Genius Hour

Genius Hour Projects
Genius Hour is a precious time, loved by all my students. It is when they are allowed to develop their own inquiry question about whatever it is that they want to explore. They are then given about 3 one hour Genius Hour sessions and then they are usually ready to present their learning to the class.

Genius Hour is an amazing time. All the kids are excited and this creates a buzz in the air! Some students are huddled around a laptop doing research on countries they are interested in, others are creating websites, and PowerPoints and slideshows on an area of interest. Some aren't using technology at all, but rather are building and creating things with their hands. But no matter what they are working on, the common thread is that it is something they are interested in and/or passionate about.

Reference: https://geniushour.com/what-is-genius-hour/

Genius Hour Project Rubrics:

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Genius Hour Ideas:

Science

What impact on science did Isaac Newton have?
How did the Ice age start and what happened to the people and the animals?
How do hurricanes gain power and how do they get so destructive?
What are the classifications of planets and how do they work (Gassy, Rocky, Dwarf, etc.)?
How does gravity work, and how come open space has no gravity?
How are solar systems formed and what is the purpose of them? What other ones exist?
What are the elements of the periodic table in detail, and what can I learn about them?
What are the different theories that explain how the moon was created?
What are some scientific theories explaining how the universe was formed?
Why aren`t any other species of animal as smart as humans and why haven`t they adapted or become smarter like humans did yet?
What is the science of hitting a home run?
Why do all the planets orbit the sun in the same direction?
Why are there craters on the moon and why does one side have more?
What would be different about life on Earth if the moon was removed from the sky?
How do natural disasters (tornadoes, lightning strikes, sand twister, etc) happen?
Can I learn how to predict what someone is thinking accurately?
How does gravity work on Earth and in Space?
What causes an ice age and how does it affect our planet?
What are the different Global Disasters and how do they form?
How does solar energy work and how can I toast a piece of bread using solar energy?
How the brain works
How did the universe start?
How does your brain connect with your movements?
Why are people worried about global warming?

Social Studies

Who are the Egyptian gods and what do they represent?
How did different cultures (Greeks, Aztecs, etc.) get their Gods?
Can I explain how the continents became the shapes they are today?
How did people construct castles in medieval times?
What was the first war and how was it started?
Can I teach others about forts during the French And Indian War?
Why was Alexander The Great so successful as a military leader?
What made the ancient Romans so hard to fight in battles and wars?
Can I re-create the lighthouse of Alexandria and learn about its structure?
How did life inside a medieval castle look like?
What made William Wallace and his army so successful and what led to his death?
Can I figure out why countries have flags and how some got their flags?
Can I learn about different theories explaining why the Mayans left their cities?
Can we teach others about the Aztecs and their culture?
Who were the gladiators and why were they important?
What things went on in the West Indies Sea (Caribbean Sea) in the early 1700's?
How did the states get their names and why?
What is Toronto like (e.g. food, sports, architecture, etc.)?
What are the 7 modern wonders of the world?

Sports

How has football changed since it started?
How has baseball developed and changed over the years?
How did MLS soccer teams get their logos/what do they represent?
What are the similarities and differences between two tennis players?
Who were the creators of hockey, how long has it been played?
Can I learn about runners and their techniques?
What are soccer's origins, how was it invented, and how has it changed over time?
What are the details behind hockey's invention?
Why in soccer is the Barcelona playing style so effective and how does it work?
How are basketball superstars different today than they were in the past?
What motivates football players and how does this motivate them?
How, When, And Why Were sports created?
Can I teach others about the importance of being a hockey goaltender?
Can I learn the rules of baseball and teach people about it?
Can I learn about the rules of football explain to people how it works?
How do sports affect ordinary people?
How have various NHL stars revolutionized the Game of Hockey?
How has the Olympics changed, and what sports do we want to add?
What is the history behind basketball?
How did the snowboard get invented and how has it changed over time?
How has the NFL changed since the beginning of it?
What's the process for getting selected to be on a national soccer team?
Who created the World Cup and how has it changed over time?
How do soccer teams design their jerseys and what are the designs they have come up with?
What are the keys to batting in baseball and how come they work?
How to throw a football like a quarterback
how did Joe Montana QB get to be himself by getting to the hall of fame and make his jersey
what are some ways to jump higher in basketball

Animals

Should certain animals (deer, hawks, moose, etc.) be banned from being hunted?
Can I learn the sled dog language, and learn about how they train the sled dogs?
What is a water bear, what does it do all day, and what is so special about them?
What are the different kinds of horses and how are they alike and how are they different?
What are the different types of primates and what is different about each one?
Why are there so many different dog breeds in the world?
Why don't Bulldogs live as long as other dog breeds and is there a way to extend their lifespan?
Can we tell people about dinosaurs and their history & features?
Can I create a "super predator" by combining all of the best attributes of predators in different climate zones?
How does obedience training for dogs work? How do you train a dog so they have freedom?
Can we create a sculpture of a hawk and show how they fly?
How have elephants been used in society over time?
What species of turtles are endangered and why? What can we do?
How have dogs evolved from wolves?
What are coconut crabs and how do they live their lives?
Why are manatees going extinct, and is there anything I can try to do about it?
What are the differences between each breed of penguin?
What prey do the fastest animals in the world eat?
Did megalodon actually exist, and if so what were his gifts and special talents?
What type of owls live in Illinois and what are their distinguishing features?
What are the top 10 strongest dinosaurs? What are there features?
How have felines and their features evolved over the centuries?
What kinds of species of bears are their and what are their characteristics?
How are the different types of Bird of Prey Unique?
What are the Characteristics of the Great White Shark that make them Unique?
Why are armadillos endangered
how does the circulatory system of a horse work?
what does Bigfoot and chupacabra actually mean in mythology and in real life
Is Bigfoot an ape or a man
Learn all there is to know about dolphins
What are the deadliest fish in the oceans

General

What do Native American symbols mean?
Who invented the internet and why was it done?
What is the history of bookmaking?
Can I make a website about famous artists, and re-draw their most famous pieces?
How were cars invented, improved, and made to go so fast?
What are super cars and what are they designed for? What is the history and super cars?
With help from writing techniques could a fifth grader learn more about writing to make a book?
How do famous authors write their books, and can I do the same using their methods?
How much work would it take to make a good 20 minute movie?
Who designed the most famous skyscrapers in Chicago & how are they used today?
How has architecture changed over the years with regard to materials and functions?
What inspired the Wright brothers to make the first airplane and where did they get the idea?
How and why has women's fashion changed so much from the 1900's to the present time?
Where does our alphabet come from, and what are the other alphabets?
What ingredients do they use in Mexico that aren't common in our country's cooking?
How have candy bars changed since they first became popular?
What desserts are common in Asia and how are they different from desserts in America?
How did Hershel Walker overcome his childhood?
Can I write/draw a children's book that teaches a lesson about telling the truth?
Can I show people how to draw cartoon characters?
Can we make a cookbook with fast and easy recipes?
Can we create a campaign to stop abusing pitbulls?
How do people react to mixtures of food in a blind taste test and can people identify the foods?
How do you make gym shoes?
Can we teach people all about Disney World, and the things to do there?
Can I teach others how to use Scratch?
Why do kids treat each other differently?
Does the graphics and sound effects in a video game affect how you like that video game?
Can I explain how the Olympic fast suits have changed over time?
Can I teach others about acting by making a YouTube video series?
Can we teach people how to use Weebly?
Can we design 15 outfits (each) and make a slideshow of them to show others?
Can we research and find recipes and teach people how to make them in videos?
Can we learn the backstories of the Avengers and how they got their powers?
Can I learn about what is going on in the brain when we feel a "sixth sense" and how to control it?
Can we research the history of a slot machine and create a working model?
Can we learn all about the guy who created the Muppets (Jim Hensen)?
Can I teach others about how the brain figures out simple tasks or hard tasks?
Can I write a comic book about a superhero that I make up?
Can we draw Disney characters and make a book teaching people how to draw them?
Can we make a stop motion video and show people how important the computer is?
Can I create a floor plan for a house using the correct dimensions?
Can we learn what the symbols on coins mean?
How has the video game "Madden" changed over the years?
How have rollercoasters changed over time?
Can we design an Apple tech help website that would help people with simple problems?
Can we make care packages out of things that people don't need or use anymore?
Can we make predictions and explain what might happen in Star Wars VII?
What is Mitchell's Dark Star and what other objects in the Cosmos are similar?
What are the basic needs of a language and can I create my own?
Can we show people how to use some common apps on Google?
Does the mood of a piece of music affect the mood of people listening to it?
Can we make our own movie based off of the movie Princess Protection Program?
What does heaven look like to me and how do we get there?
What adaptations allow an animal to be at the top of the food chain?
What is the history of the Willy Wonka candy factory and himself?
What is considered American cuisine and what are some common dishes?
What are the types of grills and what are the benefits of each?
How does the climate you live in affect how you live?
What are some techniques to convince your parents to get a dog and why do they work?
How have clothes changed over the years and how does each change affect our lives?
What is the history of armored tanks?
How can you engineer a car to make it go faster?
What do the words and symbols mean on U.S. currency and why were they chosen?
How did YouTube start and what was supposed to be the purpose of YouTube?
What evidence do people have of the existence of Bigfoot?
What kind of holidays do Germans celebrate and what are the meanings to them?
How can you find out someone's personality just by their handwriting?
How did movie making begin?
What foods do people crave, why do they crave them, and what are the side effects?
What is the history behind Scooby Doo and how has it changed from the start?
How do jet engines and aerodynamic design work to make them go so fast?
How do various drinks affect our health & or fitness in positive and negative ways?
What our the different types of anime I can draw from different cultures?
Which foods are good for people and which are bad?
What are some alternative sources of energy and how do they work?
How do cranial-facial disorders happen and can we help the kids in need?
What different types of tree houses are there and what makes them different?
How much German can we learn in 6 weeks?
Which foods are good for people and which are bad?
What are the different Disney World rides and what makes them fun?
What are some exotic fruits, where are they from?
How do claw machines work, and can I make one that works?
To make people aware of how hard farm life is
how to make homemade play-doh for little kids to play with
How the heart works and why we need a heart.
About the Mars rover
How to make a bow
how do rovers work and build a model of the rover
How rockets work and I’m going to build a model of it.
How can people see better with glasses than without
How make a homemade arcade game with no electricity
How to make an website
I’m going to ask what is makeup made of
What causes us to forget?
How do we loose weight in our bodies
How are different types of cancer formed or caused and how they can maybe be cured
Black holes…everything about black holes
how to rebuild a small engine
How to make a tutu?
How can I become a millionaire overnight?
How has technology affected the human body?
How does a plane fly
how do trees grow flowers and leaves?
How to make a car from scratch
What are all the types of cancer. What can the doctors do to help?
Bring awareness to littering and polluting
Bring Awareness: Smoking
how to increase reaction times and how to increase eye hand coordination.
How does the human color pattern works?
who built Alcatraz
how are children born with autism
how can people get healthier and live longer?
What jobs give the most money?
Why do we shrink when we get old?
Write a novel, children's book, book of original poems
Keep an blog about a current event
Create a how-to video about soccer, fixing Xbox controllers, fitness
Paint a mural
Build a RC race car
Go vegetarian or vegan
Learn how to cook meals
Learn how to crochet
Learn how to play the bass, piano, ukulele
Learn how to longboard
Create a movie by writing a script, filming, and editing
Learn yoga
Create a music album of original tracks
Learn how to do crafty things with Pinterest
Create a short claymation movie
Create an online newspaper
Learn how to fix a car: oil, tires, filters, etc
Research behind-the-scenes of movies jobs
Invent an iPhone charger that works with kinetic energy
Learn improv
Learn how to swim, dive, scuba dive