Passion Projects: Kids Explore What They Love!

"Passion Projects," "Genius Hour," "20% Time," "Passion Project Hour"...  I've been doing these types of projects with my students longer than it has been a buzz word!  Early on in my teaching (fourteen years ago), I knew it was important for the kids to express themselves through whatever it was they were passionate about or highly interested in.  I dubbed them "Special Projects" and they were done in the morning when everyone was coming to school.  The projects were more informal than today's projects, but the essence was the same -- to give each student an avenue where they could bring their personal interests to life and teach their class about it too.

When my co-teacher and I decided to work this project into our schedule (we let go of a subject, Junior Great Books, that wasn't engaging for our kids), we began by watching A.J. Juliani's course.  We also enlisted the help of our Director of Teaching & Learning, who did these types of projects with his students when he was a classroom teacher.  It has been invaluable to have the three of us working with them!  We three planned together and picked out the ways we felt it could be engaging and workable for our 2nd and 3rd graders.  While it hasn't always been smooth sailing with this age group compared to older students, the rewards have been beautiful!  I have cherished the time I'm spending with them doing projects that normally wouldn't fall into our usual school day.  From sewing, to playing a mini-golf course, to watching them code video games (they are light years ahead of my understanding!).  There are so many projects, and in heart-warming ways each one reflects the student completing it.

If you are debating doing Passion Projects with this age level, I highly recommend enlisting the help of another teacher and/or parent.  I'm sure there are all-star teachers out there who do it alone and I would love to be one!  But sometimes one needed a needle threaded, another a box cut, and another dripped paint and all needed to be attended to pretty quickly.  It was just a more peaceful process knowing that I had two other teachers in the class with me.  I am also happy to help you further if you'd like to know more about our process with this age group.

Some of the other projects include making stuffed animals, drawing sketches, creating a new song, and making a catchphrase.  The students always reflected on their work from the day into Seesaw, and so that all three teachers could give constructive comments on their work.  Administration was also able to view the progress through Seesaw!  Parents also very much enjoyed seeing their child's progress and commenting as well.

More photos to come when they present their projects to our school next week!

Click HERE for link to lightbulb border from Creative Teaching Press.

The clipart is from Krista Wallden - Creative Clips.