varina ES

The Shark Tank Experience

HLP Attributes & Skills

5th Grade: Social Studies/ELA

DLIS:  Creative Communicator

LEARNING EXPERIenCE

Students were transformed into entrepreneurs through The Shark Tank Experience!  Fourth and fifth grade classes at Trevvett ES, Varina ES, and Jackson Davis ES collaborated to participate in an economics simulation modeled after the hit TV-show “Shark Tank.”  Student teams identified a problem faced by kids today and developed an original product to solve the problem.  Teams designed and built prototypes, created advertisements, and developed a pitch video to persuade investors to invest in their products.  Finally, students took on the role of “sharks” and thoughtfully selected one business from their partner school to invest in!  This experience introduced students to the world of entrepreneurship and built LifeReady skills in product development, marketing, and business management!

What the students like about this experience:

The teamwork!  I think teamwork is important because one person can pick an idea and another person can pick an idea and together they come up with a cool project." -Amia, 5th Grade Student

What the teacher likes about this experience: 

"This experience helped our students be more #LifeReady because they were able to step into a role that is bigger than being a 5th grade student- they were able to become entrepreneurs. They worked collaboratively to contribute to solutions that address the needs of a broader community. They were required to pursue imaginative approaches and solutions to challenges by asking questions, being flexible in their thinking, and learning from experimentation." - Abby Messer, 5th Grade Teacher

Additional Pictures/Media/ARTIFACTS

Students in Ms. Messer's class using tools to create their invention.

Students in Ms. Canady's class collaborate on their group product.

Students become the sharks!  Which product will they invest in?

Students had to choose the product they thought was worth investing in.

Thank you to the innovators that helped make this experience possible: