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
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
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
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
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
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
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