Unit Study:
We got into the details with our Genius Hour Project Plans. This document will be coming home today for your review and signature. Most of the work for this project will be done in class over the next 5-6 weeks, but some of it will need to be completed at home. Later in the day, we started our research for our Genius Hour Topics. The kids were SO excited to jump into their areas of passion! It's not often that they are given time to truly dig into whatever they are most passionate about. It's a pleasure to watch them light up with learning!
Algebraic Thinking:
We stretched our mathematical thinking with a mixed problem-solving page. The kids are making great progress in their use of various strategies to solve increasingly more difficult problems. Way to go!
Stations:
We managed to squeeze in time to stretch our convergent thinking with some logic puzzles and then used our divergent thinking to work on a creative problem solving task, "Escaping Detention", that is related to our novel study. The kids came up with some very clever ideas!
Affective Skills:
We reviewed an old favorite for our mindfulness practice: Still Quiet Place. This helps kids to imagine a place where feel totally relaxed and calm. This technique can be used anytime kids need to calm down or take a mental break.
Novel Study:
We finished up our day with some reading in our novel, Ungifted. The kids have just found out that our main character, Donovan, is going to attend the Academy of Scholastic Distinction. Oh, is this going to be one crazy adventure!
HW: Edmodo-Genius Hour Update