My fourth graders have been researching a person of choice (I helped them by pulling picture book biographies) and gathering facts via Google Docs. They will then use Popplet to create a visual map of their facts. Here is their planning sheet. I also take this opportunity to discuss citation and we start with this citation video. The students take a look at this bibliography sheet so they know what that should look like.
Here is the checklist that they must check before they share their completed Popplet with me.
Step #1
4th grader partnered up and read their chosen picture book biography on their person. In the video some were already researching websites gathering their facts on a shared Google Doc.
The hard part of RESEARCHING is over. All that is left is to copy and paste answers from here to their Popplet and let their creative juices start flowing.
Here is what the checklist looked like once completed by the students.
Our 6th graders are still working on building their Genius Hour projects. They will be sharing these after spring break. Many of them struggle with these projects because it is a very ORGANIC process and they are so used to being told what, when, where, and how. For these projects they can choose any topic that they want to explore, research it, and create something to teach us about it. I have many who are searching for EXPERTS to SKYPE with for part of their projects. I have created lessons on SKYPE FOR EDUCATION and they have posted their requests on their online course, Schoology, asking their classmates for connections. If you could be of help at all please contact me. There is nothing like bringing EXPERTS into the classroom. Here are a few
of our requests:
"That is the way to learn the most, that when you are doing something with such enjoyment that you don’t notice that the time passes. "-Albert Einstein in a letter to his son
Our Geniuses are starting to spark our interest....here are some of their projects.
Madison shares her passion to become a veterinarian so she can help improve the lives of animals.
Her passion showed through during her presentation. Some of her classmates responded that she made them feel guilty for not doing more to help animal shelters.
Tate makes a ROCKET and shares his process....the flight was unsuccessful but he is going back to the drawing board and making the needed corrections.
Latavia's Passion for Pediatric Oncology dogist
Abby E. passion for the way filters affect photography
Rachel F. shares her passion forSAVING THE FOREST through a PowToon
We had several students who are interested in pediatriconcology so we were lucky to have a Emergency Room Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Mrs. Lingren a parent of a 6th grader, visit with us to discuss her profession. This was a Q/A session led by Kaitlyn Jackson for her Genius Hour.
Casey shares his Maker Taker passion of building. He built a candy machine, a car, and a sling shot out of LEGOs. He hopes to one day have a career in Engineering or building.
Elliot shares his passion for trying to make it to the MLS one day.
