THOMAS EDISON PITCH CONTEST
4TH AND 5TH GRADERS kids
Materials for each team….
TO PRINT…guide
Notebook = pages 21 - 26
Folder for all materials.
Notebook / paper to document everything that is said / done during the process.
ISTE standards
IDEAS Design Cycle
International Society for Technology in Education
Empowered Learner
Digital Citizen
Innovative Designer
Knowledge Constructor
Creative Communicator
Identify
Develop
Execute
Assess
Share
Friday, January 24, 2025
Overview & Timeline = slides
Team Building = slides
5 minutes to capture what occurred during class.
Video due Thursday, January 30th.
Monday, January 27, 2025
ATTENDANCE.
Team Roles
Idea
Research
Video due Thursday, January 30th.
5 minutes to capture what occurred during class. notebook link
Tuesday, January 28, 2025
ATTENDANCE.
Research about idea and capturing on paper.
Outline first video
Video due Thursday, January 30th.
5 minutes to capture what occurred during class. notebook link
January 29, 30, 31
ATTENDANCE.
Group 1 = rectangle
Group 2 = orange
Group 3 = blue
5 minutes to capture what occurred during class. notebook link
SUBMIT VIDEO FRIDAY, JANUARY 31st.
Google Slide.
Visuals.
1 - 3 minutes.
Use stopwatch to check video length.
February 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
ATTENDANCE & sharing out your team update.
Creating your idea. Prototype.
5 minutes to capture what occurred during class.
Document in your notebook and using Google Docs, Slides, and/or website.
February 10, 11, 12, 13, 14
ATTENDANCE & TEAM MEETING
5 minutes to capture what occurred during class.
MONDAY - teamwork
TUESDAY - prototype = design issues & revise hypothesis
WEDNESDAY - prototype = group feedback
THURSDAY - interview ideas
FRIDAY - INTERVIEW, journal check & PAY DAY
All members contribute to success!
STEM TOWER.
CLICKER
Interview letter….
Dear [Expert's Name] Interview Candidate,
My name is [Your Name], and I am a 4th grader at Conn Magnet Elementary School participating in the Thomas Edison Design Competition. My team has created an innovative idea, and we would love to interview you as an expert to learn more and improve our project. Could you kindly share your time with us for an interview to help us with your knowledge and insights?
Sincerely,�[Your Name]
ORANGE Group
Interview contact information…..
RECTANGLE Brent = Tuesday, February 25th 12:15p (Google Meet)
Clear voice, all included, good feedback - asked a questions and gave an honest answer, made it clear, everyone shared what they did the most of based on our jobs,
NEXT TIME…. Have all the materials ready to present, be louder to ask questions, for working part make sure it works so we can show it,
Interview contact information…..
ORANGE Jennifer Kracke = Tuesday, February 25th 12:15p (phone call)
Good feedback, good person to interview because her occupation is able to connect with what we are trying to do, could be a future project,
NEXT TIME… talked louder, have more questions to get more feedback, more explaining,
Interview contact information…..
BLUE Ms. Gina Farmer Tuesday, February 25th 12:15p (face-to-face)
Good feedback, everyone spoke/shared,
NEXT TIME….ask more questions to get more feedback,
Interview impact….
We were nervous at first, but got more comfortable with what we were doing, especially after we received the feedback.
Stressed out at first. Couldn’t hear at first, but able to adapt to hear. Were scared at first because it was our first time interviewing. Learned multiple things to add to our idea.
Nervous at first, but then I got used to it.
FAMILY STEM NIGHT SIGNS
February 24, 25, 26, 27, 28
ATTENDANCE & TEAM MEETING
***INTERVIEW picture recap
5 minutes to capture what occurred during class.
MONDAY - interview connections
TUESDAY - INTERVIEWS
WEDNESDAY - at least one item from the kit EMAIL
THURSDAY - functioning parts & STEM Night signs
FRIDAY - journal check/PAYDAY & STEM Night signs
February 24, 25, 26, 27, 28
March 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
ATTENDANCE & TEAM MEETING
5 minutes to capture what occurred during class.
MONDAY - STEM Night Signs & prototype
TUESDAY - prototype & notebook = budget
WEDNESDAY - notebook = paragraphs
THURSDAY - notebook
FRIDAY - prototype
NOTEBOOK….PARAGRAPHS…..
Google Doc…
Notebook Entry #1 Brainstorming & drawing
Notebook Entry #2 Testing & Improving & drawing
Notebook Entry #3 Interview
Notebook Entry #4 Budgeting & Marketing
Notebook Entry #1 Brainstorming & drawing
Original ideas. Decision chose.
Common misunderstandings about the problem you are solving? How did you address them?
Are there similar products that already exist? How is your idea better?
How is your product created for sustainability and ethically?
Notebook Entry #2 Testing & Improving & drawing
Have you tested your product in a real life? Does it function as expected? What improvements do you need to make?
If you cannot test your product in a real life setting, how can you replicate a test for function, durability, and safety?
How does your product perform with function, safety, sustainability, longevity, durability, user experience, and aesthetics?
Does your product use materials that are sustainable and ethically sourced? What alternatives could be used?
Notebook Entry #3 Interview
3 words, describe the product.
What do you like about the product?
What is one thing we could improve on?
Are there challenges we might face with this product?
What would make you want to buy this product?
Notebook Entry #4 Budgeting & Marketing
Logo.
Visualize the data…
Pie chart with budget and costs.
Budget versus revenue.
Target audience.
Comparison with similar products.
Sustainability scorecard.
Color-coded heatmap where your product is needed.
Website.
Marketing board.
Flyer design.
Improvement timeline.
STORYBOARD for FINAL PITCH…
ONE SLIDE ONE WORD ONE PICTURE
final presentation needs to be… 5-8 minutes
Team Participation
Introduction -name of group -identify the problem -visual aids -Notebook Entry #1 Brainstorming | -prototype showcase -visual aids | -Notebook Entry #2 Testing and Improving | -expert interview Notebook Entry #3 -field testing -Notebook Entry #4 Budgeting & Marketing -visual aids | Closing -make a case for your product -call to action -visual aids |
March 10, 11, 12, 13, 14
ATTENDANCE & TEAM MEETING
5 minutes to capture what occurred during class.
MONDAY = STORYBOARD prototype & notebook = paragraphs - Ms. Melody
TUESDAY = STORYBOARD prototype & notebook = paragraphs; Canva marketing
WEDNESDAY = Cultural Arts Program = NO CLASS
THURSDAY = prototype & notebook = paragraphs - Ms. Roberts; Canva marketing
FRIDAY = prototype & notebook = paragraphs
SIGN UP FOR FOCUS AREAS
7 & 8.
**rank all classes
PICTURES we need….
Thomas Edison for introduction and closing…
Our product makes our world a brighter place….
ALL group members participate….
Video in parts….
March 17, 18, 19, 20, 21
ATTENDANCE & TEAM MEETING
5 minutes to capture what occurred during class.
MONDAY = SCRIPT FOR FINAL PITCH
TUESDAY = SCRIPT FOR FINAL PITCH - next slide
WEDNESDAY = SCRIPT FOR FINAL PITCH
THURSDAY = materials & practice final pitch
FRIDAY = rectangle, orange, blue next week PICTURES WITH RECTANGLE GROUP PITCH VIDEO
March 24, 25, 26, 27, 28
https://www.thomasedisonpitch.org/finalsubmit
MONDAY = rectangle script link notebook entry link
TUESDAY = blue script link notebook entry link
WEDNESDAY = orange script link notebook entry link
—-------------------------------------------------------
THURSDAY = NOTEBOOK ENTRIES FINISHED…
Then PAY DAY!
—-------------------------------------------------------
FRIDAY = CELEBRATION - reflection on growth
GROUPS…..
Animals: Power Pythons 1 Rectangle | Safety: Safety Squad 2 Orange | Technology: Secure Innovators 3 Blue |
Ayla Kymani Kaleah Henry | Ava Charles Cameron Arjun | Iversyn A’Nari June |
We can also use….
Google Suite
Tinkercad to 3D print
Canva
Adobe
Scratch
Blockly
ChatGPT
TIMELINE….
TIMELINE….
TIMELINE….
TIMELINE….
TIMELINE….
Contest categories….
Design Notebook
Thomas Edison Pitch Contest Guide
GROUP 1 = Animals = dgridley@wcpss.net Power Pythons
Ayla Westphal = nisha.westphal@gmail.com westphal.tj@gmail.com
Kymani Johnson = atjefferys@gmail.com
Kaleah Woodard = dejawoodard@whymail.com
Henry Polletta = loupolletta@gmail.com
Parent consent link
Team Name: Power Pythons
EMAIL SENT 1/2/25 1:30PM
GROUP 2 = Safety dgridley@wcpss.net Safety Squad
Ava Morrison Townes = shaniqua_morrison@yahoo.com
Charles Jackson = savinakls@yahoo.com rick.jackson64@gmail.com
Cameron Douglas = tabathac2014@gmail.com
Arjun Gujarathi = chikapatel@gmail.com
Parent consent link
Team Name: Safety Squad
EMAIL SENT 1/2/25 1:30p
GROUP 3 = Technology dgridley@wcpss.net Secure Innovators
Iversyn Johnson = s_mcneil@uncg.edu = not deliverable
A’Nari Forbes = angellica_forbes@yahoo.com
June Blaylock = leighcsamuel@gmail.com jwblaylock@gmail.com
Parent consent link
Team Name: Secure Innovators
EMAIL SENT 1/2/25 1:30p
Conn Magnet parent/guardian consent for Focus Areas 5 and 6
Hi families!
Ms. Brick and I are thrilled to be coaching 4th and 5th Graders as they apply our IDEAS Design Cycle in the Thomas Edison Pitch National Contest during Focus Areas 5 and 6! More information about the contest here.
One step Ms. Brick and I need parents/guardians to complete so we can receive our FREE design kits is the consent form for each student. Ms. Brick and I will take care of all the rest during the school day during Focus Areas 5 and 6.
Please complete the consent form by Wednesday, January 8th to confirm our spot in the Thomas Edison Pitch National Contest by clicking the link below.
Here is the information you will need from us.
Team Name: Secure Innovators
If you have any questions, please reply to this email or call/text Dan Gridley at 919-696-7850.
Ms. Brick and I cannot wait for Focus Areas to resume on Wednesday, January 22nd!
March 6, 2025 Thomas Edison Tasks. 12pm - 12:45pm
12p = meet students at the Idea Factory
-Students are in three groups. See sheet with Animals, Safety, and Technology.
-Remind students to “take attendance” on their yellow clipboards and have a team meeting about what they will be doing today.
-Review the ISTE Standards and IDEAS Design Cycle.
-TASK FOR TODAY = Continue to work on their projects to have a functioning part. The groups have their tubs and materials in specific locations.
-12:43p Have the groups organize their materials in their bins and prepare to return to class.
-12:45p Have the students walk to the blue stairs and wait for the other 4th grade students to return to classrooms upstairs.
March 7, 2025 Thomas Edison Tasks. 12pm - 12:45pm
12p = meet students at the Idea Factory
-Students are in three groups. See sheet with Animals, Safety, and Technology.
-Remind students to “take attendance” on their yellow clipboards and have a team meeting about what they will be doing today.
-Review the ISTE Standards and IDEAS Design Cycle.
-TASK FOR TODAY = Continue to work on their projects to have a functioning part. The groups have their tubs and materials in specific locations.
-12:43p Have the groups organize their materials in their bins and prepare to return to class.
-12:45p Have the students walk to the blue stairs and wait for the other 4th grade students to return to classrooms upstairs.