The 2025 Shark Tank was a success! 4th grade students worked hard coming up with inventions and innovations, creating presentations, and writing a speech to give their pitch. The project was updated from previous years, with students utilizing their Chromebooks for presentations instead of display boards and focusing on their reasoning and thought process instead of investments and profits. Many of the students felt that the project-based learning approach was fun and different than the typical school assignment. “I liked having freedom to choose anything I wanted to do. I could choose what my invention would be, I could choose how I would write my speech,” said Seth Kriesch. The teachers served as guidance and support to help students throughout the process but pushed students to persevere and come up with solutions on their own. “If I didn’t like something I would have to problem solve and try to do stuff by myself,” reflected Camille Long.
Melanie Hartwig shared her experience with the project. “What I liked about project based learning was that we didn’t do research, it came through imagination. Shark Tank’s process was creating an idea, writing a speech about your idea, and presenting. I learned to talk loud and proud to my audience… and to be confident in myself.” Students spent the day presenting to students and staff, the “sharks” who came to judge their projects and give feedback, and their families! It was a long process from brainstorming to presenting but students put in the hard work and dedication needed to put on a wonderful event!
