ARE YOU READY TO START

INVENTING? GET YOUR THINKING

CAPS ON!

WHO, ME? AN INVENTOR?

Yes!
People from every corner of the world, of different
ages, with different levels of education invent by
identifying problems, pursuing ideas, and
developing new solutions.
We all solve problems through inventive thinking,
whether its figuring out a way to prop open a
window, stay dry in a rainstorm, or build a
playhouse from scrap materials.
Creative problem solving, improvisation,
flexibility, and tinkering drive the inventive
spirit.

WHAT IS AN INVENTION?
An invention is a useful creation that didnt exist before.
An invention usually fills a need or solves a problem.
Inventions often make the world a better place.
Inventions can be things (e.g., a cell phone or backpack) as well as
ideas (e.g., a new method for tying a knot, or a story).
An invention often makes something better
(e.g., faster, stronger, cheaper, easier, safer
or
more efficient, attractive,
useful, accurate, fun,
or
productive).

WHY INVENT?
Inventing is a process. It starts with a need and ends up with something new
the actual invention.
To solve problems: Inventors are skilled at spotting ways to improve a
situation or process.
To improve our world: Imagine how different our lives would be without
inventions, such as computers, refrigerators, electricity, plastic, and
medicine.
To enjoy the creative process: Invention involves both thinking and
doing.

1. FIND A PROBLEM TO SOLVE

Keep your eyes open for problems. You dont need to look far. You can find
opportunities to make improvements in your:
Community (animal shelters, grocery
stores, shopping malls, recycling center,
parks, etc.).
School (lunch room, auditorium,
playground, classroom, lockers, etc.).
Home (backyard, garage, bathroom,
mailbox, kitchen,
etc.).
Favorite activities (sports, music, reading,
etc.).
Choose one problem.

2. BRAINSTORM
What are some different ways to
tackle the problem?
How creative can we be? Off-thewall suggestions often spark
GREAT ideas!
Ask people you know.
Record each idea.

3. DESIGN
Which brainstormed ideas are really possible, given our time,
tools, and materials?
I will invent an x that does y?
Who would use your invention? Talk to people who
might use your invention.
What problems might you have as you build your
invention?
Draw or write down your design.

4. BUILD
What are some problems youll need to solve as you build
your invention?
What materials will you need to build your invention? List
the materials youll need.
Figure out substitutes for things that are unavailable or too
expensive.

5. TEST, EVALUATE AND REDESIGN

Why is it a good idea to keep testing a
design?
What specific goal are you trying to
achieve, and how will you know if youve
been successful?
What kind of tests will help you perfect
your invention?
How do you know your invention has
succeeded?
Who should test your invention?

EXAMPLES OF INVENTIONS
To help people improve their tennis game,
the Essex High School InvenTeam invented a
robotic tennis ball retriever. It collects the
loose balls and drops them into a base
station, which serves them up to the player.

The Divine Child High School InvenTeam

invented a way for people to recharge up to
three electronic devices, such as cell
phones and MP3 players, while riding a bike.

EXAMPLES OF INVENTIONS
Storm water often contains debris, which
can clog storm drains. More than an
expensive problem, a clogged drain can be
a health hazard. The Colfax High School
InvenTeam invented a drain that
separates out the debris and puts it
into a trash can.

The Americans with Disabilities Act requires

all curbs to have cutouts for wheelchairs;
however, many dont. To help, the Ardsley
High School InvenTeam invented a device
that attaches to a manual wheelchair
and enables it to climb a curb.

EXAMPLES OF INVENTIONS
Toothpaste Squeezer
Many people have an annoying habit of squeezing the tube of toothpaste from
anywhere in the middle. This results in a lot of wastage of perfectly usable toothpaste at
the bottom of the tube. So, since the people won't change their habits, you can put an
end to this annoying situation by making a toothpaste squeezer. It is nothing but a small
panel attached to the tube, right at the bottom. Make sure that you can move it
upwards on the tube. This way, when someone squeezes the tube, the clip moves
upwards and no toothpaste is left behind in the tube.

EXAMPLES OF INVENTIONS
Wallet for the Visually Impaired
Here's a really interesting 3rd grade invention idea. You can design a wallet for the
visually impaired. This wallet can be made of an eco-friendly material and can have
pockets that are specifically for the different denominations of currency notes. These
denominations can be marked by using the Braille numbers and having markers at the
top of every pocket. You can also have a pocket for change denoted by the Braille
symbol for coins.

INVENTIONS BY KIDS
Even people with very little training can be inventors:
Earmuffs (Chester Greenwood, age 15)
Makin Bacona quick, healthy way to cook bacon (Abigail Fleck, age 8)
Popsicles (Frank Epperson, age 11)
Fantasy baseball game with trading cards (Dustin Satloff, age 10)
Sifting shovel for separating soil from leaves (Kaileigh Kirton, age 11)
Helmet for sailors (Palmer Rampell, age 15)
The cathode ray (TV) tube (Philo Farnsworth, age 14)
Glow-in-the-dark writing pad (Rebecca Schroeder, age 10)
Braille alphabet for the blind (Louis Braille, age 12)
Crayon holder for broken crayons (Cassidy Goldstein, age 11)

RESOURCES

http://www-tc.pbskids.org/designsquad/pdf/parent
seducators/DS_Invent_Guide_Full.pdf
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/3rd-gradeinvention-ideas.html