Building activities
Empathize
Empathize
Students will visit local water bodies, engage with community partners to explore how land-based activities affect aquatic ecosystems, and collaboratively gather field observations and insights to understand the perspectives of aquatic life and water's role, setting the foundation for responsible action and creative expression in later phases.
Days 1 - 9
Define
Define
Students will synthesize their observations and insights from local aquatic environments to define specific water-related challenges in San Diego, focusing on the impact of land-based actions on marine life, and begin to document their findings in scientific journals for reflective analysis.
Days 10 - 18
Ideate
Ideate
Students will brainstorm creative solutions and water-themed performance ideas, collaborating in groups to generate diverse ways we can protect San Diego’s aquatic life, utilizing knowledge from previous exploration experiences and preparing initial concepts to take forward into the prototype phase.
Days 19 - 27
Prototype
Prototype
Students will create low-fidelity puppets and water-themed storyboards using materials like paper, fabric, and recycled items to bring their ideas to life, emphasizing the interconnectedness of land and water and setting the stage for their final performance and classroom displays.
Days 28 - 36
Empathize
Days 1–9
Day 1
Day 2
Tide Pool Exploration
Activity
60m
Day 3
Field Observations Discussion
Activity
45m
Day 4
River Estuary Exploration
Activity
60m
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Local Water Bodies Mapping
Activity
60m
Day 8
Day 9
Define
Days 10–18
Day 10
Day 11
Day 12
Day 13
Diagramming Human Impact
Activity
60m
Day 14
Day 15
Visit to Tijuana River Estuary
Activity
90m
Day 16
Day 17
Group Reflection and Discussion
Assessment
Day 18
Scientific Journal Presentation
Assessment
Ideate
Days 19–27
Day 19
Water Cycle Immersive Storytelling
Launch
45m
Day 20
Day 21
Role Play: Interconnected Ecosystems
Activity
45m
Day 22
Day 23
Day 24
Rehearsal of Group Presentation
Activity
60m
Day 25
Day 26
Day 27
Prototype
Days 28–36
Day 28
Day 29
Day 30
Day 31
Day 32
Scientific Journal Polishing
Activity
60m
Day 33
Day 34
Day 35
Day 36
Scientific Journal Review
Assessment
Test
Days 37–45
Day 37
Day 38
Scientific Journal Reflection Workshop
Deliverable
30m
Day 39
Day 40
Aquatic Ecosystem Role-Play
Activity
45m
Day 41
Day 42
Journal Exhibit Draft Review
Deliverable
30m
Day 43
Day 44
Day 45
Scientific Journal Exhibit
Assessment
April 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
13
Day 1
Empathize
14
Day 2
Tide Pool Exploration
15
Day 3
Field Observations Discussion
20
Day 4
River Estuary Exploration
21
Day 5
22
Day 6
27
Day 7
Local Water Bodies Mapping
28
Day 8
29
Day 9
May 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
4
Day 10
Define
5
Day 11
6
Day 12
11
Day 13
Diagramming Human Impact
12
Day 14
13
Day 15
Visit to Tijuana River Estuary
18
Day 16
19
Day 17
Group Reflection and Discussion
20
Day 18
Scientific Journal Presentation
25
Day 19
Ideate
Water Cycle Immersive Storytelling
26
Day 20
27
Day 21
Role Play: Interconnected Ecosystems
June 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
1
Day 22
2
Day 23
3
Day 24
Rehearsal of Group Presentation
8
Day 25
9
Day 26
10
Day 27
15
Day 28
Prototype
16
Day 29
17
Day 30
22
Day 31
23
Day 32
Scientific Journal Polishing
24
Day 33
July 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
29
Day 34
30
Day 35
1
Day 36
Scientific Journal Review
6
Day 37
Test
7
Day 38
Scientific Journal Reflection Workshop
8
Day 39
13
Day 40
Aquatic Ecosystem Role-Play
14
Day 41
15
Day 42
Journal Exhibit Draft Review
20
Day 43
21
Day 44
22
Day 45
Scientific Journal Exhibit