Dolphin Tank

We are the Dolphins (Fear the Fin!), so we decided to hold Dolphin Tank projects this year. Similar to the hit show Shark Tank, our students create a product, project, or service and present their idea to the community during Fine Arts Night. The winning group continues on to have their project funded using a crowd funding site.

This year the theme of Dolphin Tank was service learning. Students worked in groups of 3-4 to create something beneficial for our community. Project ideas ranged from products, like sunscreen machines (we are a beach community), to services, like a giving tree (year-round go to the fire department and submit a need then community members can pick your item to buy and leave at the giving tree for you to pick up), to projects, like hygiene bags for the homeless. They were extremely creative, and we were all very proud. (All 8th grade students completed a Dolphin Tank service learning project.)

I created an interactive center to help students prepare for and work through the Dolphin Tank unit:

Students presented their Dolphin Tank project through their ELA class. The top 3 groups from the entire eighth grade were selected to present at Fine Arts Night. Fine Arts Night includes a performance by the band and theatre students as well as an Art Show. It is always a wonderful night to show off the great things happening at our school! Especially since parents aren't as involved at the middle school level as they are at the elementary level. 

Our winning presentation group can be watched by clicking here.

This group has already spoken to many community members and started a Kick Starter. They are well on their way to making their project a reality.

I plan to post a Dolphin Tank bundle to my TPT store within the next few weeks! Keep your eyes open for this wonderful project! It can be used for realistic projects (like we did) or imaginary invention type projects.