46

💬 Kind Critique Talk Moves

27 Day 47

🧸 Toy Checkpoint Circle

28 Day 48

👫 Two-Peer Feedback Round

29 Day 49

✏️ Revision Sketch and Plan

30 Day 50

🛠️ Maker Space Fix-It Build

November 2026

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

2 Day 51

🎭 Safe Play Demo Critique

3 Day 52

✅ Improved Toy Build Conference

4 Day 53

Notice & Reflect

🖼️ Toy Journey Photo Sort

5 Day 54

🗣️ Preschool Toy Talk Practice

6 Day 55

👂 Toy Showcase Peer Coaching

9 Day 56

🎭 Safe Play Demo Circle

10 Day 57

🧺 Toy Treasure Showcase Setup

11 Day 58

🎁 Preschool Gift and Gallery Walk

12 Day 59

✅ Final Toy Story Conference

13 Day 60

⚽ Maker Reflection Ball Share

Edit Phase

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August 2026

September 2026

October 2026

November 2026