Change Up Class and Let Your Students Explore with a "Genius Hour"
It's pretty basic to make a lesson plan, use these tools, make this project, and here's your grade. But we both know there's no way to cover every tool and every piece of equipment in a way meaningful to each student. Enter...Genius Hour.
Give your class an opportunity to explore. Not just to dig in the toolbox and continually ask "What's this?" but give them an old pallet and let them try their hand at using a crowbar. Slide in the word "leverage" and "fulcrum" as they get the hang of it.
As in the picture, supervise students as they use a wood turning lathe. It's something rarely seen outside of your shop and whether they'll admit it, that stuff is really neat. No wood lathe? You probably have something like welding equipment, pressure washer, metal cutting equipment, small engines, woodworking equipment...that they don't normally get to use.
If one idea isn't enough click over to our Ag Mechanics curriculum page and find something to teach your students without adding to your to do list.
