Information Packet

Gardner STEM
Magnet School
2014-2015

Table of Contents
Contents
Page
Timeline
3
Guidelines
4
General Information
5
Steps for Inventing
6
Naming Your Invention
7
Inventors Notebook Information
8
Display Board
9
Preparing for Judging
10
Additional Resources
11
Permission Form
12
Planning and Approval Sheet
13-14
Inventors Notebook (separate handout)

Timeline
Dates
March 16 20
*all dates are tentative*

March 23 April 3
(two weeks)

Assignments

April 3, 2015

April 6 10

April 13 24
(two weeks)

Bring Invention and Display Board to School!

Judging Begins
Invention Convention Awards to be handed out during Awards Assembly

May 4 8

May 11 15
May 18
May 19
May 20

Review the Design Process

Begin working on your Planning and Approval Sheet.
o ASK: define problem
o IMAGINE: research, brainstorm
o PLAN: diagrams, materials, steps
Complete your Intent to Invent form with signed parent permission.
Start your Inventors Notebook.
Submit Intent to Invent and Permission forms with signed parent permission to
Mrs. Bishop! These must be turned in, to ensure your participation!
Continue recording in your Inventors Notebook. Make sure you are completing all
required components of your Inventors Notebook!
Continue the Design Process
o CREATE: build your invention
o IMPROVE: test your design and make necessary modifications
Make sure to record all work in your Inventors Notebook
Begin planning your display board
Work to complete all components of your display board
Add the final touches to your display board
Check your work and make any changes you need
Gather Materials you will need to bring to the Invention Convention
Last week to work on all components!

April 27 May 1

Review Invention Convention Packet.

Intent to Invent and Permission forms will be sent home.

Guidelines
1. Students may ONLY work in pairs or individually.
2. Inventions MUST fit into the following definition:
An invention can be anything that solves a real problem. It is something that no
one has ever thought of before. It cannot be purchased in a store or found in a
book. Sometimes an invention is an improvement to an object that was already
invented. It must serve a purpose (solve a real problem).
3. Please use as many recycled products as possible.
4. Each invention must be accompanied by a tri-fold display board and Inventors
Notebook.
5. Inventors must submit either a model of their invention or a full-sized prototype.
Your model does not need to actually work. However, you are encouraged to produce
an invention that does actually work. If you submit a full-sized prototype, it will be
expected to work.
6. See Display Board Set-Up for required components.
7. See the Inventors Notebook for required components.

General Information
What is an Invention?
An invention is a new process or device (or improvement to an existing
one) that did not exist before. Inventions are
generally created to solve a problem or fill a need.
Inventions almost never work the first time they
are created, so inventors should be ready to
change their original ideas and keep trying. Always
keep in mind that building inventions can be
creative, exciting, and lots of FUN!

Rules for Inventing

The main goal of these rules is to keep you and
those around you safe. We want you to keep
inventing for a long time to come!
1. You must make sure a parent or guardian knows the details of your
invention before you start any building.
2. You may not use any human or animal subjects in your invention.
3. You may not use any dangerous chemicals or open flames in your
invention.
5

Steps for Inventing

Step 1: Ask
Think about something people need in order to make life better. Identify a problem to solve by
brainstorming for ideas in one or more of these ways.
Think about things you do every day at home or at school or on holidays or weekends. Then think about any
problems, things that bug you about doing them, or ways to make them better.
Think about all the tools or utensils you use in an ordinary dayfork, knife, toothbrush, shovel, broom,
scissors, and so on. What would make them easier to use? Or Better?
Go from room to room in your house. Brainstorm ideas as you look at items in the kitchen, the bathroom,
the family room, the bedroom and so on. Could you use an ordinary item for a new purpose? Or make it out
of a different material?
A better world: How can you help make the world a better place with an invention?
Think about a family member. Is there someone in your family that could benefit from an invention that
would make his/her life easier?

Step 2: Imagine
Imagine an item you could create to help solve the problem or improve the situation from Step 1. Use
your Inventors Notebook to help guide you through the research process.
Imagine several solutions to the problem from Step 1.
Research to find out more information. Have you found any evidence that your invention already exists? If
so, how will your invention improve on what already exists?
Record your research in your Inventors Notebook. Make sure you list where your information came from
Select one way to solve the problem!

Step 3: Plan
Use your Inventors Notebook to help guide you through the planning process. Think carefully about
each step, making careful notes about your ideas.

Draw detailed diagrams and sketches with labels

Make a list of materials needed to create your invention
Make a list of the steps you will take to complete your invention
If working with a partner, decide who will do which parts.

Step 4: Create
Build your invention!

Follow your design diagrams and sketches

Follow your plan from Step 3
Add details to your invention. (GET CREATIVE)
Test your invention. Make sure it works and is safe to use. Remember to keep track of everything in your
Notebook.
You must decide whether you will produce a small model or a full-size prototype of your invention.

