Launch — 6 days — Introduce the driving questions, hook students, establish project expectations, roles, collaboration norms, and outline how weekly reflection and feedback will be used throughout the build.
Launch — 6 days — Introduce the driving questions, hook students, establish project expectations, roles, collaboration norms, and outline how weekly reflection and feedback will be used throughout the build.
Students will launch the inclusive playground engineering challenge by investigating playground motion, building shared norms, learning key force concepts, and creating the first notebook entries and mini-prototypes they will revise in later phases.
Days 1 - 6
Research & Plan — 9 days — Students investigate the real need for an inclusive playground experience and interview/observe stakeholders to define a clear problem, measurable success criteria (safety, fun, inclusion), and constraints. They research existing playground solutions and translate forces and motion needs (pushes, pulls, gravity, stability) into an engineering-ready design brief aligned to the model of a playground with moving parts.
Research & Plan — 9 days — Students investigate the real need for an inclusive playground experience and interview/observe stakeholders to define a clear problem, measurable success criteria (safety, fun, inclusion), and constraints. They research existing playground solutions and translate forces and motion needs (pushes, pulls, gravity, stability) into an engineering-ready design brief aligned to the model of a playground with moving parts.
Students will investigate inclusive playground needs, study how forces affect motion and stability, gather stakeholder evidence, and turn their research into a clear engineering design brief with measurable criteria and constraints for a scale playground model.
Days 7 - 15
Decide & Prototype — 7 days — Teams generate multiple concepts, use a weighted decision matrix to select one design based on the criteria and constraints, write a brief justification, then build a rapid scale prototype. Students run planned tests and collect evidence tied directly to the chosen criteria (forces, stability, motion, and safety).
Decide & Prototype — 7 days — Teams generate multiple concepts, use a weighted decision matrix to select one design based on the criteria and constraints, write a brief justification, then build a rapid scale prototype. Students run planned tests and collect evidence tied directly to the chosen criteria (forces, stability, motion, and safety).
Students will compare multiple playground concepts, choose a design using evidence, build a rapid scale prototype with moving parts, and begin testing motion, stability, safety, and inclusion before moving into revision.
Days 16 - 23
Revise & Showcase — 10 days — Students analyze test results, identify causes of failures, and make targeted design revisions. They retest using the same measures to demonstrate improvement, then develop a stakeholder presentation explaining the full engineering process (problem, criteria, solution, test evidence, iteration, and next steps) while completing weekly reflection and the end-of-project assessment on forces and the playground model.
Revise & Showcase — 10 days — Students analyze test results, identify causes of failures, and make targeted design revisions. They retest using the same measures to demonstrate improvement, then develop a stakeholder presentation explaining the full engineering process (problem, criteria, solution, test evidence, iteration, and next steps) while completing weekly reflection and the end-of-project assessment on forces and the playground model.
Students will analyze prototype evidence, revise their playground models with targeted changes, retest using the same measures, and prepare a clear stakeholder explanation of their engineering process, force concepts, inclusive design choices, and revisions before completing end-of-project assessments.
Days 24 - 33
Showcase — 8 days — Students present final products to parents, stakeholders, and/or other students, demonstrating how pushes, pulls, and gravity create safe, fun movement. Learners reflect on their learning and the design choices that supported inclusion and resilience.
Showcase — 8 days — Students present final products to parents, stakeholders, and/or other students, demonstrating how pushes, pulls, and gravity create safe, fun movement. Learners reflect on their learning and the design choices that supported inclusion and resilience.
Students will finalize and present their revised scale playground models, explain how forces and inclusive design shaped their decisions, respond to feedback from authentic audiences, and complete final reflection and assessment tasks.
Days 34 - 40
Launch — 6 days — Introduce the driving questions, hook students, establish project expectations, roles, collaboration norms, and outline how weekly reflection and feedback will be used throughout the build.
Days 1–6
Day 1
🎢 Playground Forces Walk
Launch
45m
Day 2
🛝 Design Challenge and Team Roles
Knowledge/Skill Building
40m
Day 3
⚙️ Pushes Pulls and Gravity Lab
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Day 4
🧪 Moving Part Mini Build
Project Work
45m
Day 5
💬 Two-Peer Feedback Round
Deliverable
45m
Day 6
📝 Forces Check and Reflection
Assessment
40m
Research & Plan — 9 days — Students investigate the real need for an inclusive playground experience and interview/observe stakeholders to define a clear problem, measurable success criteria (safety, fun, inclusion), and constraints. They research existing playground solutions and translate forces and motion needs (pushes, pulls, gravity, stability) into an engineering-ready design brief aligned to the model of a playground with moving parts.
Days 7–15
Day 7
🛝 Inclusive Playground Needs Map
Launch
45m
Day 8
⚙️ Pushes, Pulls, Gravity Labs
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Day 9
📏 Criteria and Constraints Sort
Knowledge/Skill Building
40m
Day 10
🎤 Family and Student Voice Interviews
Community Experience
45m
Day 11
📚 Playground Case Study Notes
Research
45m
Day 12
🧮 Idea Matrix for Playground Options
Deliverable
45m
Day 13
💬 Design Brief Peer Critique
Project Work
45m
Day 14
📝 Forces Checkpoint Quiz
Assessment
35m
Day 15
📘 Revised Design Brief and Reflection
Deliverable
40m
Decide & Prototype — 7 days — Teams generate multiple concepts, use a weighted decision matrix to select one design based on the criteria and constraints, write a brief justification, then build a rapid scale prototype. Students run planned tests and collect evidence tied directly to the chosen criteria (forces, stability, motion, and safety).
Days 16–23
Day 16
🎯 Criteria and Matrix Warm-Up
Knowledge/Skill Building
40m
Day 17
✏️ Three Playground Concepts
Deliverable
45m
Day 18
🗣️ Concept Critique Round
Project Work
45m
Day 19
📊 Design Choice Memo
Assessment
45m
Day 20
🛠️ Moving Parts Prototype Build
Project Work
45m
Day 21
📏 Fair Test Plan and Force Check
Knowledge/Skill Building
40m
Day 22
🧪 Prototype Test Trials
Project Work
45m
Day 23
🔁 Revision Notes and Reflection
Deliverable
45m
Revise & Showcase — 10 days — Students analyze test results, identify causes of failures, and make targeted design revisions. They retest using the same measures to demonstrate improvement, then develop a stakeholder presentation explaining the full engineering process (problem, criteria, solution, test evidence, iteration, and next steps) while completing weekly reflection and the end-of-project assessment on forces and the playground model.
Days 24–33
Day 24
📊 Test Results Error Hunt
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Day 25
🛠️ Revision Plan and Materials Map
Deliverable
40m
Day 26
🔧 Model Revision Build
Project Work
45m
Day 27
📏 Retest With Same Measures
Project Work
45m
Day 28
💬 Two-Peer Design Critique
Deliverable
45m
Day 29
♻️ Second Revision Sprint
Project Work
40m
Day 30
📝 Weekly Reflection and Design Memo
Deliverable
30m
Day 31
🎤 Design Board and Talk Build
Project Work
45m
Day 32
📚 Forces and Motion Check
Assessment
45m
Day 33
🎯 Model Review and Practice Round
Assessment
45m
Showcase — 8 days — Students present final products to parents, stakeholders, and/or other students, demonstrating how pushes, pulls, and gravity create safe, fun movement. Learners reflect on their learning and the design choices that supported inclusion and resilience.
