Invention

Convention

Invention Convention We are hosting an Invention Convention.

Students need to complete one of the following projects.

Please circle your project choice below & return by Monday December 9th.

Additional information about your selection will be sent home soon.

Choice #1- Build an invention. Be CREATIVE and invent something unique to solve a specific problem.

Choice #2 - Create an invention and true Shark Tank style, design a video ad to sell it to the Sharks. You may want to include:

o a commercial jingle for your invention

o a marketing or campaign slogan

o an example of a marketing advertisement for your product or invention

Choice #3 - Draw an illustration (with vivid details) of something you would like to invent. Write an essay describing your invention and its purpose

All projects will be on display during our Invention Convention on Jan. 23, 2020.

What are Inventors and Inventions?

Every time you figure out a new way of doing something or change something to fit your needs, you are an inventor! An inventor is someone who thinks of new ideas to make life easier or better through inventions. An invention is a new discovery. It can be a new product or a new way of doing things called a process. Inventions come about in many ways. Usually inventions happen because somebody had to solve a problem. For example, someone got tired of cold ears in the winter and invented earmuffs. That inventor was only 15 years old! Sometimes inventions are the result of accidents. This is called serendipity. Corn flakes might never have been invented if a batch of wheat hadn’t been cooked too long! You may have heard people talking about “making a better mousetrap”. That is an innovation, or a new way of making an invention better. Some of the best inventions are very simple – like wire bent to make a coat hanger, paper clips, staples or bobby pins. Or, inventions can be complex, with many parts – like telephones, cars or DVD players. Think of how life would be with no electric lights, no TV, no radios, no computers or no video games – to name just a few things we rely on every day.

What Makes a Good Invention?

Here are some things to keep in mind when thinking about ideas for a good invention.

- Is your idea really NEW?

- Is it unique and original?

- Is your idea USEFUL?

- Is there a need for it – does it solve a problem?

- Is your idea CLEARLY DESCRIBED and NEATLY WRITTEN?

- Does it really explain your idea and any research you may have done?

- Does your drawing show WHAT YOUR INVENTION LOOKS LIKE AND HOW IT

WORKS? Does it show all the parts of your invention and are they LABELED?

Helpful Hints!! A few tips to keep in mind:

• Remember – everyone can be an inventor!

• Think like an inventor! Inventors are problem solvers, so learn to look at old problems in new ways.

• Try to make your invention work with as few parts and as simple as possible.

• The lower the cost of making an invention, the better off you are!

• Make sure your invention is safe to use and safe to make! If tools are needed, get permission to use them and have proper instructions.

• It’s a good idea to keep a journal – a dated, written record of your ideas, research, experiments and tests. See example of an Inventor’s Log.

• ABOVE ALL . . . Don’t get discouraged if all your ideas don’t work at first. It might take several tries to get your invention just the way you want it, but it will be worth the effort so keep trying!

Record Keeping Keeping a log (journal) is very wise. It can prove YOU had the idea first and will help you plan your invention. It will also help you explain your invention when you are finished. Follow the suggestions below for record keeping if you want to tackle your problem as a real inventor would.

Ideas for Keeping a Log

1) Date and initial your notes every time you work on your ideas. Show where you were at the time.

2) Describe your ideas, tests, and results. 3) Make a drawing of your ideas whenever possible. 4) List costs and descriptions of all materials used. 5) Have another person sign your log as a witness to prove the work and ideas are

your own. 6) Describe problems that came up. 7) List solutions to the problems 8) List materials that are needed to complete the project. 9) Describe where the idea came from.

Necessity is the Mother of Invention - An Old Truth

Looking for problems to solve Problems are invitations to find solutions. Did you know that most inventions come from solving a problem? Here’s your chance to become an inventor. But FIRST find a problem. Don’t worry about solving the problem – that will come later. Just try to think of as many problems as possible and make a list of them. This is called Brainstorming – a great way to get ideas for an invention project.

