How much would you pay for an idea that could change the world? That’s the question 13 Upper School “Sharks” faced when they came together last month to discuss pivotal nineteenth-century inventions. But this version of Shark Tank was unique: the products were proven winners and the people pitching them were Principia fifth graders. 

True to Principia's collaborative, co-curricular learning, Jason Hinthorne’s (US’05, C’12) and Brittany Barnett’s (US’05, C’09) fifth-grade classes turned a history lesson into a holistic, scenario-based undertaking. And if integrating multiple disciplines wasn’t expansive enough, this unit integrated age groups as well.  

Fifth graders identified three nineteenth-century inventions that changed the world forever: Samuel Morse’s telegraph, Cyrus McCormick’s reaper, and Robert Fulton’s steamboat. But instead of producing the same old research paper, these students studied the world-changing impact of these inventions and then put together business pitches for their “Shark” mentors from Beth Juell-Pomeroy’s (C’99) Upper School public speaking class. 

The Upper Schooler Sharks fired-off questions and offered advice to the budding presenters, helping them hone their presentation skills and tease out the impact and long-term value of these influential inventions.  

“The Upper School students not only practiced effective communication but also served as mentors, helping the fifth graders develop their own public speaking abilities,” said Pomeroy. “As Sharks, the Upper School students needed to think creatively and with empathy and then communicate their ideas to the fifth graders. This reciprocal learning experience reinforced the importance of adaptability, critical thinking, collaboration, and communication.” 

Students in both classes found the unit to be a unique and engaging way to demonstrate their learning. “This was a fun way to learn about the 1800s and expand our thinking about history,” said fifth-grader, Lexi. “I liked it because it made these inventions more real.”