Empathize
Empathize
Students will launch the bird inquiry through direct observation, guided listening, shared reading, and community-based noticing. They will begin building empathy for birds and for the people who care about local habitats by sketching, talking, sorting evidence from nature, and revising early journal work with teacher, peer, and expert feedback.
Days 1 - 5
Define
Define
Students will sort and synthesize what they noticed about local birds, nests, trees, seasons, and feelings so they can define a clear class design challenge for the neighborhood bird guide and Bird-and-Nest Museum. They will use journals, sketches, talk moves, picture cards, peer feedback, and community-based evidence to name what birds need, what people need to understand, and how their work can help families care more for nature and community.
Days 6 - 10
Ideate
Ideate
Students will use what they already observed about local birds, nests, trees, and feelings in nature to generate many possible ideas for a shared neighborhood bird guide and Bird-and-Nest Museum display. They will study mentor examples, sort what families and visitors need to understand, sketch multiple concepts, get peer and teacher feedback, revise, and choose strong directions for the next drafting phase.
Days 11 - 16
Draft
Draft
Students will turn their bird observations, seasonal ideas, and home-and-habitat thinking into first drafts of journal pages, bird-guide entries, and nest or habitat models. They will use mentor texts, shared criteria, quick critique routines, and expert-informed details to create early versions that can be tested and revised in the next phase.
Days 17 - 24
Test
Test
Students will test their draft bird guide pages, nest and habitat dioramas, and oral explanations with classmates and community users, gather feedback about clarity and accuracy, revise based on what they learn, and document how their work better helps families understand local birds, seasons, trees, and homes.
Days 25 - 30
Critique
Critique
Students will use kind, specific critique to improve their bird guide pages, nest and habitat dioramas, and oral explanations by comparing their work to class criteria, listening to peer and expert feedback, and revising for accuracy, detail, and audience understanding.
Days 31 - 35
Notice & Reflect
Notice & Reflect
Students will revisit their bird observations, nest models, guide pages, and museum pieces to notice growth, explain how feedback changed their work, rehearse for authentic audiences, and share final learning with families and community partners. They will use speaking, drawing, audio, and simple reflection routines to connect birds, seasons, homes, and community care while documenting next steps for noticing and protecting birds around them.
Days 36 - 40
Empathize
Days 1–5
Day 1
🪶 Wings and Nests Discovery Day
Launch
60m
Day 2
📚 Bird Stories and Sound Words
Knowledge/Skill Building
55m
Day 3
👂 Listening for Calls and Clues
Knowledge/Skill Building
60m
Day 4
🗺️ Our Trees, Nests, and Homes Map
Deliverable
60m
Day 5
📝 Bird Journal Checkpoint
Assessment
55m
Define
Days 6–10
Day 6
🪶 Bird Clues Sort and Class Chart
Knowledge/Skill Building
60m
Day 7
🌦️ Seasons, Trees, and Bird Needs
Knowledge/Skill Building
60m
Day 8
💬 Family Visitor Need Interviews
Community Experience
60m
Day 9
🧩 Problem Statement Picture Posters
Deliverable
60m
Day 10
✅ Bird Guide Challenge Checkpoint
Assessment
60m
Ideate
Days 11–16
Day 11
📚 Bird Guide Picture Walk
Knowledge/Skill Building
50m
Day 12
🧠 Visitor Needs Sorting Map
Knowledge/Skill Building
