Toy Tales and Buddy-Made Magic

Empathize Define Ideate Draft Test Critique Notice & Reflect

Empathize

Students will meet their Pre-K buddies, gather firsthand evidence about what makes them smile, play, and learn, and turn those observations into early empathy notes that will guide later toy and story design.

Days 1 - 2

🚍 Buddy Connection Day

Launch 45m

🎭 Toy Stories and Empathy Map

Deliverable 45m

No activities have been added to this phase yet.

Edit Phase

Define

Students will sort buddy research into clear patterns, connect those patterns to story and play needs, and write a simple problem statement that explains how a toy can help a specific Pre-K buddy smile, play, and learn.

Days 3 - 4

🧸 Buddy Needs Sort

Knowledge/Skill Building 40m

📝 Toy Problem Statement Card

Deliverable 45m

No activities have been added to this phase yet.

Edit Phase

Ideate

Students will generate several toy ideas for their Pre-K buddy, use story and play evidence to compare options, and choose one promising toy direction to carry into drafting.

Days 5 - 7

🎭 Toy Character Drama Moves

Knowledge/Skill Building 35m

🖍️ Three Toy Idea Sketches

Project Work 50m

✅ Buddy Toy Choice Card

Deliverable 45m

No activities have been added to this phase yet.

Edit Phase

Draft

Students will turn their toy ideas into first drafts by practicing simple prototype-building moves, drafting a toy-centered story plan, building a labeled low-tech toy model, and revising after a structured peer feedback round.

Days 8 - 11

🧰 Toy Parts Build Lab

Knowledge/Skill Building 35m

🎭 Toy Story Map Drama

Knowledge/Skill Building 40m

🧸 Buddy Toy Prototype Draft

Deliverable 60m

💬 Two-Friend Toy Tune-Up

Project Work 45m

No activities have been added to this phase yet.

Edit Phase

Test

Students will test their toy drafts and story ideas with peers and Pre-K users, gather clear evidence about what helps a younger child smile, play, and learn, and document specific revisions for the next phase.

Days 12 - 14

🗣️ Toy Test Talk Stems

Knowledge/Skill Building 30m

🧸 Buddy Toy Tryout

Community Experience 45m

🔁 Two Friends Feedback Round

Deliverable 45m

No activities have been added to this phase yet.

Edit Phase

Critique

Students will use structured critique to compare their toy prototype and companion book against buddy evidence, story elements, and play-and-learn goals, then revise both products before the final showcase phase.

Days 15 - 17

🎭 Toy Story Feedback Walk

Knowledge/Skill Building 40m

🧸 Buddy Toy Critique Circles

Deliverable 50m

✏️ Revision Plan Conference

Project Work 45m

No activities have been added to this phase yet.

Edit Phase

Notice & Reflect

Students will present their finished toy-and-book work to an authentic audience, notice evidence of how their design helped a younger child smile, play, and learn, and document their growth through spoken, visual, and video reflection.

Days 18 - 20

🖼️ Toy-and-Book Showcase Walk

Deliverable 45m

🎉 Play & Story Premiere

Community Experience 45m

🎤 Smile, Play, Learn Reflection

Assessment 45m

No activities have been added to this phase yet.