Days 34–40
Day 34
🛠️ Model Tune-Up and Evidence Check
Project Work
45m
Day 35
🗣️ Force Talk Rehearsal Cards
Knowledge/Skill Building
40m
Day 36
👥 Two-Peer Feedback on Expo Boards
Deliverable
45m
Day 37
🎯 Presentation Round with Visitor Questions
Community Experience
45m
Day 38
🧪 Forces and Design Final Check
Assessment
40m
Day 39
🌟 Playground Design Expo
Assessment
55m
Day 40
📝 Final Reflection and Design Memo
Deliverable
45m
September 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
24
Day 1
Launch — 6 days — Introduce the driving questions, hook students, establish project expectations, roles, collaboration norms, and outline how weekly reflection and feedback will be used throughout the build.
🎢 Playground Forces Walk
25
Day 2
🛝 Design Challenge and Team Roles
28
Day 3
⚙️ Pushes Pulls and Gravity Lab
29
Day 4
🧪 Moving Part Mini Build
30
Day 5
💬 Two-Peer Feedback Round
1
Day 6
📝 Forces Check and Reflection
2
Day 7
Research & Plan — 9 days — Students investigate the real need for an inclusive playground experience and interview/observe stakeholders to define a clear problem, measurable success criteria (safety, fun, inclusion), and constraints. They research existing playground solutions and translate forces and motion needs (pushes, pulls, gravity, stability) into an engineering-ready design brief aligned to the model of a playground with moving parts.
🛝 Inclusive Playground Needs Map
October 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
5
Day 8
⚙️ Pushes, Pulls, Gravity Labs
6
Day 9
📏 Criteria and Constraints Sort
7
Day 10
🎤 Family and Student Voice Interviews
8
Day 11
📚 Playground Case Study Notes
9
Day 12
🧮 Idea Matrix for Playground Options
12
Day 13
💬 Design Brief Peer Critique
13
Day 14
📝 Forces Checkpoint Quiz
14
Day 15
📘 Revised Design Brief and Reflection
15
Day 16
Decide & Prototype — 7 days — Teams generate multiple concepts, use a weighted decision matrix to select one design based on the criteria and constraints, write a brief justification, then build a rapid scale prototype. Students run planned tests and collect evidence tied directly to the chosen criteria (forces, stability, motion, and safety).
🎯 Criteria and Matrix Warm-Up
16
Day 17
✏️ Three Playground Concepts
19
Day 18
🗣️ Concept Critique Round
20
Day 19
📊 Design Choice Memo
21
Day 20
🛠️ Moving Parts Prototype Build
22
Day 21
📏 Fair Test Plan and Force Check
23
Day 22
🧪 Prototype Test Trials
26
Day 23
🔁 Revision Notes and Reflection
27
Day 24
Revise & Showcase — 10 days — Students analyze test results, identify causes of failures, and make targeted design revisions. They retest using the same measures to demonstrate improvement, then develop a stakeholder presentation explaining the full engineering process (problem, criteria, solution, test evidence, iteration, and next steps) while completing weekly reflection and the end-of-project assessment on forces and the playground model.
📊 Test Results Error Hunt
28
Day 25
🛠️ Revision Plan and Materials Map
29
Day 26
🔧 Model Revision Build
30
Day 27
📏 Retest With Same Measures
November 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
2
Day 28
💬 Two-Peer Design Critique
3
Day 29
♻️ Second Revision Sprint
4
Day 30
📝 Weekly Reflection and Design Memo
5
Day 31
🎤 Design Board and Talk Build
6
Day 32
📚 Forces and Motion Check
9
Day 33
🎯 Model Review and Practice Round
10
Day 34
Showcase — 8 days — Students present final products to parents, stakeholders, and/or other students, demonstrating how pushes, pulls, and gravity create safe, fun movement. Learners reflect on their learning and the design choices that supported inclusion and resilience.
🛠️ Model Tune-Up and Evidence Check
11
Day 35
🗣️ Force Talk Rehearsal Cards
12
Day 36
👥 Two-Peer Feedback on Expo Boards
13
Day 37
🎯 Presentation Round with Visitor Questions
16
Day 38
🧪 Forces and Design Final Check
17
Day 39
🌟 Playground Design Expo
18
Day 40
📝 Final Reflection and Design Memo