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4th Grade  Project 4 weeks

Welcoming Waves: Vietnamese Stories in California

Riza E
Mar 22, 2026
Updated Mar 22, 2026
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Purpose

The purpose of this learning experience is to deepen students' understanding of the Vietnamese refugee resettlement in California and its cultural impact on local communities. By engaging in hands-on projects, students will explore historical narratives and personal stories, fostering empathy and critical thinking. The project aims to connect students with real-world history, encouraging them to appreciate cultural diversity and community transformation.

Learning goals

Students will understand the historical context and personal experiences of Vietnamese refugees resettling in California. They will analyze how cultural influences from Vietnamese communities have shaped local Californian communities. Students will develop skills in research, collaboration, and creative expression through art, music, and digital media. They will learn to present information effectively and engage with feedback to refine their work.

Products

Students will create a class mural highlighting key moments and cultural influences of Vietnamese refugees in California. They will develop an interactive timeline display using digital tablets, featuring curated videos and animations of personal stories and cultural interactions. Additionally, students will contribute to a walk-through exhibition, crafting art, music, and digital media pieces that represent pivotal moments in the resettlement journey.

Launch

Begin with a 'Mapping the Journey' activity where students work together to create a large map tracing the path from Vietnam to California. Mark key events and cultural influences along the route, using colorful symbols and images. This collaborative effort will help students visualize the historical journey and set the stage for exploring personal stories and cultural impacts.

Exhibition

Organize a 'Journey through Time' walk-through exhibition where students guide visitors through stations representing key moments in Vietnamese refugee resettlement. Each station will feature art, music, and digital media created by students, illustrating cultural influences and personal stories. Invite community members and families to engage with the interactive displays, fostering a shared understanding of the historical journey and its impact on California communities.

Plan
By Phase By Day Calendar
Empathize Define Ideate Prototype Test/Present
Empathize
Students will begin the design journey by meeting real people connected to Vietnamese refugee resettlement, surfacing their own assumptions, and conducting firsthand interviews. They will collect direct quotes and observations, then organize their findings into structured empathy maps that will serve as the evidence base for defining meaningful problems in the next phase.
Days 1 - 3
πŸ—ΊοΈ Mapping the Journey Launch
Launch 25m
🎀 Interview Skills Workshop
Knowledge/Skill Building 20m
πŸ“ Second Interview Fieldwork
Research 45m
🧠 Empathy Map Creation
Deliverable 45m
No activities have been added to this phase yet.

Edit Phase

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Define
Students will analyze patterns across their Vietnamese refugee interviews and sources, identify shared needs and challenges, and craft a focused, evidence-based "How Might We" problem statement that will guide their exhibition and mural design work.
Days 4 - 6
45 min over capacity (135 min available across 3 days)
🧠 Clustering Interview Quotes
Knowledge/Skill Building 45m
πŸ—ΊοΈ From Themes to Needs
Knowledge/Skill Building 45m
✏️ Drafting HMW Questions
Deliverable 45m
πŸ“„ Final HMW & Rationale
Assessment 45m
No activities have been added to this phase yet.

Edit Phase

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Ideate
Students will generate a wide range of possible solutions for their interactive timeline slides and exhibition elements, moving from rapid idea generation to selecting and sketching user-centered concepts grounded in real interview evidence about Vietnamese refugee resettlement in California.
Days 7 - 10
πŸ’‘ 15 Ideas for Timeline Slides
Deliverable 45m
🧠 Crazy 8s: Cultural Influence Sketches
Knowledge/Skill Building 22m
πŸ”„ SCAMPER the Migration Map
Knowledge/Skill Building 23m
πŸ—³οΈ Concept Selection & Rationale
Deliverable 25m
πŸ“ Storyboard the Visitor Journey
Deliverable 45m
No activities have been added to this phase yet.

Edit Phase

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Prototype
Students will build, test, and refine low- to higher-fidelity prototypes for their interactive timeline slides and exhibition station elements, using real user feedback to improve clarity, cultural accuracy, and engagement before final production.
Days 11 - 15
πŸ› οΈ Prototype Planning Mini-Lesson
Knowledge/Skill Building 20m
πŸ“„ Paper Timeline Slide Draft
Deliverable 25m
πŸ” Peer Feedback Carousel
Project Work 45m
πŸ’» Digital Timeline Build Workshop
Knowledge/Skill Building 15m
πŸ§ͺ User Testing with Community Guest
Community Experience 45m
βœ… Prototype Milestone Check
Assessment 45m
No activities have been added to this phase yet.

Edit Phase

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Test/Present
Students will conduct a final round of authentic user testing with new visitors, refine their interactive timeline, mural panel, and exhibition station based on documented feedback, and present their full design journey to an authentic audience during a 'Journey Through Time' walk-through event.
Days 16 - 20
🎀 Visitor Feedback Protocol Practice
Knowledge/Skill Building 22m
πŸ§ͺ Final User Testing with New Guests
Community Experience 23m
πŸ–ΌοΈ Gallery Walk & Peer Critique
Deliverable 45m
πŸ› οΈ Exhibition Polish & Final Edits
Project Work 45m
πŸ›οΈ Journey Through Time Exhibition
Assessment 23m
No activities have been added to this phase yet.

Edit Phase

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Empathize Days 1–3
Day 1
πŸ—ΊοΈ Mapping the Journey Launch
Launch 25m
🎀 Interview Skills Workshop
Knowledge/Skill Building 20m
Day 2
Day 3
πŸ“ Second Interview Fieldwork
Research 45m
🧠 Empathy Map Creation
Deliverable 45m
Define Days 4–6
Day 4
🧠 Clustering Interview Quotes
Knowledge/Skill Building 45m
Day 5
πŸ—ΊοΈ From Themes to Needs
Knowledge/Skill Building 45m
✏️ Drafting HMW Questions
Deliverable 45m
Day 6
πŸ“„ Final HMW & Rationale
Assessment 45m
Ideate Days 7–10
Day 7
πŸ’‘ 15 Ideas for Timeline Slides
Deliverable 45m
Day 8
🧠 Crazy 8s: Cultural Influence Sketches
Knowledge/Skill Building 22m
πŸ”„ SCAMPER the Migration Map
Knowledge/Skill Building 23m
Day 9
πŸ—³οΈ Concept Selection & Rationale
Deliverable 25m
Day 10
πŸ“ Storyboard the Visitor Journey
Deliverable 45m
Prototype Days 11–15
Day 11
πŸ› οΈ Prototype Planning Mini-Lesson
Knowledge/Skill Building 20m
πŸ“„ Paper Timeline Slide Draft
Deliverable 25m
Day 12
πŸ” Peer Feedback Carousel
Project Work 45m
Day 13
Day 14
πŸ’» Digital Timeline Build Workshop
Knowledge/Skill Building 15m
Day 15
πŸ§ͺ User Testing with Community Guest
Community Experience 45m
βœ… Prototype Milestone Check
Assessment 45m
Test/Present Days 16–20
Day 16
🎀 Visitor Feedback Protocol Practice
Knowledge/Skill Building 22m
πŸ§ͺ Final User Testing with New Guests
Community Experience 23m
Day 17
Day 18
πŸ–ΌοΈ Gallery Walk & Peer Critique
Deliverable 45m
Day 19
πŸ› οΈ Exhibition Polish & Final Edits
Project Work 45m
Day 20
πŸ›οΈ Journey Through Time Exhibition
Assessment 23m

May 2026

Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
11 Day 1
Empathize
πŸ—ΊοΈ Mapping the Journey Launch
🎀 Interview Skills Workshop
12 Day 2
13 Day 3
πŸ“ Second Interview Fieldwork
🧠 Empathy Map Creation
14 Day 4
Define
🧠 Clustering Interview Quotes
15 Day 5
πŸ—ΊοΈ From Themes to Needs
✏️ Drafting HMW Questions
18 Day 6
πŸ“„ Final HMW & Rationale
19 Day 7
Ideate
πŸ’‘ 15 Ideas for Timeline Slides
20 Day 8
🧠 Crazy 8s: Cultural Influence Sketches
πŸ”„ SCAMPER the Migration Map
21 Day 9
πŸ—³οΈ Concept Selection & Rationale
22 Day 10
πŸ“ Storyboard the Visitor Journey
25 Day 11
Prototype
πŸ› οΈ Prototype Planning Mini-Lesson
πŸ“„ Paper Timeline Slide Draft
26 Day 12
πŸ” Peer Feedback Carousel
27 Day 13
28 Day 14
πŸ’» Digital Timeline Build Workshop
29 Day 15
πŸ§ͺ User Testing with Community Guest
βœ… Prototype Milestone Check

June 2026

Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
1 Day 16
Test/Present
🎀 Visitor Feedback Protocol Practice
πŸ§ͺ Final User Testing with New Guests
2 Day 17
3 Day 18
πŸ–ΌοΈ Gallery Walk & Peer Critique
4 Day 19
πŸ› οΈ Exhibition Polish & Final Edits
5 Day 20
πŸ›οΈ Journey Through Time Exhibition
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