how to choose a passion to focus on.
how to explore and find out more about their passion.
how they can share their passions with others.
Book Resources:
Q is for Question: An ABC Book of Philosophy By Tiffany Poirier
Need help thinking about BIG questions? I think that this picture book, written in ABC format (A is for answers, B is for Beauty, C is for Cause, etc) can help us think about our questioning. I would read this book to the class but also make sure that it was on-hand for students to flip through when they need inspiration as it is a lot to take in after only one read through.
Big Idea Resources:
Additional Resources:
What is Genius Hour? - Introduction to Genius Hour in the Classroom
A Teacher's Passion Project Model: Genius Hour with 2nd Graders
begin a dialogue around critical thinking and problem solving
“habits” or “behaviors” that that have a strong correlation to success in relationships, school and the workplace.
Book Resources:
It's Okay to Make Mistakes By Todd Parr
This book is fantastic! I only recently came across Todd Parr books so I have yet to use them with an audience but I just love his illustrations and his style. This picture book helps us learn that it is okay to make mistakes, and that sometimes things do not go quite the way we thought they were going to but that is part of trying new things! "It's okay to make mistakes sometimes. Everyone does, even grown ups! That's how we learn." Exactly! And this is an important thing to learn if we are going to do Genius Hour. I would use this book to talk about risk-taking and self-reflection: two of the many traits on The Genius Hour Creativity Rubric. I would also connect this book to everything we do at school and probably use it right at the beginning of the school year and then again when we are about to start our Genius Hour inquiries.
Additional Resources:
Mentimeter Word Cloud (Initial Brainstorm)
Three Things Word Association The teacher introduces the new unit to students and asks them to write the first three words that come to mind into a collective word cloud generator. The teacher can learn a lot about student interests and excitement for a topic and catch misunderstandings that arise.
Sticky Note Brainstorm (to :14 seconds)
Ask students to close their eyes and think about something they were really passionate about. Then, they wrote down their passions on a sticky notes and post them on our board. Students check out each others ideas. Students received a second sticky note (in a different color) and were asked to write down a second idea in the form of a question. They then posted this second sticky note on the board.
Book Resources:
The Dot By Peter H. Reynolds
(Read Aloud)
I adore all of the Peter H. Reynolds picture books. The illustrations are wonderful and they all have important lessons in them that connect well to the classroom. The Dot is one you may have heard of already because SO many teachers love this book and it also has its own day--International Dot Day on September 15th. The book begins with Vashti sitting in her classroom with a blank piece of paper on her desk. Her teacher encourages her and says "Just make a mark and see where it takes you." Vashti gives the paper a "good, strong jab" and leaves it with just the dot. She returns to the classroom on another day and finds that her teacher has framed her dot.
Additional Resources:
Wonderopolis - teaching students the benefits of questioning and wondering and provides good information to help students answer those questions.
Gale in Context (elementary)
Students discuss their passion project with their parents.
They brainstorm two possible inquiry questions for their passion projects .
The Teacher meets with each student to approve one of their ideas and to work with them to tweak their questions to make them a little deeper.
By the end of the class, each student had a question, a direction to head in, and a solid idea for their passion project.
Book Resources:
What do you do with an Idea? by Kobi Yamada
(Read Aloud)
How do you bring an idea into the world? This story follows a boy who has an idea, and as his confidence grows, so does his idea. It is a great story to use at the beginning to inspire kids to explore their own ideas. And the pictures are amazing!
Additional Resources:
Creating a Culture of Questioning: Inquiry in the Lower Elementary
Helping Students Ask Better Questions by Creating a Culture of Inquiry
Part 1. What do we already know about this topic?
Part 2. What can we quickly learn from a book or website?
Part 3: What do we need to know, now? And how will we learn it?
Confer with kids as much as you can. Meet to check in, ask questions, share in their excitement. Meet to set mini goals, create a list of to-dos and supplies needed. By articulating their progress, kids often figure out next steps on their own. I make notes of goals and next steps for the kids as they talk and give these to them when the conference is over.
Research Process: Strategies to Build and Improve Research Skills:
Wonder:
Step #1: Posing a Researchable Question (each question gets its own KWL sheet)
Investigate:
Step#2: Using Text and Page Features to Find Information (Teachers) Text and Page Features (Students)
Step#3B: Finding Websites to Use For Research
Step#3C: Finding Databases to Use For Research
Gale in Context (elementary)
Construct:
Step #4: Using Paired Readings
Step#5: Take Notes on Readings with a KWL Chart (Teacher)
KWL Sheet for organizing research (Sample)
You'll look through a drop of water to find out how a magnifying lens works.
Using a Styrofoam ball, a pencil, and a lamp, you'll learn why the Moon appears and disappears.
With just a jar and some ice cubes, you can demonstrate how rain is formed.
Book Resource:
Whoosh! by Chris Barton & illustrated by Don Tate
(Read Aloud)
A cool idea with a big splash You know the Super Soaker. It’s one of top twenty toys of all time. And it was invented entirely by accident. Trying to create a new cooling system for refrigerators and air conditioners, impressive inventor Lonnie Johnson instead created the mechanics for the iconic toy. A love for rockets, robots, inventions, and a mind for creativity began early in Lonnie Johnson’s life. Growing up in a house full of brothers and sisters, persistence and a passion for problem solving became the cornerstone for a career as an engineer and his work with NASA. But it is his invention of the Super Soaker water gun that has made his most memorable splash with kids and adults.
Additional Resources:
Develop your research questions
record the interview
make sense of what you heard.
Additional Resources:
requires that no matter how obvious the solution may seem, many solutions be created for consideration.
Created in a way that allows them to be judged equally as possible answers.
Looking at a problem from more than one perspective always yields richer results.
Prototype - Start simple. Sometimes we just start with creating a prototype out of play-dough or building blocks.
Sketching - Start with the overview of what you want your project to look like. Add labels and explanations. Choose a few areas to sketch in more details. The process of sketching will help students visually explain where they want to go.
Check-ins - Students should work as part of a small group of peers to get feedback on their ideas and choose teacher mentors to meet with about their ideas.
Book Resource:
Rosie Revere, Engineer By Andrea Beaty
(Read Aloud)
Rosie is a fantastic character! She loves making things and embodies so many of the characteristics that we would attribute to Genius Hour and The Maker Movement. I also love the handkerchief that she wears, the same one as the woman in the iconic "We can do it" image. Rosie is inspired by everything around her and I think this book can be used to introduce the discussion on inquisitiveness, risk-taking and generating ideas (Again, these are traits from the Genius Hour Creativity Rubric). It also teaches an important lesson about failure and persistence.
Additional Resources:
Book Resources:
The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires
(Read Aloud)
What happens when your big ideas aren’t turning out the way you want? This book is a great one to use after Genius Hour has been introduced, kids have researched, and they are beginning their projects.
Student Project Sample:
Caine's Arcade I went to get my car fixed and met this 9 year old kid who built a cardboard arcade in his dad's auto shop.
Chromebook Resources:
iPad Resources: