A “Shark Tank” Story

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A “Shark Tank” Story

  • July 29, 2021
  • Posted by: Caitlin McCallum
  • Category: Wow Story
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My middle school ENRICH students began a new project based on the show, “Shark Tank” last fall. The students in 5th-8th grades started by brainstorming ideas for an original product or put their own twist on something already invented.  They have learned skills such as: making a prototype, materials needed, model/drawing, collaboration, creating and editing their marketing video, costs, completing a final presentation to judges via video. Each group was judged on a variety of criteria. The requirements were: creativity, knowledge of product, success of product, costs and profits of product, marketing strategies, and organization and professionalism of presentation.

As a result of Covid protocols, we had to tweak the project in a few ways. Normally, the Shark Tank project involves having the students present their final project to judges in person. We adjusted by making videos of the presentations and sharing with the judges digitally. The judges typically would have collaborated and made a decision as a group, but they rated the projects independently, then I tallied up the scores to find the winner. Also, we had to keep the groups separate and students socially distanced, which sometimes was a challenge while collaborating with each other.

However, the students overcame these challenges and impressed me and the judges with their attention to detail, the variety of ideas, and ingenuity. Some samples of their projects included: desk organizer, chair anchors, zipper mask, robot helper, and locker transportation device. I was proud of the students’ ability to persevere throughout the project in spite of Covid protocols, quarantines, and difficulty of the project. This reason is what makes this a WOW story. Not only the awesomeness of their projects, but their determination and diligence to complete the project successfully.

~written by Amy Goodwin, LSEM teacher at Central Lutheran School, New Haven, IN