Invent, Iowa
Invent Iowa encourages student inventors
to look at the world from the viewpoint of others, which has sparked the creation
of a wide variety of devices to help disabled citizens and senior citizens,
inventions to preserve the environment, and to make the world a better place.
Students in grades K-6 have the chance to share an invention with the other
student inventors at our local Invention Convention held in February each
year. Three important parts of the invention process, after coming up with
the problem to solve, are:
1) consider what is already being used to try to solve the problem
2) consider several different ways to solve the problem before picking one
of them to invent
3) after the model has been built, look for ways to improve upon it, test
it, and maybe actually revise it. Rarely does an inventor get things perfected
on the first try.
We want this experience to be as close as possible to the way a real inventor
would work. That includes the things mentioned above, as well as keeping notes
each step of the way.
Naturally, we expect the student to develop the ideas and project, but we
also see this as an opportunity for a quality family experience. Parents,
please provide guidance when necessary, which might include discussing ideas,
helping to gather materials, or proofreading. For students in K-2nd grade,
parents may want to act as a secretary to get the inventor’s packet
completed. Remember, the value of this experience comes not from winning or
losing, but from learning and using the steps of problem solving and being
persistent in carrying the project through to completion.
For more information, contact Rhonda Jack, Elementary Talented and Gifted Teacher.
