Genius Hour
Fifth-graders get 60 minutes each week for one semester to study any topic they want with a guiding question in mind. This project is based on the business practice that Google allows their development team to use. The idea is that when individuals are allowed to concentrate on something they are interested in, productivity goes up. For students, it provides a path to intrinsic motivation. Possible topics/projects include writing a book, writing a code, and developing a plan to help communities lessen light pollution. Funding covers supplies for the projects and the Genius Hour Showcase.