Empathize
Empathize
Students will launch the Orange County geography project by observing local landforms, listening to a parks ranger perspective, and gathering early evidence about how geography affects travel, recreation, and care for local places. They will begin empathizing with park users and map readers by recording wonderings, noticing how people use land differently, and creating a first evidence-based context sketch for later map and atlas work.
Days 1 - 2
Define
Define
Students will sort evidence from maps, photos, notes, and early observations to define a clear problem statement about how Orange County landforms shape travel, recreation, and care for local places, then draft and revise a simple design direction for their map poster and atlas page work.
Days 3 - 4
Ideate
Ideate
Students will generate and compare possible map poster and atlas page ideas, use evidence from earlier fieldwork and sources to choose promising directions, and revise rough concepts through quick peer and teacher feedback before moving into drafting.
Days 5 - 7
Draft
Draft
Students will turn their ideas into first-draft Orange County map posters and class atlas pages by using map features, landform evidence, and short feedback cycles to improve accuracy, clarity, and usefulness for real visitors.
Days 8 - 11
Test
Test
Students will test their draft Orange County map posters, atlas pages, and oral map talks with peers and a county parks ranger, collect evidence-based feedback, and make targeted revisions to improve landform accuracy, map features, and explanations about travel, recreation, and conservation.
Days 12 - 14
Critique
Critique
Students will use structured critique routines to examine draft Orange County map posters and atlas pages, give and receive specific feedback, and revise for stronger landform accuracy, map features, and explanations of travel, recreation, and conservation.
Days 15 - 17
Notice & Reflect
Notice & Reflect
Students will present their finished Orange County geography work to an authentic audience, document what they learned from the ranger visit and revision process, and show how feedback improved their map poster, atlas page thinking, and oral explanation.
Days 18 - 20
Empathize
Days 1–2
Day 1
🗺️ Geo-Quest Ranger Kickoff
Launch
45m
Day 2
📸 Park User Photo Journal
Deliverable
45m
Define
Days 3–4
Day 3
Landform Trace and Movement Paths
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
🧩 Landform Clue Card Sort
Deliverable
35m
Day 4
Ideate
Days 5–7
Day 5
🧭 Orange County Map Idea Sort
Knowledge/Skill Building
35m
Day 6
✏️ Poster and Atlas Sketch Burst
Deliverable
45m
Day 7
💬 Two-Peer Sketch Feedback
Deliverable
45m
Draft
Days 8–11
Day 8
🧭 Orange County Map Feature Mini-Lesson
Knowledge/Skill Building
30m
Day 9
✏️ Poster and Atlas Draft Build
Deliverable
60m
Day 10
🖼️ Sticky-Note Draft Gallery Walk
Project Work
45m
Day 11
🌿 Ranger Use-and-Care Details
Knowledge/Skill Building
40m
Test
Days 12–14
Day 12
🧭 Draft Map Feature Check
Knowledge/Skill Building
30m
Day 13
📝 Sticky Note Poster Test
Deliverable
45m
Day 14
🎤 Ranger Talk Practice
Community Experience
45m
Critique
Days 15–17
Day 15
🧭 Map Feature Check Mini-Lesson
Knowledge/Skill Building
20m
Day 16
🖼️ Sticky-Note Poster Critique
Deliverable
45m
Day 17
🗣️ Oral Map Talk Partner Round
Deliverable
45m
Notice & Reflect
Days 18–20
Day 18
🖼️ Landforms and Life Gallery Walk
Assessment
45m
Day 19
📸 Ranger Visit Photo Journal
Deliverable
40m
Day 20
🗣️ Map Talk Interviews and Revision Proof
Deliverable
45m
September 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
28
Day 1
Empathize
🗺️ Geo-Quest Ranger Kickoff
29
Day 2
📸 Park User Photo Journal
30
Day 3
Define
Landform Trace and Movement Paths
🧩 Landform Clue Card Sort
1
Day 4
2
Day 5
Ideate
🧭 Orange County Map Idea Sort
October 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
5
Day 6
✏️ Poster and Atlas Sketch Burst
6
Day 7
💬 Two-Peer Sketch Feedback
7
Day 8
Draft
🧭 Orange County Map Feature Mini-Lesson
8
Day 9
✏️ Poster and Atlas Draft Build
9
Day 10
🖼️ Sticky-Note Draft Gallery Walk
12
Day 11
🌿 Ranger Use-and-Care Details
13
Day 12
Test
🧭 Draft Map Feature Check
14
Day 13
📝 Sticky Note Poster Test
15
Day 14
🎤 Ranger Talk Practice
16
Day 15
Critique
🧭 Map Feature Check Mini-Lesson
19
Day 16
🖼️ Sticky-Note Poster Critique
20
Day 17
🗣️ Oral Map Talk Partner Round
21
Day 18
Notice & Reflect
🖼️ Landforms and Life Gallery Walk
22
Day 19
📸 Ranger Visit Photo Journal
23
Day 20
🗣️ Map Talk Interviews and Revision Proof