What is Genius Hour?
Guiding Concepts:
- Focuses on student choice and student passions
- "You are awesome and can make a difference."
Discussion Board:
After having students watch this YouTube video "A Pep Talk from Kid President to You", a class discussion can be implemented to start off this learning segment. First, have students "pair share" discussing their thoughts on the video and also encourage the students to think about the messages that are given in this pep talk. Next, have a class discussion having each group share at least one thing they discussed about this video. Then prompt the students into answering questions such as:
- What makes our classroom awesome?
- What makes you awesome?
- How can we advise someone else to be awesome?
- What will you do to make the world awesome?
Genius Hour
Introduce Genius Hour through a media of your choice; if you wish to keep it simple and sweet as I did, I would recommend using a powerpoint to get the direct messages across to students in simplest form possible. (See images below.)
Inform the students that Genius Hour is a time to:
"learn about what interests YOU", "a time to findYOUR passions", and a "time for YOU to take control of YOUR learning."
Explain to the students that they will have an hour every Tuesday – Friday for the next few weeks to create and present a project revolving around community service. Make it clear that this community service project is of their choice and they are encouraged to pick something they are passionate about. Next, explain to the students that there were four main parts involved within Genius Hour projects:
(1) Inquiry question, (2) Research, (3) Create, and (4) Present.
[Note: Genius Hour times and days can be changed depending on the flexibility of your classroom schedule. For the purposes of this project, Genius Hour was held Tuesday-Friday, one hour a day.]
I explained to the students they would be required to complete all four steps of the project in order for their project to be complete. In a later mini-lesson, students will learn what an inquiry question is, how to write one, and how to research and use tools to help them during this process.
Inform the students that Genius Hour is a time to:
"learn about what interests YOU", "a time to findYOUR passions", and a "time for YOU to take control of YOUR learning."
Explain to the students that they will have an hour every Tuesday – Friday for the next few weeks to create and present a project revolving around community service. Make it clear that this community service project is of their choice and they are encouraged to pick something they are passionate about. Next, explain to the students that there were four main parts involved within Genius Hour projects:
(1) Inquiry question, (2) Research, (3) Create, and (4) Present.
[Note: Genius Hour times and days can be changed depending on the flexibility of your classroom schedule. For the purposes of this project, Genius Hour was held Tuesday-Friday, one hour a day.]
I explained to the students they would be required to complete all four steps of the project in order for their project to be complete. In a later mini-lesson, students will learn what an inquiry question is, how to write one, and how to research and use tools to help them during this process.
Evaluation Tool(s)
Next, hold another class discussion prompting the students to think about the following question:
In what ways does the Kid President Pep Talk relate to Genius Hour?
Following the class discussion, end the lesson by informing students they will be completing a small art activity to share the ways they are both awesome as well as a genius. Students will complete an mini-art activity decorating a lightbulb and finishing the statement
"I am a genius when it comes to..."
In what ways does the Kid President Pep Talk relate to Genius Hour?
Following the class discussion, end the lesson by informing students they will be completing a small art activity to share the ways they are both awesome as well as a genius. Students will complete an mini-art activity decorating a lightbulb and finishing the statement
"I am a genius when it comes to..."
*This activity can be used as a form of an exit slip. I also used the students art work to decorate our classroom door.
[Please also note that Genius Hour DOES NOT have to revolve around the aspect of community service. Again, for the purpose of this particular curriculum being used within my action research, I have created it to be used in this manner.]