Empathize
Empathize
Students will launch the project by simulating a town meeting to create classroom rules, then interview a local police officer to understand how community leaders use rules and teamwork to keep people safe. They will create a pictorial empathy map grounded in direct quotes and observations from the officer to guide later design work.
Day 1
Define
Define
Students will synthesize what they learned from the police officer and other adults to define a clear community need using a class-created How Might We statement grounded in real quotes and observations.
Day 2
Ideate
Ideate
Students will generate many possible ways to help community members remember and follow rules, then select and sketch their strongest solution based on real needs shared by the police officer and other leaders.
Day 3
Prototype
Prototype
Students will build and revise a testable version of their Community Safety Solution using their empathy maps and How Might We statement. They will create a low-fidelity prototype, test it with a real user (a visiting police officer or another kindergarten class), document feedback through drawings and teacher-scribed notes, and revise their design before final presentation.
Day 4
Test/Present
Test/Present
Students will present their community safety prototypes and storybook pages to authentic users, explain how feedback shaped their designs, and demonstrate understanding of community leaders, rules, and consequences during the Community Heroes Parade.
Day 5
Empathize
Days 1–1
Day 1
๐ Rule Makers Rally Town Meeting
Launch
20m
๐ฎ Police Officer Interview & Empathy Map
Deliverable
25m
Define
Days 2–2
Day 2
๐งฉ Community Needs Affinity Map
Knowledge/Skill Building
20m
โ Our How Might We Safety Question
Deliverable
25m
Ideate
Days 3–3
Day 3
๐ก Community Safety Idea Storm
Deliverable
45m
Prototype
Days 4–4
Day 4
๐ ๏ธ Safety Solution Prototype & Test
Deliverable
45m
Test/Present
Days 5–5
Day 5
๐ Community Heroes Parade & Design Showcase
Assessment
45m
September 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
28
Day 1
Empathize
๐ Rule Makers Rally Town Meeting
๐ฎ Police Officer Interview & Empathy Map
29
Day 2
Define
๐งฉ Community Needs Affinity Map
โ Our How Might We Safety Question
30
Day 3
Ideate
๐ก Community Safety Idea Storm
1
Day 4
Prototype
๐ ๏ธ Safety Solution Prototype & Test
2
Day 5
Test/Present
๐ Community Heroes Parade & Design Showcase