Passion Project

Passion Project Presentations: TBA

What is a Passion Project?

A Passion Project is a project-based learning activity in which students research any topic they are passionate about and create a project to share with the class, the school, the community....the world! The Passion Project encourages creativity in the classroom and promotes inquiry, perseverance, problem solving, and innovation, among other lifelong skills.

Passion Project (also known as Genius Hour or 20% time) has many roots, but is based on a business practice used by Google with its employees. Google allows their developers to spend up to 20% of their work week to pursue projects of personal interest. The rationale is that happy, inspired, engaged employees are more motivated, innovative, and productive. Google’s 20% projects have worked so well that some of their most popular ideas, such as g-mail and Google News were created during this time.

Know that students can think BIG! Passion Projects have no boundaries. We want students to think outside of the box (or the classroom!) to pursue areas of genuine, authentic interest and inquiry.


How does it work?

Students pursue a project of personal interest. It can be on any topic they are interested in learning more about, but must meet the following project guidelines:

1. Projects are research based.

2. Projects include creating a product.

3. Projects are shared.

What are the steps in a Passion Project?

1. BRAINSTORMING: Brainstorm ideas for a Passion Project. We will do this together during Passion Project time.

2. TOPIC APPROVAL: Submit Passion Project topic for approval in Odventure Classroom.

3. ACTION PLAN: Complete a Passion Project Action Plan outlining the project specifics.

4. RESEARCH: Spend time researching and documenting the answer(s) to your question. You will use Noodle Tools to cite your research and take research notes. You will need at least 3 different research sources. Be sure to cite your sources along the way. Research Notecards and Works Cited are due when you present your project.

5. DOCUMENT PROCESS: To document your Passion Project , take at least 6 pictures of your process along the way.

6. PROJECT PRESENTATION: Synthesize the research and share what you've learned with an audience through a formal presentation. You may enhance your presentation with a slideshow, movie and/or something you build, design or create.


How will my Passion Project be assessed?

Your Passion Project will be assessed on the Passion Project Assessment Rubric and the PBL Presentation Rubric.


What Common Core Standards do Passion Projects support and develop?

Passion Project nurtures the vast majority of the College and Career Readiness Anchor Standards for Reading. (You can read more about the Common Core Anchor Standards here: http://www.corestandards.org/ELA-Literacy/RI/7/. The standards our 7th grade ELA group will address with intensity include:

Reading

  • RI.7.7 Draw on information from multiple print or digital sources, demonstrating the ability to locate an answer to a question quickly or to solve a problem efficiently.

  • RI.7.9 Integrate information from several texts on the same topic in order to write or speak about the subject knowledgeably.

Writing

  • W.7.6 Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and link to and cite sources as well as to interact and collaborate with others, including linking to and citing sources.

  • W.7.7 Conduct short research projects to answer a question, drawing on several sources and generating additional related, focused questions for further research and investigation.

Speaking & Listening

  • SL.7.4 Report on a topic or text or present an opinion, sequencing ideas logically and using appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details to support main ideas or themes; speak clearly at an understandable pace.