Genius Hour

I Am Genius

What is Genius Hour? Genius Hour was inspired by Google’s 20% Time. Employees are given 20% of their worktime to create whatever they want and present it to see if the product or idea is something that could be used or expanded upon (ex. Gmail, Google Maps, etc.). For this project, you get the same thing. You will get one day a week from now until May 25/26 to come up with something YOU are passionate about. You get to pick the topic and how it is presented. This is an individual assignment.

What Are the Parameters? It must be something that you can research, meaning more than a yes or no answer, or something you can find the answer to in one Google search. You will need to get your question approved by Ms. Renk before you begin. You will need to include a Work Cited page. You need to track your progress by keeping a journal. Create an entry at least once per week. This will be due on the work days. You will need to present your final project in some way. This can be through a PowerPoint, a model of your project, TED Talk style, a video, etc. Please get your method approved. Your presentation will be 3-5 minutes. Due Date: May 25 (A day), May 26 (B day)

Genius Hour Proposal Fill out the handout and turn it in to get your question approved. If you cannot think of anything, ask Ms. Renk or start researching something you are interested in learning more about. Ex: Ms. Renk likes to knit in her spare time. How did the practice of knitting start? (How did someone shear a sheep for its wool, spin it into a long string, and take two sticks to make fabric with it?)

Example Projects Pedals and Packs- Wassumth Center for Human Rights Write a novel, children's book, book of original poems Create a how-to video about soccer, fixing Xbox controllers, fitness Paint a mural Build a RC race car Go vegetarian or vegan Bake something new every week Learn how to cook meals Learn how to crochet/knit Begin learning how to play the bass, piano, ukelele Learn my family's recipes and cook with my grandmother, aunt, mother Create a movie by writing a script, filming, and editing Learn yoga Create a music album of original tracks Learn how to fix my car: oil, tires, filters, etc Research a career Quit eating fast food and document progress Make and donate cookies and baskets for the Children's Hospital Invent an iphone charger that works with kinetic energy Create a form to help future students get into colleges Make and send care packages to the troops overseas Making and selling hair bows to donate money to charity Learn improv Learn how to swim, dive, scuba dive, run Improve my time on the mile Run a marathon Pay it Forward Constructing a computer

Work Days April 29 (A day), May 2 (B day) May 5 (A day), May 6 (B day) May 19 (A day), May 20 (B day) DUE MAY 25 (A DAY), MAY 26 (B DAY)