What Do I Need to Do to Participate in the

Invention Convention?

1. Pass in the intent to invent sheet.

2. Make an invention.

3. Make a display of your invention.

4. Keep a log of the work you do on

your invention.

Clark – Wilkins School New Hampshire Young Inventors’ Program

New

New Hampshire Young Inventors’ Program

Dear Families,

Your child is about to participate in an exciting after-school project - the New Hampshire Young Inventors’ Program. It is a special program designed to help learn and apply problem solving skills.

Your involvement in this project is strongly encouraged; however, it is important that the invention ideas, illustrations, and descriptions are your child’s own. Parents are invited to assist children in making the invention model since the inventions will be judged on the child’s ideas, not on the model.

The greatest support you can offer is your enthusiastic interest in your child’s own unique ideas. Encourage perseverance! Remind your son or daughter that invention is a process of trial and error experienced by all great inventors, and well worth the effort.

Have fun with your child and the New Hampshire Young Inventors’ Program, and remember that every child who creates an invention is a winner!

Sincerely, Kathleen McIntyre New Hampshire Young Inventors’ Program Coordinator

Young Inventors’ Timeline

1. Keep a log from the moment you have the idea to the day you make the model. Date: Write the date in your log the day you have the idea.

2. You should have an invention idea! Date: Record date

3. Name your invention. Date: Record date.

4. Intent to invent sheet is due! If you turn in this sheet, you must participate in the Invention Convention.

Date: Tuesday, February 3, 2015 Time: Any time during the school day Place: Library – Mrs. McIntyre or Mrs. Messner

5. Invention model should be completed. Date: Tuesday, February 17, 2015

6. Display should be completed. Date: Tuesday, February 17, 2015

7. Invention set-up time! Invention set-up is in the Wilkins School cafeteria. Your set-up must include the invention, the log, and the display board.

Date: Tuesday, February 17, 2015 Time: 3:30 – 6:00 Place: Wilkins School Cafeteria

8. Invention Convention judging will take place. Be sure to stand next to your invention so the judges can ask you questions about your invention. You will also want to hear all the nice compliments!

Date: Tuesday, February 17, 2015 Time: 6:15-7:30 Place: Wilkins School Cafeteria

9. New Hampshire Young Inventors’ Award Ceremony. Everyone is a winner! Each student will receive a certificate of participation. Each grade level will have a first and second place winner for the general category and the “Inventions for the School Classroom” category. All first place winners will participate in March at the New Hampshire Inventors’ Program at Merrimack Valley High School in Penacook, NH.

Date: Tuesday, February 17, 2015 Time: 7:45-8:30 Place: Wilkins School Cafeteria

All inventions of Wilkins students will be left in the cafeteria on Tuesday evening. They will be on display on Wednesday for all classes to visit. Clark School students will take their inventions to Clark School on Wednesday to be displayed there.

10. All inventions need to be taken home Wednesday afternoon or Thursday.

*** PLEASE NOTE-Snow Date for the Invention Convention 2015***

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2015

INVENTION CATEGORIES

1. General Invention-Any invention for school, home, entertainment, pet

needs, clothing and more that is not an “Invention for the School

Classroom.”

_________________________________________________________________

2. “Inventions for the School Classroom”- Think about an invention that

can be used in the school classroom. It could be a new idea or a

change/improvement on an existing invention. Ideas to possibly explore

include: pencils, pens, erasers, staplers, paper clips, desks, chairs, book

shelves, backpacks, lunch carriers, and more.

Want to know more- Visit: wonderopolis.org/wonder/who-invented-sticky-notes

to see how Post-it Notes were invented.

See book bag invention: www.ehow.com/about 6976468 invention-book-

bag.html

__________________________________________________________________

An invention can not be in both categories. Each student invention will be judged

either in the general category or the “Inventions for the School Classroom”

category.

