Genius Hour

Genius Hour is a project based learning activity that provides your child with the opportunity to research a topic or idea that he/she is passionate about.

Why is Genius Hour important?

The number one reason Genius Hour is important is because your child will take ownership in his/her own learning. This research is intended to spark curiosity and encourage life-long learning, imagination, perseverance, self-awareness, and adaptability. It’s also intended to provide a sense of purpose for learning.

How does Genius Hour work in the classroom?

Your child will first choose a project topic of his/her interest. After that, your child will formulate a question that will guide his/her research. Once the project is approved, your child will then be given time to work on the project. The project may be anything from a Google Slide presentation, to a scientific experiment, to a craft project, to a skit, or even a research paper. Research materials (books, computer, iPads, etc.) will be available for your child to use for research on our school safe sites, and your child is also welcome to research further at home under your supervision. When their project is complete, your child will be asked to present his/her learning to an audience of classmates. We may also do periodic “check-in” mini-presentations for projects that take an extended time.

How does Genius Hour fit into our standards?

Not only does your child get to choose a topic that he/she is passionate about, but the research and the presentation for this project also ties perfectly into our academic standards! A few examples of these standards include:

      • Draw inferences and formulate conclusions based on multiple sources.
      • Combine pertinent information from several sources on the same topic to help gain an understanding of a topic.
      • Present his/her learning in a meaningful, sequential, and clear way.

How can parents help out?

There are many ways you can help. Once your child chooses a project, he/she may need help with expanding his/her thinking to help formulate new ideas. If you have access to the Internet at home, your child could conduct some of the research there. Finally, you or someone you know may be an expert in the area your child chooses. If this is the case, it’s possible that you could offer some expertise and knowledge about their chosen topic.