First Grade

Make Me Genius

Empowered Learner
Teacher and Students

Overview

Make Me Genius is a website that provides short videos on science topics. They are in cartoon form. Students can search by grade level, therefore, this website can be used at many grade levels. The website was created by a young middle school student who wanted to share his how-to videos. It started in 2011 and continues to grow and is financially supported by YouTube and Google. 

Students will:

  • Be able to locate a science video, watch it and be able to share information on the topic.

Vocabulary Words:

  1. Video: A video is the recording, reproducing, or broadcasting of moving visual images.

  2. Genius: A genius is a person who is exceptionally intelligent or creative, either generally or in some particular respect.

To prepare for this lesson:

  • The teacher will visit the Make Me Genius website. 

  • The teacher should preview videos to make sure they are appropriate for their students.

  • The teacher may have a whole group discussion on a topic that students will be viewing.

  • The teacher may want to show the class as a whole how to get to the website or provide a link for all students to retrieve the website.

See the Accommodations Page and Charts on the 21things4students website in the Teacher Resources. 

Directions for this activity:

  1. The students are directed to www.makemegenius.com.

  2. The student clicks on English Science Videos.

  3. The student selects a video on a science topic.

  4. The student views the video.

Different options for assessing the students:

  • Observations
  • Check for understanding
  • Students illustrate and write a short summary on what was learned.
  • Students write an exit ticket on topic.
  • Class discussion.
  • Small groups can create a poster on the topic.
  • Higher level students (2-5) have the option to read a selection and take a short comprehension quiz.

MITECS: Michigan adopted the "ISTE Standards for Students" called MITECS (Michigan Integrated Technology Competencies for Students) in 2018.

Empowered Learner 
1a. Students articulate and set personal learning goals, develop strategies leveraging technology to achieve them and reflect on the learning process itself to improve learning outcomes.
1b. Students build networks and customize their learning environments in ways that support the learning process.
1c. Students use technology to seek feedback that informs and improves their practice and to demonstrate their learning in a variety of ways.
1d. Students understand the fundamental concepts of technology operations, demonstrate the ability to choose, use and troubleshoot current technologies and are able to transfer their knowledge to explore emerging technologies.

Device: PC, Chromebook, Mac, iPad 

Browser: Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge, ALL

Websites:
Make Me Genius

CONTENT AREA RESOURCES

Students can write about the topic in their daily writing journal.

Students can independently or in small groups create a poster on a science topic.

Students can create a math equation connected to the topic.

Students can draw a diagram on the topic.

CREDITS
This task card was created by Julie Hoehing, Lake Shore Public Schools, September 2018. October 2023.