Genius Hour Update: January
Students have been working hard to determine their topics and to begin drafting their inquiry question and pitch. This will be a video pitch loaded onto Fresh Grade. The deadline is January 24th.
An Introduction to Genius Hour and How Parents Can Help
Last month, we introduced Genius Hour, an inquiry based project that we will work on for an hour each week on Friday afternoons ( Thursdays on short weeks) all year. Each student will learn about a topic that they are passionate or curious about. Each project idea is thought of and designed by the student, approved by the teacher, and must be based upon their individual research. Students, it's a chance to shape your own curriculum, for you to "be the change that you wish to see in the world" (Mahatma Ghandi) and to feed your curiosity for.. whatever it is that you wonder about!
Genius Hour Update: January
Students have been working hard to determine their topics and to begin drafting their inquiry question and pitch. This will be a video pitch loaded onto Fresh Grade. The deadline is January 24th.
An Introduction to Genius Hour and How Parents Can Help
Last month, we introduced Genius Hour, an inquiry based project that we will work on for an hour each week on Friday afternoons ( Thursdays on short weeks) all year. Each student will learn about a topic that they are passionate or curious about. Each project idea is thought of and designed by the student, approved by the teacher, and must be based upon their individual research. Students, it's a chance to shape your own curriculum, for you to "be the change that you wish to see in the world" (Mahatma Ghandi) and to feed your curiosity for.. whatever it is that you wonder about!
Where We Begin: Creating Inquiry Questions
It all begins with a question that guides the inquiry. We are just beginning to work on this phase. Students are brainstorming this week.
They will be asking themselves:
What do I want to learn?
What are my passions?
How will my learning help others?
How could I change the world, even in a small way?
Where am I now?
Where do I want to be?
How can I get there and what do I need to know or have in place to do this?
The Focus is Process, Not Product
All students will be doing a pitch to the class by the end of next week. At that time, we will hear each proposal and be able to ask questions about their passions. It’s a way for students and teachers to make sure the passion project is deep enough and well though out enough so it can be sustained over the next five months. Once students get the green light, we monitor the projects and check in with students weekly and they evaluate their use of class time with our rubric.
Please note that this project is oriented on the documentation of the student's progress, not the final product! In some cases, students won't actually be able to accomplish their final goals by the end, but should be able to document their learning along the way.
Parents Can Help by Asking Questions and Documenting the Process
Several students will be building projects (creating board games, stop-motion animation props, robots, etc.), whereas others will be creating theirs digitally (making websites, filming stop-motion animation, learning to code, etc.).
Please discuss the steps of this project with your child and what they would like to accomplish by the end of the year.
Chances are that no matter which tools your child ends up selecting, there will need a lot of photo documentation of their project, so please take lots of photos if they are working on this at home!
Genius Hour Open House- June 2020
Students will have opportunities to present their findings from their topics and central questions for their peers and parents this year. They will present a TED Talk ( oral presentation) and share their visuals, slides, objects, and creations.
Where We Begin: Creating Inquiry Questions
It all begins with a question that guides the inquiry. We are just beginning to work on this phase. Students are brainstorming this week.
They will be asking themselves:
What do I want to learn?
What are my passions?
How will my learning help others?
How could I change the world, even in a small way?
Where am I now? Where do I want to be?
How can I get there and what do I need to know or have in place to do this?
The Focus is Process, Not Product
All students will be doing a pitch to the class by the end of next week. At that time, we will hear each proposal and be able to ask questions about their passions. It’s a way for students and teachers to make sure the passion project is deep enough and well though out enough so it can be sustained over the next five months. Once students get the green light, we monitor the projects and check in with students weekly and they evaluate their use of class time with our rubric.
Please note that this project is oriented on the documentation of the student's progress, not the final product! In some cases, students won't actually be able to accomplish their final goals by the end, but should be able to document their learning along the way.
Parents Can Help by Asking Questions and Documenting the Process
Several students will be building projects (creating board games, stop-motion animation props, robots, etc.), whereas others will be creating theirs digitally (making websites, filming stop-motion animation, learning to code, etc.).
Please discuss the steps of this project with your child and what they would like to accomplish by the end of the year.
Several students will be building projects (creating board games, stop-motion animation props, robots, etc.), whereas others will be creating theirs digitally (making websites, filming stop-motion animation, learning to code, etc.).
Please discuss the steps of this project with your child and what they would like to accomplish by the end of the year.
Chances are that no matter which tools your child ends up selecting, there will need a lot of photo documentation of their project, so please take lots of photos if they are working on this at home!
Genius Hour Open House- June 2020
Genius Hour Open House- June 2020
Students will have opportunities to present their findings from their topics and central questions for their peers and parents this year. They will present a TED Talk ( oral presentation) and share their visuals, slides, objects, and creations.
