MELROSE — Melrose Destination Imagination teams had a strong showing at a statewide creative showcase of STEAM-based educational projects. Destination Imagination (DI) is a nonprofit, volunteer-run organization that inspires and equips students to become innovators and leaders.
The Banana Clan team, comprised of 5th graders and managed by Catie Nasser, Marissa Woltmann, and Sarah Hahesy, took 1st place in the Fine Arts Elementary Level challenge. This year’s Fine Arts challenge asked teams to create a story that demonstrates how a small thing can have a big impact, create sets and props using minimalist theatrical design, and include a big emotional moment that is enhanced using technical theatrical methods. The Banana Clan team’s challenge solution featured a story in which their central character goes back in time and saves a small tree sapling from being trampled. This small action results in the tree growing and thriving, and modern medicine of the future finds a cure from the tree that saves the main character’s grandfather’s life.
The Rengineers, another Melrose team of 3rd graders managed by Abbey Goldstein, took 3rd place in the Technical Challenge category at the Elementary Level. For this challenge, the team was tasked with designing two devices–one device that would build a stack of items and another device that would destroy the stack. They also had to create and present a story (that integrated both devices) about a character who lacks something important and attempts to gain it. The Rengineers’ solution featured a motor-powered LEGO conveyor belt to build the stack and a motorized K’NEX block car to destroy the stack. Their story took place in Melrose of the future (year 3085), when the city was inhabited by robots. When the mean robot Mayor decides to build a skyscraper on one of the last open park spaces, a group of robot kids attempt to block construction by stacking piles of bricks in the park. The Mayor destroys the stack with his destruction device, but the robot kids repeatedly build back their stacks and save the park!
Each team also competed in an “Instant Challenges” where they were scored on quick thinking, creativity and teamwork.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. If you’d like to be notified when next season’s Destination Imagination teams are forming, email Melrose Destination Imagination at di@melrosedi.com to be added to our Fall email newsletter.