Genius Hour

Whether you call it Genius Hour, Independent Study, Passion Projects, or something else - Students love choosing their topic and going in depth with it! However, I've seen over the years that without... 

• Tailored mini lessons

• Specific rubrics

• Small deadlines throughout

• A lot of one-on-one conferencing

...Student products and presentations end up being pretty rough.

To remedy this, I have structured units that guide students through this process. I also pick a "theme" each year. Typically, the first time I do independent study I simply focus on what it is and the components and do a simplified version. This usually takes place in 3rd or 4th grade (though it can be done younger). Then, I work in units on quality writing, presenting, etc.

• Journey of a Question - Fantastic unit for student newer to the independent study process; really lets them dig into a question from start to finish!

• First Year Independent Study (by Kara Angell)

• Independent Study Focused on Writing - Students are required to write a two page paper as part of the unit. Recommended for grades 4+

• Independent Study Focused on Speeches - Students are required to create a presentation with 100 or fewer words. This forces them to learn their content, think about how visuals can convey information, and not read directly from their slides. Recommended for grades 4+

  • Pieces from the book Oral Presentations Made Easy are used throughout the slideshow. Find it for free at the public library or for a few dollars on Amazon!

For a Virtual Version, check out these resources:

• Level 1

• Level 2

• Level 3

For grades 6-12, I recommend taking it a step further and creating student podcasts or try this free resource from TeachersPayTeachers.