Launch
Launch
Students will launch the investigation by testing early explanations for European expansion, gathering local biodiversity evidence, analyzing contrasting pre- and post-contact ecosystem records, and drafting their first evidence-based inquiry question in a research notebook.
Days 1 - 4
Curiosity Investigation
Curiosity Investigation
Students will investigate a puzzling set of ecological and historical evidence, generate a focused question, test possible explanations against multiple sources, and draft a hypothesis with a brief evidence-based rationale about how European colonization reshaped Earth systems and human activity.
Days 5 - 9
Method & Evidence Plan
Method & Evidence Plan
Students will refine a credible investigation method for comparing pre- and post-contact ecosystems and human systems, peer review each team’s approach, and build a traceable evidence tracker that links every developing claim to cited sources, ecological indicators, and planned representations.
Days 10 - 14
10 min over capacity (250 min available across 5 days)
Collect And Document Data
Collect And Document Data
Students will gather and document traceable ecosystem and historical evidence for their selected regions, compare pre- and post-contact conditions, and prepare organized records, summaries, and source-backed datasets for later modeling and exhibit design.
Days 15 - 19
Model And Midpoint Check
Model And Midpoint Check
Students will convert their collected ecological and historical evidence into a first computational representation, test whether their model shows defensible cause-and-effect relationships, and revise both their model and claim using structured peer critique and midpoint assessment feedback.
Days 20 - 24
Analyze And Present Findings
Analyze And Present Findings
Students will finalize their analysis of colonization’s ecological and historical effects by testing claims against counterevidence, refining visual representations, and polishing exhibit materials for public sharing. They will use peer critique and milestone checks to strengthen accuracy, causation reasoning, and clarity before the showcase phase.
Days 25 - 29
Showcase
Showcase
Students will present their completed museum displays and showcase stations to an authentic audience, defend scientific and historical claims with evidence, gather visitor and peer feedback, and complete a final reflection on how their investigation changed their understanding of colonization’s lasting ecological and human impacts.
Days 30 - 32
Launch
Days 1–4
Day 1
⚖️ Colonization Cause Courtroom - Nelson
Launch
50m
Day 2
🌿 Campus Biodiversity Transect - Kumnick
Community Experience
50m
Day 3
🗺️ Before-and-After Evidence Sort - Kumnick
Knowledge/Skill Building
50m
Day 4
📓 Investigation Question Checkpoint - Nelson
Assessment
45m
Curiosity Investigation
Days 5–9
Day 5
🗺️ Region Evidence Sort - Kumnick
Launch
50m
Day 6
📚 Corroborating Maps and Sources - Nelson
Knowledge/Skill Building
50m
Day 7
❓ Investigation Question Workshop - Nelson
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Day 8
🗣️ Question and Hypothesis Critique - Nelson
Project Work
50m
Day 9
📝 Hypothesis and Rationale Checkpoint - Nelson
Assessment
50m
Method & Evidence Plan
Days 10–14
Day 10
Colonization Evidence Chain Builder
Project Work
55m
Day 11
🗺️ Comparing Regions with Evidence Frames
Knowledge/Skill Building
50m
Day 12
📋 Evidence Tracker Build
Project Work
55m
Evidence Tracker:
Evidence notes table
