MHS 4th Grade Destination ImagiNation Team Qualifies for Globals!

May 13, 2013

Congratulations to the Moreland Hills Elementary School fourth grade team which qualified to go to the Global Competition following its April 20th State Destination ImagiNation Competition first place victory!

But the team needs your help to get to the Global competition! A fundraiser is being held at Lopez (Restaurant), 2196 Lee Road in Cleveland Heights, on Monday, May 13th from 5p-9p. Come eat dinner, participate in a raffle and silent auction (with prizes worth up to $250!!!) and help support the team. Click here for the flyer.

Team "Hedgehog Factory" was one of four teams the Orange Schools sent to the regional Destination ImagiNation competition and represented Orange at the state competition this weekend. Seven fourth graders comprised Team Hedgehog Factory including Abby Thompson, Mason Lurie, Lyla Berns, Clara Briskin, Jaden Polster, Anna Klinginsmith, and Katie Kapp. Those students are now headed to the Global Tournament after finishing in first place in their challenge competitions, which included both a Central and Instant Challenge.

Destination ImagiNation is a creative problem-solving, process-oriented program that exists in 48 states and more than 30 countries. Student teams work together without adult interference to solve open-ended challenges and present their solutions at tournaments. Teams are tested on how well and quickly they think on their feet, work together, and devise original solutions that satisfy specific requirements.

“It’s an opportunity for kids to be the boss!” said Gifted Teacher Maggie Gobetz. “It’s all up to them how to solve the challenge, and it helps them use creativity, teamwork, and problem solving to do so!”

Not only must students solve and perform a main challenge, but there is an element of surprise as teams must also complete an “Instant Challenge” in which they must react to a problem and resolve it on the spot. The Team Challenge comes with six topic choices, all with multiple assessments.

“Students are empowered to know they can accomplish such a weighty challenge. They gain confidence and self-awareness, and they improve those 21^st Century skills that we value so much,” said Gobetz. “In a world that changes so quickly, the skills you can count on needing are the ability to think on your feet, come up with creative solutions and be able to work with others to create the solution as well as being able to share your message effectively.”

At the District Competition, Team Hedgehog Factory placed first in its "Change in RealiTee" challenge...an improvisational challenge based on adapting to a dramatic change that the "world" has undergone overnight. The team was given a dramatic change on site (in this case, "life without backpacks") and had to create an improv skit about life after that dramatic change depicting how the characters adapted. Within the allotted five minute preparation time, the students created costumes, sets, and props using only eight white t-shirts and washable markers. They also learned last minute that they would have to communicate their message in a news show format, incorporating three nouns they were given as part of their theme. Points were rewarded for a clearly developed story that integrated all four improv elements, creativity, and teamwork.

"I love it because I get to work with a team and be creative and add as much humor as I want," effused fourth grader Mason Lurie who is "so excited" about going to the International competition. "It's a little challenging but that's what I like about it...and it's exciting!"

Other team challenges include technical, scientific, fine arts, and outreach efforts. Teams select the category in which they wish to compete and then follow the guidelines set-up for that year's contests. All of the teams began working together in the fall outside of the regular school day. They run various “practice” instant challenges and build the concept of their main Team Challenge which can run up to eight minutes in performance.

Orange had three other teams in the District competition: The "Rising Stars" team included Lily Boardman, Saffron Meli, Lilly Russo, Viktor Sidorov, Eva Stern, and Inaya Thornton competing in the Primary division; "In the Zone" included Xavier Arnold, Ivan Sidorov, Zachary McCarren, Ben Boardman, and Ben Stuk, competing in the Elementary category; and"Twist-O-Rama" included third graders Pannonica Silvestri, Arjan Chahal, Swarn Chahal, Evan Friedman, Kailey Takaoka, and Noah Lurie also in the Elementary division.

“Problem solving skills, teamwork and collaboration are huge! Where else can you work with your peers to collaboratively solve a problem quickly, and under the pressure of time?!” said District Gifted Coordinator Beth Wilson-Fish. “Collaboration is the future. We need to offer opportunities for our students to work collaboratively with their peers. Too often we overlook this essential skill, so necessary for productivity in the 21^st Century!”

Congratulations to all of our teams and good luck to Team Hedgehog Factory at the GLOBAL Competition!!!

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To view additional photos, please click on the slideshow below: