Posted 11:19 pm Monday, March 11, 2013
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Inventions show off third-graders’ ingenuity
BY EMILY GUEVARA
eguevara@tylerpaper.com
When third-grader Skylar Anthony walks around The Brook Hill School with her brightly colored backpack, the weight of it can be a strain.
So the 8-year-old decided to create a solution, a backpack that could give massages, too.
Her invention was one of about 30 on display at The Brook Hill School’s Invention Convention put on by the third-graders.
It was developed as a way to teach students research writing skills and encourage creativity and problem solving, according to a fact sheet provided by the school. Teachers Erica Timmons and Paula Bickerstaff led it.
The students researched a famous inventor then created a display board and wrote a research report about them. They then tried their hand at inventing something of their own.
“We tell them to look around their homes and family and find problems and try to find a way to solve those problems with a new invention,” Ms. Bickerstaff said.
A three-person judging panel selected the top three original inventions for awards.
The judges looked for the inventions that showed creativity, made life better and easier, and appeared to be completed primarily by the student, Ms. Bickerstaff said.
The project takes most of January and February to complete, but it is well worth it, Ms. Bickerstaff said.
“I think it gives them a sense of pride because they realize they really do have some good ideas and they can solve the problems in the world,” she said.
Citizens National Bank donated the prize money for the top three award winners.
eguevara@tylerpaper.com
When third-grader Skylar Anthony walks around The Brook Hill School with her brightly colored backpack, the weight of it can be a strain.
So the 8-year-old decided to create a solution, a backpack that could give massages, too.
Her invention was one of about 30 on display at The Brook Hill School’s Invention Convention put on by the third-graders.
It was developed as a way to teach students research writing skills and encourage creativity and problem solving, according to a fact sheet provided by the school. Teachers Erica Timmons and Paula Bickerstaff led it.
The students researched a famous inventor then created a display board and wrote a research report about them. They then tried their hand at inventing something of their own.
“We tell them to look around their homes and family and find problems and try to find a way to solve those problems with a new invention,” Ms. Bickerstaff said.
A three-person judging panel selected the top three original inventions for awards.
The judges looked for the inventions that showed creativity, made life better and easier, and appeared to be completed primarily by the student, Ms. Bickerstaff said.
The project takes most of January and February to complete, but it is well worth it, Ms. Bickerstaff said.
“I think it gives them a sense of pride because they realize they really do have some good ideas and they can solve the problems in the world,” she said.
Citizens National Bank donated the prize money for the top three award winners.
First Place
Marlee Gunter, 9
Invention: The Onesie Cleaner
Purpose: To clean the floor while a baby crawls on it.
Reason created: Marlee thought this invention could help mothers clean even with a lot of children in the house.
Process: Marlee cut a heart-shaped piece out of a chenille dust glove and sewed it on to the front side of a baby’s onesie. She then sewed some round pieces of the dust glove on the backside of the onesie.
Inventor: William L. Potts, inventor of the three-color traffic light.
What she learned from the project: “It’s kind of hard to be an inventor and go through all that hard work.”
Invention: The Onesie Cleaner
Purpose: To clean the floor while a baby crawls on it.
Reason created: Marlee thought this invention could help mothers clean even with a lot of children in the house.
Process: Marlee cut a heart-shaped piece out of a chenille dust glove and sewed it on to the front side of a baby’s onesie. She then sewed some round pieces of the dust glove on the backside of the onesie.
Inventor: William L. Potts, inventor of the three-color traffic light.
What she learned from the project: “It’s kind of hard to be an inventor and go through all that hard work.”
Second Place
Grayson Murry, 9
Invention: High Roller Cleaner
Purpose: To pick up dog hair.
Reason created: His golden retriever sheds a lot, and he and his family get tired of having to pick up dog hair.
Process: He attached a paint roller to the end of a telescopic paint pole, put two lint rollers on the paint roller and a cap on the end to hold it.
Inventor: Thomas Edison, inventor of the incandescent light bulb and phonograph, among many other things.
What he learned from the project: “I think I learned that even though it gets tough, you should still keep trying.”
Invention: High Roller Cleaner
Purpose: To pick up dog hair.
Reason created: His golden retriever sheds a lot, and he and his family get tired of having to pick up dog hair.
Process: He attached a paint roller to the end of a telescopic paint pole, put two lint rollers on the paint roller and a cap on the end to hold it.
Inventor: Thomas Edison, inventor of the incandescent light bulb and phonograph, among many other things.
What he learned from the project: “I think I learned that even though it gets tough, you should still keep trying.”
Third Place
Micah Wheatman, 9
Invention: Bite Proof Gloves
Purpose: If you have a pet that bites, it won’t hurt as much.
Reason created: Micah’s dog bites his mother a lot when she is taking care of it. So he invented these gloves so she wouldn’t feel it.
Process: Micah squirted silicone onto both sides of gloves. After it dried, he put on the gloves and covered each hand with a second pair.
Inventor: Nikola Tesla, inventor of technologies used in radio, entertainment and power transmission.
Invention: Bite Proof Gloves
Purpose: If you have a pet that bites, it won’t hurt as much.
Reason created: Micah’s dog bites his mother a lot when she is taking care of it. So he invented these gloves so she wouldn’t feel it.
Process: Micah squirted silicone onto both sides of gloves. After it dried, he put on the gloves and covered each hand with a second pair.
Inventor: Nikola Tesla, inventor of technologies used in radio, entertainment and power transmission.