Now get started! Ask your parents, family, friends, and neighbors what problems they have with chores or tasks to be done. See what “bugs” them the most. Asking questions and recording the answers like this is called doing a survey. Think about school, work, and play and ask yourself:

- What is my biggest problem? - What task could I make easier? - What object do I use that could work better? - What is my favorite thing to do, and what would make it more fun and

interesting? Look at things around you and ask yourself:

- What would make it work better? - What would make it easier to use? - What could I add to it to make it work better? - What could I take away from it to make it work better? - What new uses could I invent for something I already have?

Ideas Become Inventions! Now the fun begins! Look at your list of problems and think of some ideas to solve them. Be creative and put ALL your ideas down on paper. Let your imagination run wild! More brainstorming!!! Give yourself plenty of time to let your ideas grow. Think of as many ways as possible to solve each problem and pick the ones that seem best. Begin your log. From all your brainstorming activities, pick the problem and idea for solution that is the most promising to work on for your invention projects.

Make a plan for your invention and write it in your log. Include any materials you will need, a rough sketch of our idea, ways to test it – as many details as you can think of. Think about what makes a good invention. Ask yourself:

- Is my idea really new? - Is my idea useful? - Is my idea something that will be helpful to others or me? - What about cost? Can I make my invention so that others can afford to buy it? - Is it possible to make a model of my invention? Are the materials for it easy to

get?

If you can answer “YES” to these questions, you’ve got a good idea!

Keep working on it. Carry out your plan step by step but be prepared to make changes in your ideas as you work on your invention. Test and redesign your invention as many times as needed. Evaluate each possible solution.

Be a detective! Look at every detail. DON’T GIVE UP!! Working on your invention to make it do just what you want can take time. If one idea doesn’t work, try another.

Naming Your Invention What will I call it? You did it!! You’ve invented something and it deserves a great name. This can be a lot of fun! There are many ways to name your invention. For the way it works, in other words, its function: Sunglasses Typewriter Hair Dryer Squirt Gun Dustpan Earmuffs Skateboard Screwdriver Lunch Box Doghouse Lamp Shade Ice Skates

With funny and clever words to lure customers: Silly Putty Cool-Whip Cabbage Patch Dolls Jell-O Hula Hoop Flip Flops After the inventor: Goodyear Tires Singer Sewing Machines Heinz Ketchup Ferris Wheel Morse Code Ford Automobile For what it is made of:

Ice Cream Peanut Butter Soap Suds Rubber Cement Down Jacket Shredded Wheat

Picking the right name is important. It can help interest people in your invention and shows your creativity. Make sure it’s a name you like and you think others will too.

Illustrating Your Invention Drawing your ideas What will it look like? All inventors make drawings of their inventions to show how they work. Draw some quick sketches of these ideas and pick what you think will look and work the best. Show all the parts of your invention and label them clearly so that others will be able to understand how your invention works and looks.

Making a Model Now that you have a name for your invention and a drawing of it, you can make a model of your invention. A model will make your invention more interesting and will show how it works. *You may have help from anyone in making your model as long as your ideas, illustration and written description are your own.

Marketing Your Invention

Now you can do what every inventor likes best – getting others interested in buying your invention.

This is called marketing your invention or product. To do this you will need to plan your TV commercial. For help with this, watch commercials on TV. (Yes, this does require watching TV) Remember – Be persuasive! You want the customer to want your product and want to pay you for it!

Invention Convention

Invention Guidelines: • Our Stingrays will pick a standard and use it as a guide when selecting what type of problem

they can fix. Below you will find each grade level, and some sample standards correlating to that grade. Each standard comes with a problem that students must creatively solve.

• Kindergarten and 1st grade will be working on this in their classrooms; it will be done as

a class and only in class.

• 2nd – 5th grade will be working on this independently - teachers will provide guidance

and some class time but the majority of this is done at home.

Kindergarten

• SC.K.N.1.2 Make observations of the natural world and know that they are descriptors

collected using the five senses.

Problem: How can we describe our teachers and friends to play a guessing game of

“Who am I?”

• SC.K.P .8.1 Sort objects by observable properties, such as size, shape, color, temperature

(hot or cold), weight (heavy or light) and texture.

• SC.K.L.14.3 Observe plants and animals, describe how they are alike and how they are

different in the way they look and in the things they do.

Problem: How many ways can we sort different object/plants/animals by using their

properties?

1st grade

• SC.1.P .8.1 Sort objects by observable properties, such as size, shape, color, temperature

(hot or cold), weight (heavy or light), texture, and whether objects sink or float.

Problem: Are our predictions of objects that sink or float correct? How can we make

sinking objects float?

• SC.1.P .13.1 Demonstrate that the way to change the motion of an object is by applying

a push or a pull.

Problem: How can we move a ball through a maze we designed?

2nd grade

• SC.2.P.13.2 Demonstrate that magnets can be used to make some things move

without touching them.

Problem: How can you use magnets to move or stop cars on a track?

• SC.2.P.13.3. Recognize that objects are pulled toward the ground unless something

holds them up.

Problem: What is a new way to carry our school supplies?

• SC.2.E.6.2 Describe how small pieces of rock and dead plant and animal parts can be the

basis of soil and explain the process by which soil is formed.

Problem: What type of soil, and atmosphere, is best for growing plants?

• SC.2.P.10.1 Discuss that people use electricity or other forms of energy to cook their

food, cool or warm their homes, and power their cars

Problem: If electricity was suddenly gone, could you invent something that powers the

objects we need to live?

• SC.2.L.17.1 Compare and contrast the basic needs that all living things, including

humans, have for survival.

Problem: How can we make habitats “friendly” for all animals?

3rd grade

• SC.3.E.6.1 Demonstrate that radiant energy from the Sun can heat objects and when the

Sun is not present, heat may be lost.

Problem: How can we keep heat around when the Sun goes down?

• SC.3.L.14.1 Describe structures in plants and their roles in food production, support,

water and nutrient transport, and reproduction

Problem: What are the important parts of a plant and can you make a machine to do the

same jobs?

• SC.3.L.17.2 Recognize that plants use energy from the Sun, air, and water to make their

own food

Problem: How can we use energy from the Sun to make food, like plants do?

• SC.3.P. 11.2 Investigate, observe, and explain that heat is produced when one object

rubs against another, such as rubbing one's hands together.

Problem: What is a new way to produce heat for our homes besides electricity?

• SC.3.E.5.4 Explore the Law of Gravity by demonstrating that gravity is a force that can be

overcome.

Problem: Besides airplanes, how can we send important things in the mail through the

air?

4th grade

• SC.4.E.6.3-Recognize that humans need resources found on Earth and that these are

either renewable or nonrenewable

Problem: What is a new/exciting way to harness renewable energy?

• SC.4.E.6.4Describe the basic differences between physical weathering (breaking down of

rock by wind, water, ice, temperature change, and plants) and erosion (movement of

rock by gravity, wind, water, and ice).

Problem: How can we stop weathering and erosion safely?

• SC.4.P.11.1 Recognize that heat flows from a hot object to a cold object and that heat

flow may cause materials to change temperature.

• SC.4.P.11.2 Identify common materials that conduct heat well or poorly.

Problem: What new invention can help us conduct heat faster, or block the transfer of

heat?

• SC.4.P.8.2 Identify properties and common uses of water in each of its states

Problem: Global warming is a serious issue. How can we slow down or reverse the

process?

• SC.4.P.12.2 Investigate and describe that the speed of an object is determined by the

distance it travels in a unit of time and that objects can move at different speeds.

Problem: What is a safe way to cut down the number of car accidents that happen on

the roads?

5th grade

• SC.5.P. 10.1 Investigate and describe some basic forms of energy, including light, heat,

sound, electrical, chemical, and mechanical.

Problem: How can the transfer of energy from one form to another can be controlled or

changed to benefit us?

• SC.5.P.10.2 Investigate and explain that energy has the ability to cause motion or create

change.

Problem: Use a renewable energy source (sun, wind, water) to cause motion to an

everyday appliance.

• SC.5.L.17.1 Compare and contrast adaptations displayed by animals and plants that

enable them to survive in different environments such as life cycle variations, animal

behaviors and physical characteristics.

Problem: How can we use our knowledge of animal adaptations to help humans survive

harsh environments?

• SC.5.P.9.1- Investigate and describe that many physical and chemical changes are

affected by temperature

Problem: Is there a way to reverse physical and chemical changes safely?

• SC.5.L.14.1 Identify the organs in the human body and describe their functions,

including the skin, brain, heart, lungs, stomach, liver, intestines, pancreas, muscles and

skeleton, kidneys, bladder, and sensory organs

Problem: Using your knowledge of the human body, how can we slow down the aging

process?

Invention Guidelines (cont):

• Brainstorm ideas for inventions. Select a problem you would like to fix and think of ways

you can solve the problem, by inventing a solution.

• Create your invention. Create a model or drawing of your invention. Models do NOT need

to actually work. They only need to represent the invention idea. Use everyday materials

from around the house to make your model.

• Complete the attached Invention form. Include your invention’s title, state the problem

your invention is solving, and include the description of your solution.

• Create a display for your invention. In addition to your tri-fold board, you can use

poster board or even a cardboard box to display your invention and how it works. You

can add colorful titles, attach your Invention form, add illustrations, or photos of your

building process, etc. Use your imagination! Be creative!!

Invention Convention Schedule

12/9/19 __ Invention choices are due to class 12/16/19 _ Student Patent Applications and

Contracts due back to teachers! 12/19/19 __ Teacher Approval due back to students! 1/7/20 - 1/17/20 Student Conferences and Invention

Check Ins How are things going? How can we help you?

1/21/20_____ Inventions, Display Boards, etc. due back to school for Judging and Grading!

1/23/20____ Invention Convention Day!

SAP Invention Convention

Student Contract

I, _______________________________ , will submit my invention Child’s Name

and Inventor’s Log for the Invention Convention due on January 21,

2020. I understand that this is a requirement and I must follow the

directions outlined in this handbook.

I further understand that failure to follow all directions and

instructions in this guide will affect my final project grade.

Class: _______________________________________________

Student’s Name __ _____________________________________

Student’s Signature _____________________________________

Parent’s Name _________________________________________

Parent’s Signature _____________________________________

Patent Application

Invention Convention

Inventor’s Name: ___________________________________________________________

Date of Application: _________________________________________________________

Name of Invention: ______________________________________________________

The problem that my invention will solve and how this invention will change the world:

Description of Invention:

Materials List:

Simple sketch of the Invention:

Inventor’s Signature: ______ __________________________________________________

Inventor’s Parent Signature: _________________________________________________

Official SPA Official’s Approval (Teacher): ___________________________________

Official Patent Number:_______________________________________________________

Notes from the Office of Patents:

18

Display Board Instructions

You MUST include the Display Board with your project. This must include:

An attractive title or heading and your name Your inventor’s log MUST be displayed with an attractive

cover!

You must follow the display board diagram above exactly! Including:

o Title

o the problem

o solution

o materials

how it is made, how it works

o research about the invention

o A labeled diagram and photographs.

Total Points:

Grade:

Invention Project Rubric Name:

0 5 10

The project was turned in on time.

You completed the Patent Application.

Your invention solved a real world problem utilizing the standards outlined in the handbook.

The display is neat, attractive, and easy to read.

The display board includes all required components (problem, solution, materials, and research, How It works)

The inventor was able to describe their invention

confidently and knowledgably

There are elements of originality and creativity in the project

Inventor met all deadlines

Display includes photos, diagrams, charts, and/or drawings

The Invention has a catchy phrase