As part of their Song and Tang Dynasty unit, students in Ms. Fine's Grade 6 Social Studies class participated in Stone Ridge's very own Shark Tank. In this creative project, student historians presented inventions from the Song and Tang Dynasties. Just like in the popular TV show, judges were present asking challenging questions about each of their inventions and deciding whether to make investments in the products.
Inventions presented included the dragon-backbone-pump, the woodblock for printing, the compass, paper and paper money, porcelain and gunpowder. Students had two class periods to decide on their invention, research its use and implications on future societies, and write and practice their sales pitch.
Sofia Cubillan and Lilly Aldridge chose the dragon-backbone pump as their product, used for irrigation in fields. To further help their case, they made a 3-D model of the pump by going to tinkercad.com, designing the pump, downloading the file and submitting it to Rick Alfonso who then printed it in 3-D.
Kudos to Mr. Fine and her students for participating in this creative, informative and fun activity.