60m
Day 13
✏️ Three Bird Museum Sketches
Project Work
60m
Day 14
🗣️ Two Friends Feedback Round
Deliverable
60m
Day 15
🪺 Nest Display Choice Conference
Assessment
70m
Day 16
🎤 Guide Page Share-Out
Deliverable
50m
Draft
Days 17–24
Day 17
📚 Bird Guide Page Features
Knowledge/Skill Building
60m
Day 18
🎵 Sound Words and Bird Labels
Knowledge/Skill Building
50m
Day 19
🪺 Nest Diorama Materials Plan
Knowledge/Skill Building
60m
Day 20
✏️ First Bird Guide Drafts
Deliverable
60m
Day 21
🧱 First Nest Habitat Build
Project Work
60m
Day 22
💬 Two Friends Feedback Round
Project Work
60m
Day 23
🖍️ Revised Guide and Model Drafts
Deliverable
70m
Day 24
🗣️ Draft Share Checkpoint
Assessment
60m
Test
Days 25–30
Day 25
🗣️ Bird Guide Feedback Practice
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Day 26
👂 Peer Bird Museum Tryout
Project Work
60m
Day 27
🪶 Revise Sketches Labels Sounds
Deliverable
60m
Day 28
🌲 Nature Center User Test
Community Experience
75m
Day 29
📊 What Users Understood Chart
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Day 30
✅ Bird Guide Test Checkpoint
Assessment
60m
Critique
Days 31–35
Day 31
🪶 Bird Guide Critique Moves
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Day 32
👂 Two Friends Review Guide Pages
Deliverable
60m
Day 33
🌲 Nature Center Expert Tune-Up
Community Experience
60m
Day 34
🪺 Nest Museum Piece Revision
Project Work
75m
Day 35
🎤 Museum Share Practice Round
Assessment
60m
Notice & Reflect
Days 36–40
Day 36
🪶 Bird Guide Growth Gallery
Knowledge/Skill Building
55m
Day 37
🎤 Museum Talk Rehearsal
Deliverable
60m
Day 38
🌳 Caring for Birds Action Chart
Knowledge/Skill Building
50m
Day 39
🖼️ Wings and Nests Museum Walk
Assessment
75m
Day 40
📘 My Bird Learning Memory Page
Deliverable
55m
September 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
28
Day 1
Empathize
🪶 Wings and Nests Discovery Day
29
Day 2
📚 Bird Stories and Sound Words
30
Day 3
👂 Listening for Calls and Clues
1
Day 4
🗺️ Our Trees, Nests, and Homes Map
2
Day 5
📝 Bird Journal Checkpoint
October 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
5
Day 6
Define
🪶 Bird Clues Sort and Class Chart
6
Day 7
🌦️ Seasons, Trees, and Bird Needs
7
Day 8
💬 Family Visitor Need Interviews
8
Day 9
🧩 Problem Statement Picture Posters
9
Day 10
✅ Bird Guide Challenge Checkpoint
12
Day 11
Ideate
📚 Bird Guide Picture Walk
13
Day 12
🧠 Visitor Needs Sorting Map
14
Day 13
✏️ Three Bird Museum Sketches
15
Day 14
🗣️ Two Friends Feedback Round
16
Day 15
🪺 Nest Display Choice Conference
19
Day 16
🎤 Guide Page Share-Out
20
Day 17
Draft
📚 Bird Guide Page Features
21
Day 18
🎵 Sound Words and Bird Labels
22
Day 19
🪺 Nest Diorama Materials Plan
23
Day 20
✏️ First Bird Guide Drafts
26
Day 21
🧱 First Nest Habitat Build
27
Day 22
💬 Two Friends Feedback Round
28
Day 23
🖍️ Revised Guide and Model Drafts
29
Day 24
🗣️ Draft Share Checkpoint
30
Day 25
Test
🗣️ Bird Guide Feedback Practice
November 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
2
Day 26
👂 Peer Bird Museum Tryout
3
Day 27
🪶 Revise Sketches Labels Sounds
4
Day 28
🌲 Nature Center User Test
5
Day 29
📊 What Users Understood Chart
6
Day 30
✅ Bird Guide Test Checkpoint
9
Day 31
Critique
🪶 Bird Guide Critique Moves
10
Day 32
👂 Two Friends Review Guide Pages
11
Day 33
🌲 Nature Center Expert Tune-Up
12
Day 34
🪺 Nest Museum Piece Revision
13
Day 35
🎤 Museum Share Practice Round
16
Day 36
Notice & Reflect
🪶 Bird Guide Growth Gallery
17
Day 37
🎤 Museum Talk Rehearsal
18
Day 38
🌳 Caring for Birds Action Chart
19
Day 39
🖼️ Wings and Nests Museum Walk
20
Day 40
📘 My Bird Learning Memory Page