Tank’ comes to Harpeth Hall

Ona November afternoon, five “sharks” sat at the front of room 203 in the Daugh W. Smith Middle School ready to determine the fate of Harpeth Hall entrepreneurial teams. For weeks, 7th and 8th grade students worked to develop product pitches to sell to the “shark” investors. The only question that remained: Were the “sharks” in or out?

Based on the hit television series “Shark Tank,” Director of the Middle School Judi O’Brien designed the enrichment class to build off the naturally creative and business-minded spirit of her students — some who are already running successful jewelry-making, dog-treat-baking, and clothing design gigs in their free time.

Howdo submarines both sink and float?

This was the question teacher Elsa Davids posed to her 8th grade science classes. The solution, she said, can be found in the delicate balance of the physics principles behind mass, volume, and density.

To understand these concepts in practice, 8th grade students were assigned a project — to build submarines that can complete one of two patterns: sink, float, and sink again or float, sink, and float again. Students designed their own models with recycled materials such as plastic, metal, and keys, and then tested out their creations in front of the class.

It was a feat of engineering techniques, data collection, scientific illustration, and practice of the scientific method — and through it the students learned what it means to both sink and swim.

This new middle school elective inspired students to see a problem in their community and invent a product to solve it. Throughout the class, students sought out issues that affect the daily lives of their peers, including preventing the disruptive sound of water bottles falling off desks, creating a solution to messy lockers, and building an app to make cleaning their rooms a breeze instead of a chore. After conducting competitor research, developing business plans, and creating a marketing strategy, the students presented their products in a “Shark Tank” style forum to a team of “sharks” made up of members of Harpeth Hall’s leadership team. The “sharks” then offered feedback on how well conceived, developed, and practical the idea was.

Luna Kear is not new to the entrepreneurial world. For a few years now, the 7th grade student has run her own Etsy shop, selling handmade craft items. During the Shark Tank class, she pitched a versatile 3-in-1 jacket that would combine fashion-forward designs with affordable and sustainable purpose.

“My favorite part about working on my ‘Shark Tank’ project was getting to see the process of creating a new project, and then pitching it to a team,” Luna said. After asking Luna questions about profit margins, key audience, and sales tactics, the “sharks” voted enthusiastically to go “in” on learning more about development of her product. The “Shark Tank” provided a great first step for Luna in building confidence behind her ideas and encouraging her in her career aspirations. After Harpeth Hall, Luna hopes to attend fashion school and continue to create new products as a part of her brand.

“I am inspired by the fact that every time I create something new, it is mine,” she said, “and it has come entirely from me and my mind.”