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Imagination takes students far
By Ashley Rhodebeck
Daily News staff writer
Morgan Elementary School students to compete in global competition
At the beginning of each academic year, one Morgan Elementary School teacher looks at the challenge awaiting her handful of students involved with Destination ImagiNation, the world's largest creativity and problem-solving organization that holds yearly regional, state and global competitions.
“I always think, ‘How are we going to accomplish this?'” Terri Gile said.
But each year her students immediately throw out ideas upon hearing the challenge.
“It amazes me how 8-, 9- and 10-year-olds have such quick ideas,” she said.
This year the children's fast thinking paid off like never before: Gile's Destination ImagiNation team qualified for the global competition to be held in Knoxville, Tenn., from May 22 to 26.
Making it to globals never crossed Gile's mind throughout her 12 years as team manager - she wasn't even hit with a “competitive spark” until her team made it to the state competition two years ago. Until then, Gile always viewed the contests as a time to celebrate what her students had learned.
So, when Gile received the phone call about qualifying for globals as she drove home from the state competition, she felt like one of the kids.
“My heart was pounding and my head was spinning,” she said.
Last year, teams from about 20 countries competed in the global competition and 17,000 people attended the opening ceremonies, Gile said. Many teams wear matching shirts, and the Morgan team plans to do that, too, but will add an accessory to their uniform.
“We're ordering cow hats so people can tell we're from Wisconsin,” she said.
Destination ImagiNation is for school-age children from kindergarten to college, but those at or below second grade are non-competitive teams.
Basically, children form teams of five to seven members and select a challenge they want to solve. Categories include technical/mechanical, theater arts/science and structural and architectural design.
Gile's team - three third-graders, two fourth-graders and two fifth-graders - picked the theater arts/improvisation challenge.
“They love the improv,” Gile said.
The team began preparing for the March regional competition by meeting once a week in November through mid December, Gile said, noting practice increased as the months passed. In January and February the team would meet after school, during lunch and on weekends.
For their challenge, the children had to research six countries and their traditions. On competition days, they were put into a studio 30 minutes prior to their time slot and drew three countries and three senses they had to include in their skit. For example, Gile said, the kids had to decide what they'd taste in the Netherlands or see in Spain.
In that half hour, the kids also had to devise a skit and create their costumes and props - all without guidance from Gile. The children take a “declaration of independence” oath to certify they didn't have outside help, she said.
“While I'm in the room sometimes I'll see them working and wonder where they're going with that,” Gile said, noting it's difficult not being able to help.
After the competition, the team received its scorecard and written comments from the judges, and Gile made copies for the members so they could improve for state.
At least one judge observed how well the diverse group of students worked together - an aspect Gile had already picked up on.
“If all our community could work together like this what a world we would have,” she said.
The Morgan Elementary Destination ImagiNation team includes third-graders Adam Socha, Andrew Wadle and Maggie Gianvecchio; fourth-graders Katie Parsons and Maclain Dodson; and fifth-graders Emily Gianvecchio and Jasmine Jenkins.
At the beginning of each academic year, one Morgan Elementary School teacher looks at the challenge awaiting her handful of students involved with Destination ImagiNation, the world's largest creativity and problem-solving organization that holds yearly regional, state and global competitions.
“I always think, ‘How are we going to accomplish this?'” Terri Gile said.
But each year her students immediately throw out ideas upon hearing the challenge.
“It amazes me how 8-, 9- and 10-year-olds have such quick ideas,” she said.
This year the children's fast thinking paid off like never before: Gile's Destination ImagiNation team qualified for the global competition to be held in Knoxville, Tenn., from May 22 to 26.
Making it to globals never crossed Gile's mind throughout her 12 years as team manager - she wasn't even hit with a “competitive spark” until her team made it to the state competition two years ago. Until then, Gile always viewed the contests as a time to celebrate what her students had learned.
So, when Gile received the phone call about qualifying for globals as she drove home from the state competition, she felt like one of the kids.
“My heart was pounding and my head was spinning,” she said.
Last year, teams from about 20 countries competed in the global competition and 17,000 people attended the opening ceremonies, Gile said. Many teams wear matching shirts, and the Morgan team plans to do that, too, but will add an accessory to their uniform.
“We're ordering cow hats so people can tell we're from Wisconsin,” she said.
Destination ImagiNation is for school-age children from kindergarten to college, but those at or below second grade are non-competitive teams.
Basically, children form teams of five to seven members and select a challenge they want to solve. Categories include technical/mechanical, theater arts/science and structural and architectural design.
Gile's team - three third-graders, two fourth-graders and two fifth-graders - picked the theater arts/improvisation challenge.
“They love the improv,” Gile said.
The team began preparing for the March regional competition by meeting once a week in November through mid December, Gile said, noting practice increased as the months passed. In January and February the team would meet after school, during lunch and on weekends.
For their challenge, the children had to research six countries and their traditions. On competition days, they were put into a studio 30 minutes prior to their time slot and drew three countries and three senses they had to include in their skit. For example, Gile said, the kids had to decide what they'd taste in the Netherlands or see in Spain.
In that half hour, the kids also had to devise a skit and create their costumes and props - all without guidance from Gile. The children take a “declaration of independence” oath to certify they didn't have outside help, she said.
“While I'm in the room sometimes I'll see them working and wonder where they're going with that,” Gile said, noting it's difficult not being able to help.
After the competition, the team received its scorecard and written comments from the judges, and Gile made copies for the members so they could improve for state.
At least one judge observed how well the diverse group of students worked together - an aspect Gile had already picked up on.
“If all our community could work together like this what a world we would have,” she said.
The Morgan Elementary Destination ImagiNation team includes third-graders Adam Socha, Andrew Wadle and Maggie Gianvecchio; fourth-graders Katie Parsons and Maclain Dodson; and fifth-graders Emily Gianvecchio and Jasmine Jenkins.
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