The concept originated with "Moonshot Thinking".
We were also inspired by Caine's Arcade:
How Do I Write an Inquiry Question?
Inquiry Questions for Genius Hour- How to Start or Refine Your Pitch
Wondering how to formulate your questions for your Genius Hour project?
This video will help:
This video will help:
Still not sure? Check out this graphic from Powtoon that explains how to formulate your question. Remember, it can't be a question that can be answered on Google!
Welcome To Genius Hour: An Overview
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.
The Hero's Journey- Wrapping Up Our Unit on Short Stories
Slides explaining the Hero's Journey
The "Hero's Journey" is a story archetype.
How many movies and books do you know that follow this framework?
What story will you analyze with the Hero's Journey in mind?
Blackbird by Emma Stevens
Listen to hear Emma Stevens sing "Blackbird" by the Beatles in Mi'qmaq.
We are singing this for this year's holiday concert to bring awareness to the language which is in danger of extinction.
2019 is the UN International Year of Indigenous Languages.
We are singing this for this year's holiday concert to bring awareness to the language which is in danger of extinction.
2019 is the UN International Year of Indigenous Languages.
There are less than10,000 people left in
the world who speak the Mi'kmaq language. Sixteen-year-old music student
Emma Stevens from Allison Bernard Memorial High School on East Cape Breton
Island performs the Beatles classic Blackbird in the Mi'kmaq language in order
to raise awareness that the language will soon be lost.
Simbi: Read for Good Challenge
Global Citizenship In Action
Join our group as we record our voices to bring books to life for readers in Bidibidi, Uganda.
Here is our class code:https://read.simbi.io/a3RZQTFLc3N3VQ--
Here is a look at Bidibidi, Uganda where the ratio of teachers to students is 1:240.
And here is how the UNHCR and Walking Schoolbus are using shipping containers to create a "Bright Box" where communities have an energy hub and classroom in which kids can listen, read, and learn.
Here are some other inspiring young people who are using their voices to change the world:
Join our group as we record our voices to bring books to life for readers in Bidibidi, Uganda.
Here is our class code:https://read.simbi.io/a3RZQTFLc3N3VQ--
Here is a look at Bidibidi, Uganda where the ratio of teachers to students is 1:240.
And here is how the UNHCR and Walking Schoolbus are using shipping containers to create a "Bright Box" where communities have an energy hub and classroom in which kids can listen, read, and learn.
Here are some other inspiring young people who are using their voices to change the world:
Emma Stevens, Singer, Miq'maq Language Activist
"The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind"
Autumn Pelletier, Indigenous Water Advocate
Greta Thunberg, #FridaysforFuture
Simon Jackson, Animal Activist for the Spirit Bear
The Danger of A Single Story: TED Talk/ Talk Back
What is the danger of a single story? How can it lead to stereotypes?
How can reading and writing different stories broaden our perspectives about humankind?
Think about your own perspectives on Africa and storytelling.
What are your connections to Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's TED Talk?
Is this the Holy Grail of renewable energy?
Xyleco's Marshall Medoff: The unlikely, eccentric inventor
Step 1: Watch the video clip from a CBS 60 Minutes Episode #51 Dec. 30th 2018
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/marshall-medoff-the-unlikely-eccentric-inventor-turning-inedible-plant-life-into-fuel-60-minutes/
* Note: If the hyper link doesn't work copy and paste into your search engine.
Step 2: Take notes using the Spider template
Step 3: Respond to the question.
??? What are the implications of this renewable energy source if it is adopted into real world applications?
Step 1: Watch the video clip from a CBS 60 Minutes Episode #51 Dec. 30th 2018
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/marshall-medoff-the-unlikely-eccentric-inventor-turning-inedible-plant-life-into-fuel-60-minutes/
* Note: If the hyper link doesn't work copy and paste into your search engine.
Step 2: Take notes using the Spider template
Step 3: Respond to the question.
??? What are the implications of this renewable energy source if it is adopted into real world applications?
Note-Taking Stations: Which Templates Work Best?
We are learning all about note-taking in order to research for Genius Hour, Science, and Social Studies. There are so many ways to take notes and it really depends on the sources you are using and on your own style of learning.
Today you will travel in small groups from station to station in order to try different approaches to taking notes.
Here are the links you'll need. Other print resources will be available at the stations.
1) Try Cluster Notes Template when you access this site:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/vancouver%27s_greenest_city_action_plan#goals
2. Try Event Spider Template for this one:
https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/5-reasons-why-hub/5-reasons-brain-is-mind-blowing/
3. Try Roundtable Notes for this one:
www.malala.org/girls-education
4. Try the Video Notes Template to learn about Anne Frank:
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/anne-frank-1
5. Try the Timeline Template to learn about Ben Franklin:
https://www.biography.com/people/benjamin-franklin-9301234
Today you will travel in small groups from station to station in order to try different approaches to taking notes.
Here are the links you'll need. Other print resources will be available at the stations.
1) Try Cluster Notes Template when you access this site:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/vancouver%27s_greenest_city_action_plan#goals
2. Try Event Spider Template for this one:
https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/5-reasons-why-hub/5-reasons-brain-is-mind-blowing/
3. Try Roundtable Notes for this one:
www.malala.org/girls-education
4. Try the Video Notes Template to learn about Anne Frank:
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/anne-frank-1
5. Try the Timeline Template to learn about Ben Franklin:
https://www.biography.com/people/benjamin-franklin-9301234
Levels of Questioning
Soon we will be starting literature circles and asking deep questions will be an important part of our learning.
Check out this video to review three levels of questions:
Inquiry Questions for Genius Hour- How to Start!
Wondering how to formulate your questions for your Genius Hour project?
This video will help:
Still not sure? Check out this graphic from Powtoon that explains how to formulate your question. Remember, it can't be a question that can be answered on Google!
This video will help:
Still not sure? Check out this graphic from Powtoon that explains how to formulate your question. Remember, it can't be a question that can be answered on Google!
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Genius Hour Update: January Students have been working hard to determine their topics and to begin drafting their inquiry question an...
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For all grade 7 students: photos for the grad slide show will be taken tomorrow. Meet us at lunch outside Mr. Bell's portable.
