DESTINATION IMAGINATION team “Can of Cheese” 5th grade Horace Mann students. From left to right are Conor Gilman, Jackson Savidge, Sydney Sampieri and Victor Ferrara.
MELROSE — Several months of creative work paid off for a fifth grade Melrose Destination Imagination team who took the 2nd place prize in their category at the MA State tournament on March 12. Team “Can of Cheese” from Horace Mann and led by Team Manager Theresa Tribble competed in the Technical Challenge elementary level category along with five other teams from across the state.
Six Melrose Destination Imagination teams ranging from grades K-10 competed in the statewide creative showcase of STEAM-based educational projects. STEAM is the acronym for science, technology, engineering, arts, and math, with the emphasis on integrating arts and creativity into the STEM fields.
Destination Imagination (DI) is a nonprofit, volunteer-run organization that inspires and equips students to become innovators and leaders. Each year, DI publishes seven new STEAM Challenges. Groups of two to seven kids of similar age form a team, choose a Central Challenge, and work collaboratively over a period of several months on solutions to that challenge. Teams also practice “Instant Challenges” to learn quick thinking and teamwork.
“The combination of improvisation, problem-solving and working together across disciplines make Destination Imagination a unique activity,” said Team Manager Theresa Tribble. “This team learned about how to use new tools, circuitry and mechanical engineering with a solid dose of parody song writing and fun in the mix.”
The hallmark of DI is “no interference.” Kids work completely independently on creative ideas and trial-and-error solutions to challenges. Parents do not assist with costumes, props, scripts, or ideas. “No matter what happens, if you work as a team, you can do anything,” said team member Sydney Sampieri.
In addition, the Melrose 7th grade team “Ninja Pretzel Turbo Shots” achieved the highest Instant Challenge score in the middle level Science Challenge, helping to propel them to a 4th place finish in their category. Team members include Marta Francis, Eileen Garland, Kayla Hebert, Isabelle Healey, and Team Managers are Adam Garland and Eric Hebert.
If you’d like to be notified when next season’s Destination Imagination teams are forming, email us at di@melrosedi.com to be added to our fall email newsletter.