Questions- Contact Kathleen McIntyre

603-673-4411 Ext. 4207

kmcintyre@sprise.com

Inventors Need to Remember…

1. Each inventor must display at the Invention Convention-

*Invention

*Display Board

*Log

2. Inventors need to do research to be sure that their idea has not

already been invented.

3. Teams may not exceed two students.

4. Invention Convention 2015 dates:

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Snow Date: Wednesday, February 18, 2015

5. Remember to keep a log of your work with your invention.

6. Inventing is FUN!

Enjoy!

Questions, Problems, Concerns…

Contact Kathleen McIntyre

Clark-Wilkins Library/Media Specialist

673-4411 Ext. 4207

kmcintyre@sprise.com

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 to describe your invention. If you decide to

market your invention, a good name will help you.

There are many ways to name your invention. Look at the examples below.

Now think about your invention. Try out your name ideas on your family

and friends until you find something you like. In your Inventor’s Log, list all

your ideas and circle the one you like best.

Rhyming names: yo-yo, Piggly-Wiggly, tutti-frutti

Names using the inventor’s name: Levi (jeans), Goodyear tires, Ford,

Heinz Ketchup, Frisbee

Names with repeating sounds: Kit Kat, Silly String, Tinker Toys,

Beanie Babies

Descriptive names: cotton ball, Rice Krispies, Dustbuster, Slime,

toothbrush, Walkman

Named for the ingredients: Corn Flakes, steel-belted radials, ice-

cream, peanut butter, soap suds

Names with initials or acronyms: Laser, VCR, SST, CD, SCUBA,

RAM

Named for its function – the way it works: sunglasses, doghouse,

squirt gun, Post-it Notes

Names with funny and clever words: Silly Putty, Cool Whip, flip-

flops

Illustration of

Invention

Invention Name

Simple directions on how to use your

invention

How to Make a Display

Your display will be on a table in back of or beside your invention. Make

sure your display is stable. A good material to use is a cardboard box. Cover

the cardboard with paper or contact paper. Another idea is to use two poster

boards taped together at the center. Display boards can also be purchased at

craft stores.

Your display should have the following information on it:

Questions a Judge Might Ask You

1. How did you get the idea for your invention?

2. What need or problem does your invention solve?

3. Why do you think it’s new and original?

4. How does it work?

5. How did you make it?

6. Did you keep a log?

7. May I see your log?

8. What was the biggest problem you faced while working on your

invention?

9. Did you have to change your original idea in any way?

10. What did you do to make sure that your invention

was original?

A teacher or parent may assist the child by writing or typing the words.

Ideas and content, however, must be the child’s own.

Special Awards

The Joshua Savyon Team Award~

This award lovingly honors and remembers the creativity, inventive spirit, and team enthusiasm of Joshua Savyon. One team will be chosen to receive this award.

S.T.E.A.M. Award~

This is a new award for 2015. The Young Inventors’ Program continues to highlight the importance of science, engineering, and mathematics with the addition of the technology and the arts components. This new award will be selected by the judges as the invention that best couples science, technology, engineering, and mathematics with the arts.

Invention Log

Inventor name: ____________________________________________________

Date: ______________________ Hours worked: _________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

Drawings or photos:

Inventor’s signature: _______________________________ Date: ___________

Witness: ________________________________________ Date: ___________

Intent to Invent

Yes! I will participate in the Invention Convention!

Student Name _________________________________________________

Grade __________Teacher ______________________________________

Name of Invention _____________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

Invention Category:

______ General

______ Inventions for the School Classroom

Are you working with a partner? Yes___ No____

If yes, please fill out information below.

Name of Partner: ______________________________________________

Grade __________Teacher_______________________________________

Return this sheet to Mrs. McIntyre or Mrs. Messner by Tuesday, February 3, 2015.

You must return this sheet to participate in the

Invention Convention!

I know that my child has signed up to participate in Invention Convention 2015.

Signature of parent or guardian _________________________________

Contact Telephone Number ____________________________________

E-mail address ______________________________________________