Step 4: Improve
Improve on your design

Make your design better

Improve on any mistakes you made
Test it again and if you need to, re-design!
DONT FORGET TO NAME YOUR INVENTION! (see Naming Tips)

Naming Your Invention

Many inventors like to name their inventions as soon as they choose an idea.
Others wait until later. Whenever you name your invention, you should like the
name, and it should help you describe your invention. There are many ways to
name your invention. Look at the ways others have come up with names for
their inventions to help you get started!
Some inventions have names that tell how they work or what they do:
dog house, can opener, hide-a-bed, rocking chair, seat belt, surfboard,
toothbrush, sunglasses
Some inventions are named after their inventor:
Braille Alphabet, Heinz Ketchup, Sousaphone, Ferris Wheel, Jacuzzi, Ford,
Levi's Jeans, Frisbee,
Some inventions are named after what they are made of:
aluminum foil, rubber cement, waxed paper, tin can, cotton ball
Some inventions are named after initials or acronyms:
Laser, VCR, CD, SCUBA
Some inventions are named by combining funny, clever rhyming or repeating
words or word sounds together:
Hula Hoop, Weed Wacker, Cracker Jacks, Slinky, yo-yo, Piggly-Wiggly, Kit-Kat,
Silly String, flip-flops

Make a list of some ideas in your Inventors Notebook. Then ask your friends and
family which names they like to help you decide on the best name for your
invention!
7

Inventors Notebook
The Purpose of the Inventors Notebook
An inventor's notebook is used
by inventors, scientists and engineers to record their
ideas, invention process, experimental tests and results
and observations. Your inventors notebook will be used
to tell the entire story of your invention. You will
record your thoughts, actions, sketches, and decisions
during every step in the process of creating your
invention.

Einsteins Notebook

The inventors notebook is like an ongoing journal of your

work. As you follow the steps for inventing, you will
complete the pages in your notebook. Make sure your
name and the date is on every single page. I have allowed
for extra pages throughout the notebook, however, if you
need any additional pages, you are welcome to use blank
paper. We can staple it in the correct order when you
have completed your invention.
Edisons Notebook

You will show off your Inventors Notebook at the

Invention Convention in May. Dont worry if you
dont fill in every section of your Notebook. It is
intended to help you through the process, not scare
you away from it.
Da Vincis Notebook

Display Board
Display Board Set-up
Required Components:

Invention Title

Ask
What is the problem?
Describe the problem and
the purpose for your
invention. Why was the
problem/purpose
important to you?

What steps did you take

to plan your invention?
Research
List all
books,
websites,
and people
Labeled
Diagrams

What is your solution?

Name:
Grade:
Teacher:

Describe your process for

discovering possible
solutions. Explain how
your invention solves the
problem.

Create

Plan

Imagine

Include a description of
how your invention was
made and how it works.

Materials
List the
materials
you used

Improve
How did you improve
your invention?
Describe any problems you had
and improvements you made to
your invention? Why were they
necessary?

Process
List the
steps you
took.

Include any
sketches or
diagrams of
problems

Include any
photographs
of failed
attempts.

Optional Components: Photographs, testimonials of people who have tried your invention,
acknowledgements thanking people who have helped you
This is your invention and your display, so use creativity to tell the story of your invention!
Be sure to use:
Fonts that are readable (size, color, style)
Colors that go well together
Shapes that are the right size

Correct grammar
Proper punctuation
Correct spelling

Preparing for Judging

When you finish your invention, ask yourself these questions that the judges may
be asking when they look at your invention.
I. Originality of Invention Idea

Is the invention a new idea?

How did you come up with the idea for this invention?
How did you discover your solution to the problem?
How do you know that no one else has this idea? Did you try to find out by asking an expert or going to a store or
looking in catalogues and the internet?

II. Need for the Invention

Why did you decide on this invention?

What need or problem does your invention solve?
Is the invention useful? How does it help us?
Who is helped by it - the general public? -elderly people? -children? -people who are disabled? -or only YOU?
Is it better for the environment than things we use now?

III. Inventing Process

How well did you keep track of the steps in your invention?
What did you use to learn about and make your invention?
Did you show all the steps from your first idea to your completed invention?
Where did you get the materials for the invention?
Are there other materials that you could use that are better?
Who helped you build the invention and what did they help you do?

IV. Invention Effectiveness

Does your invention do what it is supposed to do? Does it work?

How does it work?
Does the invention work even better than anticipated?
Does it solve other problems too?

V. Problem Solving

What was the biggest problem you faced while working on your invention?
Did you have to make any changes to your original idea?
What changes might you want to make to your invention?
10

Additional Resources
Helpful Books
Students can be encouraged and stimulated by reading about inventors and inventions. The books listed
below contain many illustrations and ideas that can help to get students started on their way toward
inventing a new product or process.

Caney, Steven. Steven Caney's Invention Book. New York: Workman Publishing Co., 1985.
Dunn, Susan and Rob Larson. Design Technology: Children's Engineering. Falmer Press, 1990. (Grades K-6)
Eichelberger, Barbara and Connie Larson. Constructions for Children: Projects in Design Technology. Available from Dale
Seymour Publications. (Grades 1-4)
Jones, Foltz Charlotte. Mistakes That Worked: 40 Familiar Inventions and How They Came to Be. New York: Doubleday,
1991.
Karnes, Francis, Suzanne H. Bean, and Rose Mary Wallner.Girls and Young Women Inventing: Twenty True Stories About
Inventors Plus How You Can Be One Yourself. Free Spirit, 1995. (Grades 3-6)
Kramer, Stephen P. How to Think Like a Scientist: Answering Questions by the Scientific Method. New York: Thomas Y.
Crowell, 1987. (Grades 2-4)
McCormack, Alan J. Inventor's Workshop. Belmont, CA: Pitman Learning, Inc. 1981. (Grades 2-6)
McKissack, Pat and Frederick L. McKissack. African-American Inventors. Millbrook Press, 1994. (Grades 4-7)
Rasmussen, Greta. WakerUppers: A Spirited Collection of Thinking Activities. Available from Dale Seymour Publications.
(Grades 2-6)
Rowland, Dr. Elizabeth and Dr. Leonard Molotsky. Resource of Creative and Inventive Activities. Richardson, TX: National
Inventive Thinking Association, 1994. (For teachers)
Sobey, Ed. Inventing Stuff. Available from Dale Seymour Publications. (Grades 5 and up)
Stanish, Bob. The Unconventional Invention Book. Carthage, IL: Good Apple, Inc., 1981.
Striker, Susan. Build a Better Mousetrap. New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston, 1983.
Taylor, Barbara. Be an Inventor. New York: Harcourt Brace, 1987. (Grades 3 and up)
Tucker, Tom and Richard Loehle. Brainstorm: The Stories of Twenty American Kid Inventors. Farrar Straus & Giroux, 1995.
(Grades 4-7)
Yenne, Bill. 100 Inventions That Shaped World History.Bluewood Books, 1993. (Grades 3-6)
Macaulay, David. The Way Things Work. Dorling Kindersley Publishing. Available from Dale Seymour Publications. (Grades 5
and up)

Helpful websites
Inventions by Kids - http://www.cnbc.com/id/42497934/Inventions_By_Kids
Science Spot Kid Zone Invention Links - http://sciencespot.net/Pages/kdzinvent.html
Kids Inventor Resources - http://www.inventored.org/k-12/
Invention Convention Resources - http://libraries.risd.org/LessonPages/inventionconvention.htm
http://invent.org/
http://lemelson.mit.edu/

www.inventionconvention.org/studentinfo.html
www.inventionconvention.org/successstories.html
www.inventionconvention.org/parentstestimonial.html
www.inventionconvention.org/kidstestimonial.html
www.inventionconvention.org/greatstudents.html
11

Permission Form
All 3rd-4th grade students at Gardner S.T.E.M. Magnet School are invited
to participate in the Gardner S.T.E.M. Invention Convention.
The Invention Convention is your chance to demonstrate problem solving
and creative thinking skills as you apply S.T.E.M. skills in a productive
manner.
If you plan to participate in the Invention Convention, please return this form to Mrs. Bishop by March 31, 2015.

Student Information:

Student Name: _____________________________________

Grade: ______

Teacher: ___________________________

Project Information:

Name of Invention (if known): _____________________________

Will you be working with a partner?
Yes ___
No ___
If yes, please fill out the information below.
Name of Partner: ____________________________________
Grade: ______

Teacher: ___________________________

Parent Permission:
Will you need a display board?

Yes ___

No ___

Parent Name: _________________

Phone Number: ___________

Parent Email: ______________________________________

Parent Signature: ____________________________________

12

Intent to Invent
Invention Title:_______________________________________________________
Student Name(s):_____________________________________________________
Grade: ___________ Teacher(s):_________________________________________
1. The problem I intend to solve is:
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
2. A brief description of my invention:
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
3. I have determined to the best of my ability that my invention will be original.
I took the following steps to ensure it is original.
Books I found on this problem/invention are:
Title:

Author:

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

13

Intent to Invent

continued

Internet sites I found on this problem/invention are:

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
People I talked to about this problem/invention are:
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
REMEMBER - Document your research in your Inventors Notebook
4. Materials I might use are:
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
5. Safety Validation (Check all that apply):

My invention is safe.

I can get materials to create the invention.

I have enough time to build my invention.

My invention will not harm anyone or

anything.

14

Draw a rough sketch of your invention.

15