Middle School Grade
Project
1 week
MS-ESS3-2
MS-ESS3-2
Critical Thinking & Problem Solving
Effective Communication
1-pager
Empathize
Empathize
Students will investigate how natural hazards intersect with community vulnerability by engaging directly with people affected by or responsible for disaster preparedness. Through structured interviews and empathy mapping, they will ground future solution design in real user evidence rather than assumptions.
Day 1
Define
Define
Students will synthesize their disaster interview notes and hazard data into clear, evidence-based problem definitions. They will identify patterns across users, connect needs to scientific hazard trends, and craft a focused How Might We statement grounded in direct quotes and quantitative data to guide ideation in the next phase.
Day 2
Test/Present
Test/Present
Students will conduct a final round of user testing with new participants, refine their resilience prototypes using documented feedback, and present their full design journey at the Disaster Insights Fair to an authentic audience, clearly connecting hazard data and user evidence to their mitigation solutions.
Day 5
45 min over capacity (45 min available across 1 day)
Empathize
Days 1–1
Day 1
🌪️ Disaster Simulation Day Kickoff
Launch
15m
🎤 Interview Protocol Workshop
Knowledge/Skill Building
15m
🗣️ Community Preparedness Interviews
Community Experience
15m
Define
Days 2–2
Day 2
🧠 Affinity Map of User Quotes
Project Work
15m
📊 Linking Hazard Data to User Needs
Knowledge/Skill Building
15m
✏️ Crafting Our How Might We
Deliverable
10m
🔍 Peer Critique of HMW Statements
Assessment
5m
Ideate
Days 3–3
Day 3
⚡ 20-Idea Wildfire & Flood Brainstorm
Deliverable
15m
🧠 SCAMPER Disaster Redesign Lab
Knowledge/Skill Building
10m
📊 User-Weighted Decision Matrix
Knowledge/Skill Building
10m
✏️ User Interaction Storyboards
Deliverable
10m
Prototype
Days 4–4
Day 4
🛠️ Rapid Low-Fi Mitigation Build
Deliverable
20m
🔍 User Testing Protocol Planning
Knowledge/Skill Building
10m
🗣️ Cross-Team Prototype Testing
Project Work
10m
♻️ Iteration Log & Revision Build
Deliverable
5m
Test/Present
Days 5–5
Day 5
🧪 Final User Testing Protocol Run
Project Work
20m
🔁 Iteration Log Update & Final Tweaks
Deliverable
10m
🗺️ Evidence Wall & Storyline Rehearsal
Knowledge/Skill Building
15m
🎪 Disaster Insights Fair Booth Presentation
Assessment
45m
April 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
27
Day 1
Empathize
🌪️ Disaster Simulation Day Kickoff
🎤 Interview Protocol Workshop
🗣️ Community Preparedness Interviews
28
Day 2
Define
🧠 Affinity Map of User Quotes
📊 Linking Hazard Data to User Needs
✏️ Crafting Our How Might We
🔍 Peer Critique of HMW Statements
29
Day 3
Ideate
⚡ 20-Idea Wildfire & Flood Brainstorm
🧠 SCAMPER Disaster Redesign Lab
📊 User-Weighted Decision Matrix
✏️ User Interaction Storyboards
30
Day 4
Prototype
🛠️ Rapid Low-Fi Mitigation Build
🔍 User Testing Protocol Planning
🗣️ Cross-Team Prototype Testing
♻️ Iteration Log & Revision Build
1
Day 5
Test/Present
🧪 Final User Testing Protocol Run
🔁 Iteration Log Update & Final Tweaks
🗺️ Evidence Wall & Storyline Rehearsal
🎪 Disaster Insights Fair Booth Presentation