In this 12-week class, learners will be prompted to create their own passion project. A passion project is an opportunity for learners to establish agency in their own education and interests while maintaining and developing critical thinking skills and establishing specific life skills based on their project choice. Some examples of passion projects may be volunteering, starting a small business, achieving a specific goal, learning a new skill, being proactive in the environment, creating art, engineering an invention, or writing a short story. 

Passion projects are designed to allow the learner's interests shine and create a foundation to actually achieve and then reflect on that passion. This course is learner-led with teacher guidance. Learners may select a topic that requires extensive research or they may select a topic that is more artistic or humanities based. 

Learners will be guided through each part of the process in creating their passion project but will be encouraged to think freely and critically about their chosen topics. Peers in the classroom will act as a sounding board as projects are completed. 

Each meeting will be 50 minutes in length. However, there may be weeks in which we go slightly over that set amount of time if students are really in their zone.

Content for each week is scheduled as follows but is subject to change based on student needs:

Week 1: Introduction to Passion Projects and the Difference Between a Passion and a Hobby
Week 2: Identifying Interests and Passions and Creating Burning Questions
Week 3: Resources and Possible Products
Week 4: Submitting the Project Proposal
Week 5: Taking Notes
Week 6: Taking Notes
Week 7: Product Creation
Week 8: Product Creation
Week 9: Rehearsal
Week 10: Presentation
Week 11: Presentation
Week 12: Reflections

During Week 1, learners will be introduced to the Passion Project through discussion and slides. They will create a graphic organizer with a list of possible passions.

Week 2 will introduce the parts of the project and learners will create burning questions or "non-googleable" questions they are curious about. Learners will select one question to explore after learning about the importance of burning questions.

On week 3, learners will identify resources to help them in the creation of their project. They will complete a handout on product selection. They will be able to choose from many options or create their own end product. Maybe it is writing a short story, creating a slideshow, data collection on human behavior, a puppet show or skit, an artistic creation, or an invention of some kind.

During Week 4, students will submit their project proposal making sure they have completed a checklist for their submittal.

Weeks 5 and 6 will focus on learning to take notes on their interest or passion. Learners will begin the research stage and apply their note taking skills. They will learn time management by creating tasks in a graphic organizer and logging their progress so that they can stay on track.

Weeks 7 and 8 will focus on creating their products. Learners will be able to break down the larger product creation into smaller steps and will complete a passion project checklist.

Week 9 will be dedicated to rehearsing the finished product.

Weeks 10 and 11 will be held for presentations of the products.

Week 12 will be for reflections on what they learned, if they have met their goals for the project, and if they answered their burning questions. Learners will complete a rubric to identify their achievements.

All 12 weeks will be part of our "genius hour" where we get our wheels spinning and prepare to do our most focused work.

This class is designed to allow students to expand their critical thinking skills, find comfort in public speaking and presentation, understand the steps in a process, maintain time management, achieve focus, learn to break large tasks down into manageable chunks, spark interest and curiosity, and engage with others.

I am looking forward to seeing all of the very cool ideas my learners have on their minds!