Students will explore how U.S. government works by connecting with real family perspectives about laws, voting, and the three branches. Through a project launch simulation and structured user interviews, students will gather empathy data to understand what families find confusing about government and civic participation, preparing to design an interactive voting station and Kid’s Guide that meets real user needs.

Students will synthesize insights from family interviews about government into clear empathy artifacts and a focused problem statement that defines what families need to better understand the Three Branches, the Constitution, and voting. They will analyze patterns in user feedback and articulate a class-approved design challenge to guide their Kid’s Guide and Interactive Voting Station.

Students will generate multiple creative ideas for their Family Government Fair voting station and Kid’s Guide prototype, using empathy research about family confusion around the three branches, Constitution, laws, and voting. They will brainstorm broadly, sketch concept ideas, give and receive peer feedback, and narrow to one strong, user-centered solution to prototype next phase.

Students will build and refine testable prototypes of their Family Government Fair voting station and Kid’s Guide display, applying their knowledge of the Three Branches, Constitution, laws, and voting. They will create physical models, draft clear explanations for families, gather peer feedback, and revise before moving to final testing in the next phase.

Students will test their interactive voting stations and Kid’s Guide displays with family members, gather authentic feedback, revise their prototypes, and present their final understanding of the Three Branches, Constitution, laws, and voting in a family government fair.