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A team of Park Terrace second graders pitching their Automatic Shoe Tying project to a staff member

To wrap up their Economics unit, second grade Park Terrace students presented their innovative prototypes in the form of shark tank presentations to staff, students and Spring Lake Park High School Business and Entrepreneurship students on Tuesday, June 4.

“After having the opportunity to learn from local bankers as well as a business owner, students were tasked to put their knowledge to the test and come up with a real-world problem to solve,” said second grade teacher Melissa Haggar-Olson. “They brainstormed a problem, designed a prototype, ‘bought’ supplies to make their prototype, created advertisement and a pitch to ‘sell’ their item to the sharks.”

From Automatic Shoe Tying, Stress Pillows and Portable Toy Makers to Anti-Flooding Walls, Ocean Garage Pick-Up machines and Hoverboards, students eagerly presented their business prototypes to judges, who kept score based on marketing, neatness, creativity and problem-solving.

After tallying up the scores, the category winners are:

  • Creativity - Winners are Nick and Amada, project No Fighting
  • Problem Solving - Winners are Colin and Pierre, project Flood Barriers
  • Neatness - Winners are Evelyn, Juni, and Eva, project Automatic Shoe Tying
  • Marketing - Winners are Oliver and Grant, project Fly, Fly in the Sky

View more Shark Tank photos

A SLPHS student listening intently to a Park Terrace student pitching his Shark Tank prototype
A SLPHS student smiling at a Park Terrace student in the Park Terrace Media Center
SLPHS students judging a group of Park Terrace students during a Shark Tank presentation event