Genius Hour is awesome in Second Grade!

Of all my grades I think second grade loves Genius Hour the most.  These kids have so much passion and love for their topics that so many of them are opting to work on their projects at home.  I approached Genius Hour with them by telling them that they could choose any topic they wanted to learn more about and the only stimulations were that:

1.)  They had to have an Driving Question

2.)  The question had to be approved by me 

3.)  They had to plan out the steps to their project 

4.)  They had to create it and if they create it at home they have to show proof through video, etc. that they created it

Here are some projects:

Audrey sewed a purse in true fashion...Summit colors.

Lily's creation out of cardboard.  An airplane!

Bridget makes a duct tape large purse.  She had kids wanting to buy it.  It was amazing.  She did most of the work at home with parent help.  They weaved the tape.

First Grade Makerspaces

My first graders have been introduced to Makerspace centers for the remainder of the year.  Here are some pics from the types of projects they are creating.  It is amazing what type of projects you will get when give them the materials and allow them the freedom to play or I mean build.  Whatever you call it it is so exciting to watch them use their creativity to create wondeful "stuff".  SHHH...don't tell them because they don't even know they are learning.

So we had a new 3D Dinosaur puzzle this year.  It was not an easy task to master but each day a few first graders would select it for their Makerspace Center, they would leave whatever they completed together, and then the dinosaur would sit and wait on the next group to work on it.  Thursday, Cinco de Mayo day, marks the day that it is complete.  Take a look.  The students were so proud!

Summit ELO walk in the life of a college student for one day

BOOKFEST 2016

     On Friday, April 29th, the ELO (Extended Learning Opportunities) 5 and 6th graders from Summit and a group of Maddux students attended the annual BookFest at Northern Kentucky University.  In order to be eligible to attend this event students from Summit had to read six books from a required reading lists and Maddux students had to read three requried books and enter at least one event contest.  Students were given choice in their learning for the day as they were permitted to sign up for various sessions throughout the day that included enrichment activities from the books.  

     Students started the day by listening to a flourshing author, Michele Houts, and learning how a book becomes published.  Students then attended their chosen sessions, which included many different oppounitites.  Including chalk drawing, tours of the university, writing activities, Planterium adventures, and Makerspace activities.  All sessions were led by university staff, local librarians, or future leaders in the education world.  Students had so much fun living the life in the day of a college student.  

Congratulations

      Maddux students were requird to enter one contest in order to attend the event.  They not only entered but students walked away with the following awards:

Interview & Creative Writing, 2nd place- Emma Bobst & Ellen Scott

Movie Trailer award, 1st place- Ellie Baxter, Serra Lindsey, Stella Scheidler
     Thanks to Tonya Swisshelm (Summit Media Specialist), Meredith Lindsey (Maddux Media Specialist), and Tiffany NeCamp (ELO teacher) for leading the way for this trip.  Also, all the chaperones for the day from both schools. 

Here is an album of pics from the day.  We had lots of fun.

Fifth grade Geniuses

So my 5th graders have been exploring their passions in Genius Hour time during their last few weeks in the Media Center.  I am going to post some of their projects for you to enjoy.

Danny (a reluctant student not easy to motivate) yet was the first to share his project for Genius Hour.  He had his dad film him playing Minecraft with a friend, whom he has never met, through the game.  He brought in his flashdrive with his videos on it.  He shared that he chose this project because he loves Minecraft and he learned how to make three new items for his character to carry.

Seth shares how to makes peanut butter cookies.  He even got special permission from Mrs. Sulfsted, our principal, to bring in cookies to share with his class.  She approved and they were very yummy!

Cassidy wrote a story.  She has four chapters completed and shared the first chapter with us.  What an amazing writer.  
Click here to listen to her read the first chapter.

So a few 5th graders, whom have already presented their Genius Hour projects, are experimenting with Makerspace items.  Here was a creation from this week.  A cardboard cat with a feathered hat.  

Green Screen +research = AMAZING PROJECTS with FIRST GRADE

My first graders were so curious about the Green Screen so I decided to incorporate it into their animal research projects.  We started this research by reading I Don't Want to Be a Frog by
Dav Petty.  Students then completed a biography sheet about themselves.  Look below.  Students then partnered up and worked on PeebleGo to pick an animal they were curious about and they had to gather facts about that animal.  After this they used both their biography and research notes to make a script for their Green Screen video.  Students got to select a background image for their animal video and then they were told to practice reading their scripts 3x before coming to me to film.  

Step #1 - READ THIS BOOK

Step #2- COMPLETE BIOGRAPHY SHEET

  

Step #3-CHOOSE AN ANIMAL ON PEEBLEGO AND GATHER FACTS ABOUT THAT ANIMAL ON THIS SHEET.

Step #4- Copy your information on the Green Screen script.  Assign the red and black parts so students know which part to read.

Step#5-Take a look at our finished projects.  They turned out amazing!

Mrs. Werking's Class

Mrs. Bitler's Class

Ms. Huntington's Class

Mrs. Beiting's Class

Fourth grade finishes up their NUTRITION commercials.

The fourth graders were challenged to create a commercial that would advertise some type of food or drink.  This went along with their NUTRITION unit in Science.  They first learned about the techniques that advertisers use to sell a product, they then created their groups, signed up for which type of food/drink they would advertise, write a detailed script for their commerical, rehearse at least twice, and then film their commerical using iPads, flip cameras, or the Green Screen.  This took us a long time to complete due to days off and snow days but we finally made it.  Take a look!  (we are still figuring out the sound on the iPad so I apologize if you can't hear the voices)

Monday Commercials

Tuesday Commercials

Friday Commercials

Genius Hour in Action

So our Genius Hour projects are now underway.  I am still struggling with pushing kids to some higher thinking projects but overall I feel that this year has been more productive than years past.  Students were given more time to choose their passion, which I feel in turn is producing higher level projects.   

Here are a few pics from our Genius Hour projects in the making.

Josie is making Easter eggs out of yarn, food coloring, and balloons.  Can't wait to see how they turn out.

I have lots of 6th graders who want to use the 3D pen for their Genius Hour projects BUT I am not an expert in this area yet.  I tapped my new friend, Mrs. Chumbley, the Anderson Teen Public Librarian, to come in and help us troubleshoot.  The great thing is she also brought another 3D Doodler so my students could get more accomplished.  In this video she is promoting her MakerFair coming up in June.

You can see the pink "K" that one of the Genius 6th graders created.

Brayden builds a crane...still problem shutting some things.

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Mercedes created 3D glasses with the 3D Doodler pen.

Liz is making her characters out of pipe cleaners for her stop motion movie.

Kayla building her characters.

Play Brennen's Game (he is still working out some problems)

https://flowlab.io/game/view/372003

Keenan showing us the 3D Motor Model he is building.

  

Kyle discusses his process for making a lava lamp.  Click here to take a look.

Logan explores the world of circuits, while creating a pocket fan to keep you cool.

Austin controls his computer games with the Makey Makey.  

Zachary shares his Incredibox music.  Click here to listen.

3D Doodler Pen Creations

Brayden builds a CRANE!

Sophia makes a FLIP BOOK!

Emily makes a DUCT TAPE pencil holder.  It was a huge success and I think she may be taking orders.

Haley is working on her hair bows.

Mallory is working on a 3D volleyball.

Katie shares how she made her tissue paper pom-pom balls.

Abby creates a Stop Motion video with Legos.

Maggie's Movie

Brennen makes another video game.  Are you up for the challenge?

Andrew creates a STOP MOTION Star Wars video.  What better way to celebrate "May the 4th Be With You Day."

Stop Motion Fun by Lily C. and Hannah

(pretty good for their first time)