Ready-to-Implement Units

Younger Students - Grades 2-5

• Independent Study - Printable PDF

• Journey of a Question - Slideshow Unit

Older Students - Grades 4-8

• Independent Study - Slideshow with General Lessons and Tips

Presentations

• Have students Show What They Know using this fun choice board!

Tips and Tricks for Success

• Use a new project theme each year to keep the experience fresh and prevent students from disengaging due to past “Genius Hour” experiences. Consider options like Super Speeches, TedTalk Tuesdays, or Journey of a Question.

• Teach a focused weekly mini‑lesson to provide explicit instruction and give students clear, manageable goals.

• Use a consistent rubric and have students complete self‑assessments at least twice during the project to support reflection and growth.

• Set structured checkpoints for tasks such as gathering research sources, drafting sub‑questions, and completing components to prevent procrastination.

• Hold frequent one‑on‑one conferences while students work to guide thinking, clarify next steps, and keep them on track.