Empathize
Empathize
Students will launch the toy design challenge by exploring what makes toys fun, safe, and strong, learning from Poor Richard’s Toy Store, and gathering first evidence about a preschool buddy’s likes and needs through observation, conversation, and early idea capture.
Days 1 - 7
Define
Define
Students will sort what they learned about preschool buddies, toys, and safety into clear design needs, then turn those needs into a simple problem statement they can use in the next phase. They will use talk, drawings, toy examples, and feedback from classmates and a community partner to define a toy challenge that is specific, safe, and connected to real user evidence.
Days 8 - 14
Ideate
Ideate
Students will turn interview notes, safety observations, and toy examples into many possible toy ideas, then choose one promising direction for a preschool buddy by sketching, talking through feedback, and revising based on user needs.
Days 15 - 23
Draft
Draft
Students will turn selected toy ideas into first prototypes by practicing craftsmanship routines, using teacher-supported tools and materials, getting partner and community feedback, and revising their work so each draft better matches a preschool buddy’s interests and safety needs.
Days 24 - 35
Test
Test
Students will test their toy drafts with classmates, a preschool buddy, and Poor Richard’s Toy Store feedback partners to find out what is safe, fun, and strong. They will practice noticing evidence during play, giving kind feedback to 2 peers, receiving feedback, and making small revisions that prepare them for deeper critique in the next phase.
Days 36 - 44
Critique
Critique
Students will use structured critique to study how well their toy prototype is working for a preschool buddy, gather evidence from peers and a community partner, revise important features for safety, durability, and play value, and prepare to show how feedback changed their design.
Days 45 - 52
Notice & Reflect
Notice & Reflect
Students will look back across interviews, sketches, prototypes, tests, and revisions to explain how their toy changed to better fit a preschool buddy’s needs. They will prepare display materials, practice giving and receiving feedback one more time, present their finished toys to preschool buddies and families, and use evidence from play testing and user responses to decide whether the toy worked.
Days 53 - 60
Empathize
Days 1–7
Day 1
🧸 Toy Stations Safety Hunt
Launch
45m
Day 2
🏪 Poor Richard's Toy Walk
Community Experience
45m
Day 3
🗣️ Buddy Interview Question Practice
Knowledge/Skill Building
40m
Day 4
👀 Preschool Buddy Play Visit
Community Experience
45m
Day 5
📚 Fun Safe Strong Toy Sort
Knowledge/Skill Building
40m
Day 6
✏️ Buddy Toy Idea Sketch
Deliverable
50m
Day 7
✅ Interview Page and Sketch Check
Assessment
45m
Define
Days 8–14
Day 8
🧸 Buddy Likes Picture Sort
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Day 9
🛡️ Safe Toy Features Hunt
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Day 10
🗣️ Kind Feedback Sentence Stems
Knowledge/Skill Building
40m
Day 11
📋 My Buddy Toy Need Card
Deliverable
45m
Day 12
🏪 Poor Richard Problem Talk
Community Experience
45m
Day 13
✏️ Problem Statement Picture Draft
Project Work
50m
Day 14
✅ Toy Challenge Share Circle
Assessment
45m
Ideate
Days 15–23
Day 15
🎲 Toy Idea Warm-Up
Launch
45m
Day 16
🛡️ Safe Parts Picture Sort
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Day 17
🖍️ Buddy Toy Sketch Burst
Project Work
45m
Day 18
🧵 Parts and Materials Mini Lab
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Day 19
💬 Two-Friend Sketch Feedback
Deliverable
45m
Day 20
🏪 Poor Richard Idea Review
Community Experience
45m
Day 21
✏️ Revised Toy Plan Page
Deliverable
45m
Day 22
🗣️ Pair-and-Share Design Check
Project Work
45m
Day 23
✅ Buddy Toy Idea Conference
Assessment
45m
Draft
Days 24–35
Day 24
🧰 Safe Tool and Material Stations
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Day 25
✏️ Buddy Sketch to Build Plan
Deliverable
45m
Day 26
🪡 Craftsmanship Mini-Lessons
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Day 27
🛠️ First Toy Build Session
Project Work
90m
Day 28
Day 29
💬 Two-Peer Prototype Feedback
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Day 30
🔧 Prototype Revision Round One
Project Work
90m
Day 31
Day 32
🏪 Poor Richard's Prototype Review
Community Experience
45m
Day 33
📋 Draft Prototype Checkpoint
Assessment
45m
Day 34
📝 Design Card First Draft
Deliverable
45m
Day 35
🔁 Build and Share Revision Loop
Project Work
45m
Test
Days 36–44
Day 36
🧠 Safety and Play Check Moves
Knowledge/Skill Building
35m
🛠️ Test Notes and Picture Labels
Knowledge/Skill Building
40m
Day 37
👫 Buddy Play Test Round One
Project Work
45m
Day 38
✏️ Quick Fix Toy Tuning
Deliverable
40m
Day 39
🏪 Poor Richard's Prototype Review
Community Experience
45m
Day 40
📋 My Best Next Change
Research
35m
Day 41
🔁 Buddy Play Test Round Two
Project Work
45m
Day 42
🧒 Preschool Buddy Tryout
Community Experience
45m
Day 43
Day 44
✅ Toy Test Milestone Check
Assessment
40m
Critique
Days 45–52
Day 45
🧸 Toy Check Look-Fors
Knowledge/Skill Building
40m
Day 46
🗣️ Buddy Toy Talk Practice
Knowledge/Skill Building
40m
Day 47
👀 Two Friends Feedback Round
Deliverable
45m
Day 48
🛠️ Fix-It Craft Moves
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Day 49
🏪 Poor Richard Review Visit
Community Experience
45m
Day 50
🔧 Revision Build Sprint
Project Work
50m
Day 51
🎮 Play Test and Revise Again
Project Work
50m
Day 52
✅ Critique Exit Toy Check
Assessment
40m
Notice & Reflect
Days 53–60
Day 53
🧠 Toy Journey Picture Sort
Knowledge/Skill Building
40m
Day 54
🖍️ Design Card Evidence Board
Deliverable
45m
Day 55
🗣️ Kind Feedback Practice Cards
Knowledge/Skill Building
40m
Day 56
🎤 Preschool Toy Talk Rehearsal
Project Work
40m
Day 57
🏫 Preschool Buddy Toy Showcase
Community Experience
45m
Day 58
🧸 Poor Richard Celebration Walk
Community Experience
40m
Day 59
👨👩👧 Family Toy Museum
Assessment
55m
Day 60
🌟 Did Our Toy Work
Assessment
45m
September 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
21
Day 1
Empathize
🧸 Toy Stations Safety Hunt
22
Day 2
🏪 Poor Richard's Toy Walk
23
Day 3
🗣️ Buddy Interview Question Practice
24
Day 4
👀 Preschool Buddy Play Visit
25
Day 5
📚 Fun Safe Strong Toy Sort
28
Day 6
✏️ Buddy Toy Idea Sketch
29
Day 7
✅ Interview Page and Sketch Check
30
Day 8
Define
🧸 Buddy Likes Picture Sort
1
Day 9
🛡️ Safe Toy Features Hunt
2
Day 10
🗣️ Kind Feedback Sentence Stems
October 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
5
Day 11
📋 My Buddy Toy Need Card
6
Day 12
🏪 Poor Richard Problem Talk
7
Day 13
✏️ Problem Statement Picture Draft
8
Day 14
✅ Toy Challenge Share Circle
9
Day 15
Ideate
🎲 Toy Idea Warm-Up
12
Day 16
🛡️ Safe Parts Picture Sort
13
Day 17
🖍️ Buddy Toy Sketch Burst
14
Day 18
🧵 Parts and Materials Mini Lab
15
Day 19
💬 Two-Friend Sketch Feedback
16
Day 20
🏪 Poor Richard Idea Review
19
Day 21
✏️ Revised Toy Plan Page
20
Day 22
🗣️ Pair-and-Share Design Check
21
Day 23
✅ Buddy Toy Idea Conference
22
Day 24
Draft
🧰 Safe Tool and Material Stations
23
Day 25
✏️ Buddy Sketch to Build Plan
26
Day 26
🪡 Craftsmanship Mini-Lessons
27
Day 27
🛠️ First Toy Build Session
28
Day 28
29
Day 29
💬 Two-Peer Prototype Feedback
30
Day 30
🔧 Prototype Revision Round One
November 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
2
Day 31
3
Day 32
🏪 Poor Richard's Prototype Review
4
Day 33
📋 Draft Prototype Checkpoint
5
Day 34
📝 Design Card First Draft
6
Day 35
🔁 Build and Share Revision Loop
9
Day 36
Test
🧠 Safety and Play Check Moves
🛠️ Test Notes and Picture Labels
10
Day 37
👫 Buddy Play Test Round One
11
Day 38
✏️ Quick Fix Toy Tuning
12
Day 39
🏪 Poor Richard's Prototype Review
13
Day 40
📋 My Best Next Change
16
Day 41
🔁 Buddy Play Test Round Two
17
Day 42
🧒 Preschool Buddy Tryout
18
Day 43
19
Day 44
✅ Toy Test Milestone Check
20
Day 45
Critique
🧸 Toy Check Look-Fors
23
Day 46
🗣️ Buddy Toy Talk Practice
24
Day 47
👀 Two Friends Feedback Round
25
Day 48
🛠️ Fix-It Craft Moves
26
Day 49
🏪 Poor Richard Review Visit
27
Day 50
🔧 Revision Build Sprint
December 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
30
Day 51
🎮 Play Test and Revise Again
1
Day 52
✅ Critique Exit Toy Check
2
Day 53
Notice & Reflect
🧠 Toy Journey Picture Sort
3
Day 54
🖍️ Design Card Evidence Board
4
Day 55
🗣️ Kind Feedback Practice Cards
7
Day 56
🎤 Preschool Toy Talk Rehearsal
8
Day 57
🏫 Preschool Buddy Toy Showcase
9
Day 58
🧸 Poor Richard Celebration Walk
10
Day 59
👨👩👧 Family Toy Museum
11
Day 60
🌟 Did Our Toy Work