Students were introduced to the concept of keeping track of time. They listened to and watched a Wonderopolis immersive reader on the topic Who Invented Time?

Students watched a water clock to see that more devices than just clocks can keep track of time. What did humans do to keep track of time before these time keeping inventions?

The students discussed as a group and answered questions about the concept of time. For example, "The concept of a month derived from observations of what celestial body?" (answer: the moon)

A fictional story about NASA astronauts visiting a new planet, Temporo was presented. A little backstory on Temporo: No one on the planet has any way to tell what time it is. There are no clocks or watches. They don't even have divisions of time like our years, months, days, hours, minutes, or seconds!

Students received a packet of materials and used their Design Thinking skills to create a timekeeping device for the planet Temporo.

Below are the Design Thinking prompts they received:

Step 1: Empathize

Why is it a problem that the planet Tempero does not have any timekeeping devices?

Step 2: Define

How can you fix the problem for Tempero?

Step 3: Ideate

Look at the materials you have to build a device for Tempero. On your paper, draw a sketch of at least 2 different ideas for what you could make to solve their problem.

Step 4: Prototype

Pick one of your Ideate ideas and build your timekeeping system. Be sure you can explain how it works!

Step 5: Test

Record a video for the astronauts to play for the emperor of Tempero.

Show your invention while you explain how it works.