Empathize
Empathize
Students will explore the Essential Question "What can we learn from the weather?" by experiencing weather through movement, interviewing real users about how weather changes their play, and creating empathy maps grounded in real quotes and observations. They will practice listening, speaking, drawing, and early writing skills while documenting user needs that will guide their design work in the next phase.
Days 1 - 2
5 min over capacity (40 min available across 2 days)
Define
Define
Students will synthesize their weather interviews and observations into clear, child-friendly problem statements that name a real user, a specific need, and evidence from research. They will identify patterns across empathy maps, co-create a shared How Might We question, and refine it through peer critique before moving into ideation.
Days 3 - 4
50 min over capacity (40 min available across 2 days)
Ideate
Ideate
Students will generate many possible solutions to help kindergarteners understand daily weather and choose safe, fun outdoor play. They will use movement, drawing, and structured choice tools to explore diverse ideas before selecting top concepts grounded in real user needs from earlier empathy work.
Days 5 - 6
10 min over capacity (40 min available across 2 days)
Prototype
Prototype
Students will build and refine low- and medium-fidelity prototypes of their Interactive Weather Mural panels and movement demonstrations, test them with real users, document feedback through drawings and teacher scribing, and revise based on evidence before moving to final testing and presentation.
Days 7 - 9
30 min over capacity (60 min available across 3 days)
Test/Present
Test/Present
Students will validate their Interactive Weather Mural and weather-movement performances with new users, revise based on real feedback, and present their full design story—from empathy research to final prototype—at the Nature’s Weather Gallery.
Days 10 - 12
35 min over capacity (60 min available across 3 days)
Empathize
Days 1–2
Day 1
Weather Movement Makers: Learn Weather Actions
Knowledge/Skill Building
25m
Day 2
Rhythm, Rhyme, and Weather Words
Knowledge/Skill Building
20m
Define
Days 3–4
Day 3
Weather Journals and Dance Rehearsal
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Day 4
Weather Pattern Planning with Natural Materials
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Ideate
Days 5–6
Day 5
Collaborative Weather Mural Sketch
Knowledge/Skill Building
50m
Day 6
Weather Idea Booklets
Deliverable
Prototype
Days 7–9
Day 7
Prototype Weather Murals with Natural Materials
Knowledge/Skill Building
50m
Day 8
Mini-Weather Journals: Observe and Reflect
Knowledge/Skill Building
40m
Day 9
Prototype Weather Murals
Deliverable
Test/Present
Days 10–12
Day 10
Weather Murals Presentation with Peer Feedback
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Day 11
Gallery Readiness: Final Labels and Rehearsal
Knowledge/Skill Building
50m
Day 12
Weather Gallery Showcase
Assessment
April 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
20
Day 1
Empathize
Weather Movement Makers: Learn Weather Actions
21
Day 2
Rhythm, Rhyme, and Weather Words
27
Day 3
Define
Weather Journals and Dance Rehearsal
28
Day 4
Weather Pattern Planning with Natural Materials
May 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
4
Day 5
Ideate
Collaborative Weather Mural Sketch
5
Day 6
Weather Idea Booklets
11
Day 7
Prototype
Prototype Weather Murals with Natural Materials
12
Day 8
Mini-Weather Journals: Observe and Reflect
18
Day 9
Prototype Weather Murals
19
Day 10
Test/Present
Weather Murals Presentation with Peer Feedback
25
Day 11
Gallery Readiness: Final Labels and Rehearsal
26
Day 12
Weather Gallery Showcase