STEM Shark Tank
Before we dive into pitching your amazing ideas in the “Innovation Tank,” let’s take some time to revisit and supercharge the incredible projects you’ve already created this summer.
Revisit & Refine Your Creations! 🛠️✨
Remember all the cool things you built and discovered?
- Bioluminescent Slime: Could you try a new ingredient ratio? Make it brighter?
- Dream Home Design: Any new features you’d add? A more sustainable design?
- Solar Oven: Could you improve its efficiency? Make it larger or more portable?
- Micro:bit Step Tracker: Can you refine the code? Add a new feature?
- Copper Tape Paper & Wearable Circuits: Any new circuit designs? A different wearable item?
- Cardboard & Micro:bit Musical Instrument: Can you change the sounds? Add more notes? Improve its design?
- Strawberry DNA Discovery: What if you tried extracting DNA from another fruit (if available and time permits)? Or thought about how this process is used?
Your Task Now:
- Choose one (or more!) of your past projects.
- Think about it:
- What did you love about it?
- What challenges did you face?
- What could make it even better, cooler, or more effective?
- Do you have any new ideas for it?
- Tinker Time! Spend some time rebuilding, redesigning, or improving your chosen project. Maybe you want to make your solar oven more insulated, add a new animation to your step tracker, or redesign your dream home’s layout.
This is your chance to explore further, fix things that didn’t quite work, or add a new twist to your original creation!
Materials for Revisit & Refine:
- All the original materials used for the projects you want to revisit (e.g., slime ingredients, cardboard, Micro:bits, batteries, copper tape, LEDs, solar oven supplies, art supplies, strawberries, DNA extraction materials).
- Your previous notes or designs.
- Extra crafting supplies (tape, glue, scissors, markers).
Once you’ve had a chance to enhance your creations, we’ll move on to preparing your pitch for the…
Innovation Tank: Pitch Your STEM Creation!
Now that you’ve refined your work, you’re even more prepared to showcase it! You’ll develop a compelling pitch for one of your STEM projects (it could be the one you just worked on, or any other from our list). Think like an entrepreneur or an inventor trying to get support for your idea.
What’s Your Big Idea? 💡
First, confirm which ONE project from our past sessions you will pitch:
- Bioluminescent Slime
- Dream Home Design
- Solar Oven
- Micro:bit Step Tracker
- Copper Tape Paper & Wearable Circuits
- Cardboard & Micro:bit Musical Instrument
- Strawberry DNA Discovery
Crafting Your Pitch 🎤
Think about how to present your chosen project in an exciting and persuasive way. Here’s a guide to help you structure your pitch (aim for a 3-5 minute presentation):
The “Hook” (30 seconds):
- What is your project? Clearly and briefly introduce it.
- What problem does it solve or what cool thing does it do? Grab our attention!
The “Wow” Factor (1-2 minutes):
- Show and Tell: Demonstrate your project!
- How does it work? Explain the science or technology. What did you discover, create, or improve?
- What makes it unique or innovative? What’s special about your design, approach, or recent refinements?
The “So What?” (1 minute):
- Why is it important or interesting?
- Who would benefit from this or be interested in it?
- What are its potential real-world applications or future possibilities?
The “Closing” (30 seconds):
- Summarize your main point.
- End with a strong statement that leaves us impressed!
Presentation Pointers ✨
- Be enthusiastic!
- Speak clearly.
- Use visuals (your project is the star!).
- Practice your pitch.
- Have fun!
Materials for Pitching:
- Your chosen (and possibly refined!) STEM project.
- Any notes or cue cards for your pitch.
- Optional: Poster board, markers, or other simple visual aids if you want to create them during your refinement time.
Let’s get those creative gears turning, first with refining and then with pitching! We can’t wait to see what you come up with. 🌟
As of 2024, Scrub Daddy had the third highest revenue of any product successfully pitched on the ABC reality show Shark Tank.[8]
Use this scoring sheet as you listen to your classmates pitches:
🦈 STEM Shark Tank Student Scoring Sheet
Team Name: __________________________________
Product Name: ________________________________
| Category | Description | Score (1–5) |
|---|---|---|
| Innovation & Creativity | Is the idea original or does it creatively improve an existing product? | _____ |
| STEM Application | Did the team clearly use science, technology, engineering, or math in their design? | _____ |
| Problem Solving | Does the product solve a real-world problem or meet a need effectively? | _____ |
| Prototype or Visual | Did they present a model, drawing, or prototype? Is it clear and well thought out? | _____ |
| Presentation & Communication | Was the pitch clear, confident, and well-organized? Did they explain their idea well? | _____ |
| Teamwork | Did all members participate and contribute to the pitch? | _____ |
| Marketability | Could this product be successful in the real world? Would you invest in it? | _____ |
Total Score (out of 35): _______
💬 Comments for the Team
What did you like most about this project?
What is one suggestion you have for improvement?
Post your product on the Padlet below:
