Launch
Launch
Students will launch the Artistic Alchemist investigation by experiencing color change firsthand, studying what strong pigment evidence looks like, and drafting focused investigable questions they will carry into the next phase.
Days 1 - 3
Seed-to-Color Mystery
Seed-to-Color Mystery
Students will examine changing natural pigment evidence, build chemistry and natural-resource background, and use structured critique to draft a focused investigable question and hypothesis about how one condition may affect color and stability.
Days 4 - 9
Plan Evidence Method
Plan Evidence Method
Students will turn their draft investigation ideas into a defensible testing method by refining variables, planning repeated trials, building a traceable documentation system, and improving their plans through peer and teacher feedback before they begin formal pigment testing.
Days 10 - 15
Run Trials Systematically
Run Trials Systematically
Students will run repeated pigment trials with plants, soils, and minerals using their approved methods, document each condition carefully in process journals, create labeled swatches, check evidence quality through peer critique and a milestone review, and prepare a complete data set for pattern analysis in the next phase.
Days 16 - 21
Analyze Patterns Midpoint
Analyze Patterns Midpoint
Students will analyze midpoint pigment evidence by organizing trial data, comparing patterns across swatches and notes, identifying anomalies, defending tentative claims, and revising procedures or hypotheses before the next round of investigation.
Days 22 - 27
Explain & Showcase Findings
Explain & Showcase Findings
Students will synthesize pigment investigation evidence into defensible conclusions, revise explanations and display materials through critique, and assemble gallery-ready portfolios and color works that show the path from raw material to usable color.
Days 28 - 32
Showcase
Showcase
Students will present their pigment investigations and color studies to an authentic audience, use critique to strengthen how they communicate evidence, and complete a final reflection on how chemistry, artistic choices, and collaboration shaped their gallery work.
Days 33 - 35
Launch
Days 1–3
Day 1
🧪 Seed-to-Color Lab Rotations
Launch
70m
Day 2
🖼️ Sample Portfolio Evidence Challenge
Knowledge/Skill Building
70m
Day 3
❓ Question Tuning Studio Circle
Deliverable
70m
Seed-to-Color Mystery
Days 4–9
Day 4
🧪 Mystery Swatch Evidence Sort
Launch
70m
Day 5
⚗️ Acid-Base Heat Color Models
Knowledge/Skill Building
70m
Day 6
🌿 Pigment Origins and Star Matter
Research
70m
Day 7
📝 Testable Question and Hypothesis Draft
Deliverable
70m
Day 8
🗣️ Question Critique Studio Circle
Project Work
70m
Day 9
✅ Investigation Question Checkpoint
Assessment
60m
Plan Evidence Method
Days 10–15
Day 10
🧪 Variables and Fair-Test Map
Knowledge/Skill Building
70m
Day 11
📓 Swatch Log and Color Scale
Knowledge/Skill Building
70m
Day 12
⚠️ Pigment Safety and Source Notes
Knowledge/Skill Building
60m
Day 13
🧫 Trial Plan Draft
Deliverable
70m
Day 14
💬 Method Critique Studio Circle
Project Work
80m
Day 15
✅ Investigation Plan Approval
Assessment
70m
Run Trials Systematically
Days 16–21
Day 16
🧪 Trial Setup and Evidence Check
Knowledge/Skill Building
50m
Day 17
🌿 Plant Pigment Trial Series
Project Work
70m
Day 18
🪨 Soil and Mineral Trial Series
Project Work
70m
Day 19
📏 Color Comparison Mini-Lab
Knowledge/Skill Building
60m
Day 20
💬 Studio Circle Evidence Critique
Deliverable
70m
Day 21
✅ Swatch Notebook Milestone
Assessment
70m
Analyze Patterns Midpoint
Days 22–27
Day 22
📊 Swatch Data to Color Graphs
Knowledge/Skill Building
70m
Day 23
🧪 Reaction Patterns and Anomalies
Knowledge/Skill Building
60m
Day 24
🎨 Ellen Pickens Critique Notes
Community Experience
70m
Day 25
🗣️ Midpoint Studio Circle Claims
Deliverable
70m
Day 26
📝 Trial Revision Plan
Project Work
80m
Day 27
🌌 Material Origins Evidence Check
Assessment
70m
Explain & Showcase Findings
Days 28–32
Day 28
🧪 Claim-Evidence Reasoning Conference
Knowledge/Skill Building
70m
Day 29
⭐ Elements-to-Pigments Artist Notes
Knowledge/Skill Building
55m
Day 30
🖼️ Portfolio Wall Peer Critique
Deliverable
70m
Day 31
🎨 Gallery Installation Revision Sprint
Project Work
85m
Day 32
🧾 Pigment Portfolio Readiness Check
Assessment
70m
Showcase
Days 33–35
Day 33
🖼️ Gallery Walk Revision Notes
Deliverable
65m
Day 34
🎨 Alchemy Gallery Night
Community Experience
70m
Day 35
📓 Final Portfolio Reflection
Assessment
70m
September 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
21
Day 1
Launch
🧪 Seed-to-Color Lab Rotations
22
Day 2
🖼️ Sample Portfolio Evidence Challenge
23
Day 3
❓ Question Tuning Studio Circle
24
Day 4
Seed-to-Color Mystery
🧪 Mystery Swatch Evidence Sort
25
Day 5
⚗️ Acid-Base Heat Color Models
28
Day 6
🌿 Pigment Origins and Star Matter
29
Day 7
📝 Testable Question and Hypothesis Draft
30
Day 8
🗣️ Question Critique Studio Circle
1
Day 9
✅ Investigation Question Checkpoint
2
Day 10
Plan Evidence Method
🧪 Variables and Fair-Test Map
October 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
5
Day 11
📓 Swatch Log and Color Scale
6
Day 12
⚠️ Pigment Safety and Source Notes
7
Day 13
🧫 Trial Plan Draft
8
Day 14
💬 Method Critique Studio Circle
9
Day 15
✅ Investigation Plan Approval
12
Day 16
Run Trials Systematically
🧪 Trial Setup and Evidence Check
13
Day 17
🌿 Plant Pigment Trial Series
14
Day 18
🪨 Soil and Mineral Trial Series
15
Day 19
📏 Color Comparison Mini-Lab
16
Day 20
💬 Studio Circle Evidence Critique
19
Day 21
✅ Swatch Notebook Milestone
20
Day 22
Analyze Patterns Midpoint
📊 Swatch Data to Color Graphs
21
Day 23
🧪 Reaction Patterns and Anomalies
22
Day 24
🎨 Ellen Pickens Critique Notes
23
Day 25
🗣️ Midpoint Studio Circle Claims
26
Day 26
📝 Trial Revision Plan
27
Day 27
🌌 Material Origins Evidence Check
28
Day 28
Explain & Showcase Findings
🧪 Claim-Evidence Reasoning Conference
29
Day 29
⭐ Elements-to-Pigments Artist Notes
30
Day 30
🖼️ Portfolio Wall Peer Critique
November 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
2
Day 31
🎨 Gallery Installation Revision Sprint
3
Day 32
🧾 Pigment Portfolio Readiness Check
4
Day 33
Showcase
🖼️ Gallery Walk Revision Notes
5
Day 34
🎨 Alchemy Gallery Night
6
Day 35
📓 Final Portfolio Reflection