Day 13
🗣️ Method Critique Circle
Deliverable
50m
Evidence Tracker:
Evidence notes table
Day 14
✅ Method Plan Gate
Assessment
50m
Collect And Document Data
Days 15–19
Day 15
🧭 Source Trail and Anomaly Log - Nelson
Knowledge/Skill Building
40m
Day 16
🗺️ Region Evidence Harvest - Nelson
Research
50m
Day 17
📊 Biodiversity Tables to Trend Graphs - Kumnick
Knowledge/Skill Building
50m
Day 18
🧩 Evidence Tracker Critique Swap - Kumnick
Deliverable
50m
Evidence Tracker:
Evidence notes table
Day 19
✅ Dataset Readiness Checkpoint - Kumnick
Assessment
50m
Model And Midpoint Check
Days 20–24
Day 20
🗺️ Earth Systems Model Patterns - Kumnick
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Day 21
💻 Draft Region Change Model - Both
Project Work
50m
Evidence Tracker:
Evidence notes table
Day 22
🗣️ Midpoint Critique Circle - Nelson
Deliverable
50m
Day 23
🖼️ Model Gallery Walk Revisions - Both
Project Work
55m
Day 24
✅ Midpoint Model Defense - Both
Assessment
50m
Analyze And Present Findings
Days 25–29
Day 25
📊 Evidence Patterns and Anomalies Board
Knowledge/Skill Building
50m
Day 26
🧭 Causation Test with Source Sets - Nelson
Knowledge/Skill Building
50m
Day 27
🗺️ Museum Panels and Data Visuals Draft - Both
Deliverable
50m
Day 28
🗣️ Critique Circle for Exhibit Claims - Kumnick
Project Work
50m
Day 29
✅ Polished Exhibit Set Checkpoint - Both
Assessment
50m
Showcase
Days 30–32
Day 30
🛠️ Exhibit Run-Through and Revisions - Both
Project Work
50m
Day 31
🏛️ Earth Systems Museum Showcase - Both
Community Experience
50m
Day 32
📝 Defended Claim and Learning Log - Both
Assessment
50m
October 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
19
Day 1
Launch
⚖️ Colonization Cause Courtroom - Nelson
20
Day 2
🌿 Campus Biodiversity Transect - Kumnick
21
Day 3
🗺️ Before-and-After Evidence Sort - Kumnick
22
Day 4
📓 Investigation Question Checkpoint - Nelson
26
Day 5
Curiosity Investigation
🗺️ Region Evidence Sort - Kumnick
27
Day 6
📚 Corroborating Maps and Sources - Nelson
28
Day 7
❓ Investigation Question Workshop - Nelson
29
Day 8
🗣️ Question and Hypothesis Critique - Nelson
November 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
2
Day 9
📝 Hypothesis and Rationale Checkpoint - Nelson
3
Day 10
Method & Evidence Plan
Colonization Evidence Chain Builder
4
Day 11
🗺️ Comparing Regions with Evidence Frames
5
Day 12
📋 Evidence Tracker Build
9
Day 13
🗣️ Method Critique Circle
10
Day 14
✅ Method Plan Gate
11
Day 15
Collect And Document Data
🧭 Source Trail and Anomaly Log - Nelson
12
Day 16
🗺️ Region Evidence Harvest - Nelson
16
Day 17
📊 Biodiversity Tables to Trend Graphs - Kumnick
17
Day 18
🧩 Evidence Tracker Critique Swap - Kumnick
18
Day 19
✅ Dataset Readiness Checkpoint - Kumnick
19
Day 20
Model And Midpoint Check
🗺️ Earth Systems Model Patterns - Kumnick
23
Day 21
💻 Draft Region Change Model - Both
24
Day 22
🗣️ Midpoint Critique Circle - Nelson
25
Day 23
🖼️ Model Gallery Walk Revisions - Both
26
Day 24
✅ Midpoint Model Defense - Both
December 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
30
Day 25
Analyze And Present Findings
📊 Evidence Patterns and Anomalies Board
1
Day 26
🧭 Causation Test with Source Sets - Nelson
2
Day 27
🗺️ Museum Panels and Data Visuals Draft - Both
3
Day 28
🗣️ Critique Circle for Exhibit Claims - Kumnick
7
Day 29
✅ Polished Exhibit Set Checkpoint - Both
8
Day 30
Showcase
🛠️ Exhibit Run-Through and Revisions - Both
9
Day 31
🏛️ Earth Systems Museum Showcase - Both
10
Day 32
📝 Defended Claim and Learning Log - Both