Phillips​ ​MS​ ​Genius​ ​Hour​ ​Session​ ​Overview 

Below​ ​is​ ​a​ ​list​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Genius​ ​Hour​ ​sessions​ ​being​ ​offered​ ​for​ ​the​ ​2017-18​ ​school​ ​year. 

Title  Session​ ​Description 

10​ ​Minutes​ ​of​ ​Code​ ​with  Students​ ​will​ ​learn​ ​basics​ ​of​ ​coding​ ​using​ ​the​ ​TI-84​ ​calculator. 
the​ ​TI-84 
Students​ ​are​ ​to​ ​imagine​ ​they​ ​work​ ​for​ ​a​ ​travel​ ​agency.​ ​They​ ​will​ ​choose​ ​three​ ​Spanish-speaking​ ​countries​ ​to​ ​travel​ ​to​ ​for 
A​ ​Spanish-Speaking  two​ ​weeks.​ ​They​ ​will​ ​have​ ​to​ ​figure​ ​out​ ​which​ ​cities​ ​to​ ​visit​ ​and​ ​if​ ​these​ ​cities​ ​are​ ​safe​ ​for​ ​travelers​ ​(why​ ​or​ ​why​ ​not?)​ ​They 
Adventure!  will​ ​have​ ​to​ ​research​ ​activities​ ​to​ ​do​ ​and​ ​hotels​ ​to​ ​stay​ ​at​ ​once​ ​there.​ ​They​ ​will​ ​put​ ​together​ ​an​ ​itinerary​ ​of​ ​their​ ​trip​ ​in​ ​a 
brochure​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​include​ ​the​ ​results​ ​of​ ​their​ ​research. 
Becoming​ ​and​ ​Youtube  Using​ ​Youtube​ ​and​ ​other​ ​social​ ​media​ ​sites,​ ​you​ ​will​ ​become​ ​more​ ​aware​ ​of​ ​how​ ​social​ ​media​ ​is​ ​driven​ ​and​ ​can​ ​also​ ​drive 
and​ ​Social​ ​Media​ ​Critic  popular​ ​culture. 
Boot​ ​Camp  Students​ ​create​ ​and​ ​lead​ ​exercise​ ​activities​ ​that​ ​help​ ​them​ ​build​ ​upon​ ​their​ ​leadership​ ​qualities​ ​and​ ​communication​ ​skills. 
Students​ ​will​ ​analyze​ ​successful​ ​speakers​ ​at​ ​TED​ ​conferences​ ​to​ ​determine​ ​what​ ​made​ ​them​ e ​ ffective​ ​at​ c​ onveying​ ​their 
Create​ ​Your​ ​Own​ ​TED 
message.​ ​Then​ ​students​ ​will​ ​choose​ ​a​ ​topic/question​ ​that​ ​they​ ​wish​ ​to​ ​create​ ​their​ ​own​ ​TED​ ​talk​ ​on​ ​and​ ​write​ ​and​ ​present​ ​it 
Talk 
using​ ​the​ ​skills​ ​that​ ​they​ ​learned​ ​from​ ​analyzing​ ​other​ ​speakers 
Crystal​ ​Clear  Students​ ​will​ ​read​ ​the​ ​original​ ​Elizabethan​ ​text,​ ​perform​ ​skits,​ ​watch​ ​film​ ​versions,​ ​and​ ​attend​ ​a​ ​live​ ​performance. 
Shakespeare   
As​ ​a​ ​team​ ​we​ ​will​ ​research​ ​and​ ​then​ ​create​ ​a​ ​self-sufficient​ ​community.​ ​We​ ​will​ ​decide​ ​what​ ​community​ ​buildings, 
businesses,​ ​and​ ​resources​ ​are​ ​needed​ ​to​ ​make​ ​a​ ​community​ ​much​ ​like​ ​Southern​ ​Village​ ​or​ ​Meadowmont.​ ​We​ ​will​ ​use​ ​our 
City​ ​Planning 
research​ ​to​ ​design​ ​a​ ​blueprint​ ​of​ ​our​ ​community​ ​with​ ​roads,​ ​parking​ ​areas,​ ​businesses,​ ​neighborhoods,​ ​etc.​ ​that​ ​use​ ​real-life 
dimensions​ ​and​ ​code. 
To​ ​promote​ ​sustained​ ​interest​ ​in​ ​the​ ​STEM​ ​field​ ​by​ ​girls,​ ​the​ ​focus​ ​of​ ​this​ ​session​ ​will​ ​be​ ​to​ ​provide​ ​a​ ​safe​ ​environment​ ​for 
female​ ​students​ ​to​ ​collaborate​ ​with​ ​other​ ​female​ ​students​ ​to​ ​research​ ​and​ ​then​ ​create​ ​an​ ​app​ ​or​ ​a​ ​game​ ​to​ ​help​ ​students 
Coding​ ​for​ ​Girls 
address​ ​an​ ​academic​ ​concern​ ​that​ ​impacts​ ​our​ ​Phillips​ ​community.​ ​Girls​ ​will​ ​work​ ​in​ ​small​ ​design​ ​teams​ ​to​ ​identify​ ​an​ ​area​ ​of 
need​ ​based​ ​on​ ​feedback​ ​from​ ​the​ ​school​ ​and​ ​then​ ​create​ ​either​ ​an​ ​app​ ​or​ ​a​ ​game​ ​to​ ​help​ ​address​ ​the​ ​problem. 
Debate​ ​Club  Students​ ​will​ ​research​ ​and​ ​debate​ ​topics​ ​about​ ​issues​ ​in​ ​modern​ ​society. 
We​ ​will​ ​begin​ ​our​ ​journey​ ​using​ ​the​ ​Smithsonian​ ​website.​ ​Students​ ​will​ ​research​ ​and​ ​share​ ​the​ ​information​ ​learned​ ​about​ ​the 
Digging​ ​Deeper​ ​into  different​ ​early​ ​species.​ ​Creating​ ​a​ ​timeline​ ​and​ ​"species"​ ​for​ ​display.​ ​We​ ​will​ ​then​ ​continue​ ​the​ ​journey​ ​of​ ​man​ ​and​ ​migration, 
Mankind  looking​ ​into​ ​the​ ​"myths"​ ​of​ ​the​ ​first​ ​humans​ ​coming​ ​from​ ​Australia​ ​instead​ ​of​ ​African...looking​ ​on​ ​ways​ ​to​ ​prove​ ​or​ ​disprove 
using​ ​credible​ ​evidence.​ ​We​ ​will​ ​end​ ​our​ ​journey​ ​with​ ​the​ ​creation​ ​of​ ​Lascaux/​ ​Museum​ ​and​ ​inviting​ ​Estes​ ​students​ ​to​ ​tour. 
Students​ ​will​ ​learn​ ​about​ ​photography,​ ​analyze​ ​and​ ​take​ ​photos,​ ​create​ ​photographic​ ​portfolios​ ​in​ ​and​ ​around​ ​our​ ​school. 
Photography​ ​as​ ​art​ ​and​ ​photography​ ​photojournalism​ ​(catching​ ​a​ ​moment​ ​in​ ​time)​ ​will​ ​be​ ​explored.​ ​ ​ ​Students​ ​will​ ​be 
Falcon​ ​Photography 
assigned​ ​various​ ​projects​ ​to​ ​demonstrate​ ​their​ ​understanding​ ​of​ ​topics. 
Fanatics 
 
 
 Students​ ​will​ ​be​ ​randomly​ ​assigned​ ​to​ ​a​ ​team​ ​of​ ​3.​ ​ ​Working​ ​together,​ ​the​ ​teams​ ​will​ ​research​ ​&​ ​choose​ ​10​ ​NBA​ ​players 
they​ ​want​ ​to​ ​select​ ​during​ ​the​ ​draft,​ ​thinking​ ​of​ ​what​ ​qualities​ ​make​ ​a​ ​player​ ​more​ ​valuable​ ​to​ ​them.​ ​ ​After​ ​the​ ​draft,​ ​each 
team​ ​will​ ​choose​ ​their​ ​starting​ ​5​ ​plus​ ​a​ ​6th​ ​man.​ ​ ​Each​ ​week​ ​after,​ ​the​ ​group​ ​will​ ​look​ ​up​ ​their​ ​players​ ​stats​ ​(points, 
Fantasy​ ​NBA 
rebounds,​ ​steals,​ ​assists,​ ​and​ ​turnovers),​ ​do​ ​the​ ​math​ ​&​ ​get​ ​their​ ​average​ ​for​ ​the​ ​games​ ​played​ ​that​ ​week,​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​their 
next​ ​starting​ ​line-up.​ ​Each​ ​statistic​ ​has​ ​an​ ​assigned​ ​number​ ​of​ ​points,​ ​so​ ​each​ ​group​ ​will​ ​do​ ​the​ ​math​ ​to​ ​calculate​ ​their 
team's​ ​total​ ​points​ ​for​ ​the​ ​week.​ ​Each​ ​student​ ​will​ ​be​ ​responsible​ ​for​ ​2​ ​players​ ​stats​ ​&​ ​points. 
Students​ ​will​ ​get​ ​to​ ​choose​ ​from​ ​the​ ​following​ ​options: 
● Research​ ​to​ ​find​ ​different​ ​methods​ ​to​ ​teach​ ​French​ ​and​ ​then​ ​use​ ​your​ ​research​ ​to​ ​create​ ​and​ ​teach​ ​a​ ​topic​ ​or​ ​unit. 
● Research​ ​to​ ​find​ ​different​ ​methods​ ​to​ ​teach​ ​kids​ ​how​ ​to​ ​improve​ ​and​ ​enhance​ ​their​ ​classroom​ ​attention​ ​and 
French​ ​Can​ ​Be​ ​FUN  
retention​ ​and​ ​study​ ​skills. 
● Find​ ​and​ ​create​ ​methods​ ​for​ ​students​ ​to​ ​practice​ ​and​ ​use​ ​French​ ​outside​ ​of​ ​the​ ​classroom. 
● Create​ ​a​ ​plan​ ​or​ ​an​ ​event​ ​to​ ​improve​ ​and​ ​enhance​ ​continuity​ ​for​ ​the​ ​French​ ​program,​ ​1st​ ​through​ ​12th​ ​grade. 
Football​ ​Trivia  Students​ ​will​ ​learn​ ​about​ ​various​ ​aspects​ ​of​ ​the​ ​game​ ​including​ ​the​ ​danger​ ​of​ ​Chronic​ ​Traumatic​ ​Encephalopathy​ ​(​CTE​)​ ​. 
We​ ​will​ ​be​ ​filling​ ​and​ ​expanding​ ​the​ ​garden​ ​which​ ​was​ ​started​ ​last​ ​year.​ ​This​ ​will​ ​entail​ ​the​ ​growing​ ​of​ ​only​ ​native​ ​flora.​ ​We 
will​ ​also​ ​be​ ​exploring​ ​the​ ​forested​ ​areas​ ​around​ ​the​ ​campus​ ​and​ ​looking​ ​at​ ​both​ ​native​ ​species​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​invasive​ ​ones 
Garden​ &
​ ​W
​ alking​ C
​ lub 
(this​ ​will​ ​be​ ​mostly​ ​in​ ​the​ ​winter​ ​months-I'm​ ​not​ ​sure​ ​if​ ​we​ ​will​ ​help​ ​eradicate​ ​the​ ​invasive​ ​species​ ​yet).​ ​Also​ ​in​ ​the​ ​winter, 
we​ ​will​ ​begin​ ​growing​ ​indoors​ ​when​ ​the​ ​weather​ ​is​ ​bad. 
Geek​ ​Graphics​ ​101  We​ ​will​ ​take​ ​the​ ​notes​ ​that​ ​students​ ​are​ ​creating​ ​for​ ​their​ ​STUDY​ ​HABITS​ ​and​ ​make​ ​them​ ​more​ ​fun/pointed. 
Geniuses​ ​Wanted:  In​ ​this​ ​session​ ​you​ ​will​ ​identify​ ​a​ ​problem,​ ​study​ ​that​ ​problem,​ ​and​ ​work​ ​with​ ​others​ ​to​ ​create​ ​and​ ​share​ ​a​ ​potential​ ​solution. 
Solving​ ​the​ ​World's 
Problems 
Students​ ​will​ ​have​ ​the​ ​opportunity​ ​to​ ​explore​ ​any​ ​of​ ​their​ ​interests​ ​about​ ​language.​ ​This​ ​could​ ​include​ ​many​ ​topics,​ ​such​ ​as: 
how​ ​deaf​ ​people​ ​communicate,​ ​how​ ​babies​ ​learn​ ​to​ ​talk,​ ​animal​ ​communication,​ ​endangered​ ​languages​ ​and​ ​heritage 
Language​ ​Makes​ ​the  languages,​ ​writing​ ​systems​ ​of​ ​the​ ​world,​ ​play​ ​languages​ ​and​ ​invented​ ​languages​ ​like​ ​Klingon​ ​or​ ​Pig-Latin,​ ​accents​ ​and 
World​ ​Go​ ​Round!  dialects​ ​in​ ​different​ ​languages,​ ​where​ ​different​ ​languages​ ​come​ ​from,​ ​or​ ​learning​ ​a​ ​new​ ​language​ ​that​ ​is​ ​of​ ​interest​ ​like 
American​ ​Sign​ ​Language.​ ​The​ ​purpose​ ​of​ ​the​ ​investigation​ ​will​ ​be​ ​to​ ​inform​ ​themselves​ ​and​ ​the​ ​rest​ ​of​ ​the​ ​class​ ​about 
questions​ ​students​ ​have​ ​about​ ​language​ ​and​ ​what​ ​its​ ​function/use​ ​is​ ​for​ ​humans​ ​and​ ​animals.  
Students​ ​will​ ​research​ ​and​ ​evaluate​ ​writing​ ​techniques.​ ​They​ ​will​ ​use​ ​those​ ​techniques​ ​to​ ​write​ ​a​ ​variety​ ​of​ ​poems/​ ​short 
Literary​ ​Magazine 
stories​ ​to​ ​publish​ ​in​ ​the​ ​school's​ ​literary​ ​magazine. 
Math​ ​SAT​ ​Prep​ ​Class  We​ ​will​ ​learn​ ​new​ ​concepts,​ ​but​ ​also​ ​learn​ ​creative​ ​ways​ ​to​ ​solve​ ​math​ ​problems. 
Students​ ​will​ ​learn​ ​the​ ​answer​ ​to​ ​the​ ​driving​ ​question​ ​through​ ​creation​ ​of​ ​mathematical​ ​art​ ​projects​ ​including​ ​perspective 
Mathematical​ ​Art 
drawings​ ​of​ ​all​ ​kinds,​ ​mathematical​ ​optical​ ​illusions,​ ​and​ ​architectural​ ​design. 
Students​ ​will​ ​plan​ ​their​ ​dream​ ​vacation.​ ​They​ ​will​ ​research,​ ​paraphrase​ ​and​ ​summarize​ ​information,​ ​keeping​ ​a​ ​bibliography 
My​ ​Dream​ ​Vacation​ ​in  of​ ​all​ ​sources​ ​used.​ ​They​ ​will​ ​plan​ ​a​ ​trip​ ​to​ ​a​ ​chosen​ ​destination​ ​and​ ​will​ ​calculate​ ​costs​ ​for​ ​all​ ​expenses​ ​involved.​ ​They​ ​will 
Another​ ​Country  create​ ​a​ ​website​ ​and​ ​blog​ ​to​ ​share​ ​this​ ​information​ ​with​ ​the​ ​“public.”​ ​This​ ​will​ ​also​ ​include​ ​a​ ​map​ ​of​ ​the​ ​region​ ​with​ ​the 
locations​ ​indicated. 
Students​ ​will​ ​utilize​ ​magazines,​ ​comic​ ​strips,​ ​and​ ​newspapers​ ​that​ ​help​ ​them​ ​view​ ​key​ ​concepts​ ​in​ ​text​ ​structure,​ ​context 
News​ ​You​ ​Can​ ​Use 
clues,​ ​and​ ​sentence​ ​structure.​ ​Students​ ​will​ ​also​ ​create​ ​their​ ​own​ ​magazine​ ​and​ ​graphic​ ​novels​ ​to​ ​demonstrate​ ​concepts. 
 As​ ​a​ ​spin-off​ ​of​ ​National​ ​Novel-Writing​ ​Month,​ ​participating​ ​students​ ​can​ ​explore​ ​the​ ​process​ ​of​ ​writing​ ​a​ ​novel--but​ ​have 
much​ ​more​ ​than​ ​a​ ​month​ ​to​ ​do​ ​it.​ ​Some​ ​students​ ​may​ ​start​ ​with​ ​and​ ​idea​ ​or​ ​even​ ​the​ ​beginning​ ​of​ ​a​ ​novel,​ ​some​ ​may​ ​start 
Novel-Writing​ ​Workshop 
from​ ​scratch.​ ​The​ ​end​ ​goal​ ​is​ ​to​ ​publish​ ​the​ ​work​ ​that​ ​the​ ​students​ ​create. 
 
They​ ​will​ ​keep​ ​track​ ​of​ ​a​ ​budget,​ ​create​ ​logos,​ ​advertisements,​ ​and​ ​social​ ​media​ ​marketing,​ ​and​ ​work​ ​in​ ​collaborative 
Park​ ​Design 
groups​ ​to​ ​design​ ​a​ ​community​ ​park​ ​drawn​ ​to​ ​scale. 
The​ ​peer​ ​buddy​ ​program​ ​is​ ​designed​ ​to​ ​bring​ ​students​ ​together​ ​for​ ​support​ ​and​ ​friendship​ ​and​ ​to​ ​promote​ ​inclusion​ ​of​ ​all 
students.​ ​The​ ​program​ ​facilitates​ ​friendships,​ ​builds​ ​leadership​ ​skills​ ​and​ ​promotes​ ​acceptance,​ ​understanding​ ​and 
Peer​ ​Mediators 
awareness​ ​of​ ​differences​ ​among​ ​students.​ ​If​ ​you​ ​are​ ​already​ ​involved​ ​in​ ​the​ ​peer​ ​buddy​ ​program,​ ​either​ ​meeting​ ​during 
lunch​ ​time​ ​or​ ​another​ ​time​ ​during​ ​the​ ​school​ ​day,​ ​you​ ​do​ ​not​ ​have​ ​to​ ​sign​ ​up​ ​for​ ​this​ ​session​ ​but​ ​you​ ​are​ ​welcome​ ​to!  
Researching​ ​Military  Do​ ​you​ ​geek​ ​out​ ​over​ ​battles​ ​and​ ​military​ ​history?​ ​ ​Students​ ​will​ r​ esearch​ ​and​ ​discuss​ ​the​ ​wars,​ ​campaigns​ ​and​ ​generals 
Conflict​ ​in​ ​World​ ​History  that​ ​shaped​ ​the​ ​ancient​ ​world.​ ​ ​After​ ​their​ ​individual​ ​study,​ ​they​ ​will​ ​then​ ​set​ ​out​ ​to​ ​conquer​ ​their​ ​classmates. 
A​ ​small​ ​group​ ​of​ ​diverse​ ​girls​ ​will​ ​gather​ ​together​ ​to​ ​learn​ ​how​ ​to​ ​learn​ ​how​ ​to​ ​find​ ​balance​ ​in​ ​life.​ ​They​ ​will​ ​learn​ ​to​ ​better 
their​ ​minds​ ​and​ ​their​ ​bodies​ ​through​ ​various​ ​mental​ ​and​ ​physical​ ​exercises.​ ​We​ ​will​ ​begin​ ​each​ ​session​ ​with​ ​a​ ​journal 
Road​ ​Runners​ ​&​ ​Dream  prompt​ ​and​ ​small​ ​guided​ ​discussion.​ ​The​ ​second​ ​half​ ​will​ ​be​ ​dedicated​ ​to​ ​developing​ ​a​ ​running​ ​plan​ ​and​ ​putting​ ​that​ ​plan 
Chasers  into​ ​action!​ ​Over​ ​this​ ​course​ ​girls​ ​will​ ​improve​ ​their​ ​confidence,​ ​their​ ​communication​ ​skills​ ​and​ ​care​ ​for​ ​others,​ ​and​ ​their 
work-ethic.​ ​The​ ​ultimate​ ​goal​ ​is​ ​to​ ​better​ ​ourselves​ ​in​ ​all​ ​areas​ ​and​ ​run​ ​an​ ​end​ ​of​ ​the​ ​year​ ​race​ ​(to​ ​be​ ​determined)​ ​as​ ​a 
group! 
Student-led​ ​chamber​ ​ensembles​ ​of​ ​three​ ​to​ ​five​ s​ tudents​ [​ trios,​ ​quartets​ ​and​ ​quintets]​ ​rehearsing​ ​three​ ​to​ ​five​ ​pieces.​ ​The 
Small​ ​Ensembles​ ​[Band] 
culminating​ ​activity​ ​will​ ​be​ ​a​ ​performance​ ​either​ d
​ uring​ ​a​ ​band​ ​concert​ ​and/or​ ​out​ ​in​ ​the​ ​community.  

The​ ​Student​ ​Equity​ ​Team​ ​will​ ​work​ ​to​ ​learn​ ​what​ ​equity​ ​means,​ ​the​ ​barriers​ ​that​ ​currently​ ​exist​ ​to​ ​providing​ ​an​ ​equitable 
learning​ ​environment​ ​for​ ​all​ ​students,​ ​and​ ​what​ ​we​ ​can​ ​do​ ​as​ ​a​ ​school​ ​to​ ​create​ ​the​ ​environment​ ​that​ ​all​ ​students​ ​need 
Student​ ​Equity​ ​Team 
and​ ​deserve.​ ​The​ ​student​ ​equity​ ​team​ ​will​ ​work​ ​as​ ​equity​ ​ambassadors​ ​to​ ​the​ ​school​ ​community,​ ​and​ ​the​ ​community​ ​at 
large. 

Tabletop​ ​Board​ ​Game  Students​ ​will​ ​learn​ ​the​ ​core​ ​concepts​ ​of​ ​game​ ​theory​ ​while​ ​playing​ ​and​ ​designing​ ​board​ ​games. 
Design 
Theatre​ ​Production  Students​ ​will​ ​work​ ​together​ ​to​ ​produce​ ​a​ ​theatrical​ ​production. 
The​ ​PC​ ​Strings​ ​Hour  Students​ ​must​ ​already​ ​play​ ​violin,​ ​viola,​ ​cello​ ​or​ ​double​ ​bass​ ​and​ ​have​ ​played​ ​a​ ​minimum​ ​of​ 1​ ​ ​year.​ ​Students​ ​will​ ​be​ ​assisted 
(Phillips​ ​Chamber  in​ ​forming​ ​small​ ​ensembles​ ​of​ ​3​ ​to​ ​5​ ​players.​ ​They​ ​will​ ​then​ ​pick​ ​music,​ ​learn​ ​music​ ​together​ a
​ nd​ ​perform​ ​their​ ​music, 
Strings)  possibly​ ​at​ ​area​ ​retirement​ ​communities. 
The​ ​Real​ ​Game  The​ ​real​ ​world!​ ​Get​ ​a​ ​job,​ ​make​ ​money,​ ​and​ ​budget​ ​throughout​ ​life! 
What​ ​Do​ ​You​ ​Meme?  Students​ ​will​ ​review,​ ​critique​ ​and​ ​create​ ​memes.