My
Inventor's
Journal
Inventors . . .
keep an open and curious mind. They are always
looking for a better way to do things, and they do
not resist change.
gather as much information as they can about an
idea before they begin to invent.
keep trying to find a solution to their problem.
They go through a lot of trial and error as they
seek a solution. THEY DO NOT GIVE UP!
continue to improve their products. Name : ______________________
Date: ______________________
The History of Inventions
The first step in becoming an inventor is to learn all
you can about inventors and their inventions. You
will discover how and why certain products were
invented. Did you ever wonder why the safety pin
was invented? Or how toothpaste was packaged
before it was put into tubes? And how about
mousetraps? Did you ever think about how many
different types have been invented? In reading about
inventors, you will learn that their inventions were made to fill a need.
Inventor: _________________________ Date of Invention: ______________
Tell about the invention: ___________________________________________
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Inventor: _________________________ Date of Invention: ______________
Tell about the invention: ___________________________________________
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Inventor: _________________________ Date of Invention: ______________
Tell about the invention: ___________________________________________
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Identifying Challenges
It can be said that necessity is the mother of
invention. Your idea for an invention will come
from something that you or someone you know
needs. There are several ways to find ideas for
inventions. One way is to ask people if there is
anything they need. Another method is called
brainstorming. You can brainstorm alone or with
others. Here is an example of how brainstorming
works. Name an object such as a lunch box. Take ten minutes to list
everything you can that is wrong with lunch boxes. Next, find a way to
correct some of the problems. Your ideas for solving the problems can be a
big step toward inventing a new or improved product.
Challenges In My Life
What tasks or chores would you like to see made easier?
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Brainstorm a list of activies or products that annoy or frustrate
you. List as many as you can.
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What products do you use that do not work as well as you would
like them to work?
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What is your most annoying problem . . .
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at home? _______________________________________________________
at school? ______________________________________________________
in the car? ______________________________________________________
at the store? ____________________________________________________
at practice? _____________________________________________________
with your pet? __________________________________________________
Challenges in Other People's Lives
Consider other people in your life and what they might need to make life
better. Identify any problems with certain tasks or activities that they have.
Could you design something that could help other people? Interview friends
and family to get a different perspective.
The person I interviewed was: _____________________________________
A task that they said they would like to see improved was:
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The person I interviewed was: _____________________________________
A task that they said they would like to see improved was:
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The person I interviewed was: _____________________________________
A task that they said they would like to see improved was:
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The person I interviewed was: _____________________________________
A task that they said they would like to see improved was:
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Pick the Problem You Want to Solve
Before an invention can be successful, you have to make a plan. Your plan
should include all the steps you can think of, from beginning to end. When
writing your plan, ask yourself questions such as these:
>>>What can I read about that will help
me with my invention?
>>>Who can I talk to about solving
problems and planning properly?
>>>What materials will I need?
>>>What steps should I follow?
>>>How much time will this take?
>>>How can I test my invention?
>>>How can I be sure my invention is safe to use?
Don't be surprised if you have to change your plans along the way. Sometimes
a plan will not work as well as you first thought it would. So keep an open
mind for change. You may even discover a better way of completing a certain
step.
Describe your problem: _____________________________________________
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Now think of solutions to solve this problem and record the pros
and cons of each possible solution.
Possible Solution
Pros
Cons
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Ask your friends and family members which solution they
feel is your strongest idea. This will help you narrow
down your concepts.
Developing Your Invention
Now the work begins. Follow your plan step by step.
If you have difficulty with a certain part of your
invention, talk to friend or family member. Try
different things until you overcome the difficulty.
Most of all, don't give up! As Henry Ford, one of the
inventors of the automobile, once said, "Failure is
only an opportunity to start again more intelligently."
Explain the problem that you want to improve.
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Choose your best invention idea and tell about it.
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How did you come up with the idea?
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What steps will you need to take to build your invention?
1. ___________________________________________________________________
2. ___________________________________________________________________
3. ___________________________________________________________________
4. ___________________________________________________________________
5. ___________________________________________________________________
6. ___________________________________________________________________
What materials do you need?
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Do you see any problems that you might face while building your
invention?
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Sketch out your invention.
Clearly label key points on the diagram.
Building Your Invention
Now you will begin to build your invention. You will be recording the
process and documenting all the steps you take while making your invention.
Record the time and date of each work session and what you did that day.
Record any changes you make to your original idea and any discoveries you
make as you are building.
Date: _______________
Time: ___________
Date: _______________
Time: ___________
Date: _______________
Time: ___________
Date: _______________
Time: ___________
Testing Your Invention
Congratulations!
By this step you have completed your invention.
Now it is time to test it.
Test your invention.
Does it work?
yes
no
If you could go back and change one thing, what would it be?
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The Invention Convention
Be sure to make plans for displaying your invention.
An attractive display is important. You will want
people to be attracted to your invention. A good
promotion plan should include posters or other
eye-catching materials. Remember, an inventor has
to sell people on her or his product. You may also
wish to design packaging for your invention and
write an advertisement for it.
What's In a Name?
Name your invention. Imagine you are selling your product, and
try to think of a name that will catch the consumers' attention.
Possible Product Names:
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Possible Slogans:
1. ___________________________________________________________________
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2. ___________________________________________________________________
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3. ___________________________________________________________________
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The name of my invention is: ______________________________________
My slogan is: _______________________________________________________
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Intent to Invent
The Ranch View School 5th Grade STEM Invention Convention
will be held on Friday, January 22, 2015.
I, _____________________________________________ , intend to invent
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Give a brief description of the problem you are trying to solve
and the invention you will create.
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I will be using the following materials in my invention:
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Student Inventor's signature
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Date
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Inventor's Parent's signature
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Date
Invention Convention Speech
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Invention Convention Speech
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Patent Application
As the inventor named at the bottom of this page, I hereby declare
that I truthfully believe that I am the original, first, and only
inventor of the invention entitled:
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Provide a detailed description and sketch of your invention below.
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Declaration
>>>I do not believe that this invention has ever been known or
used before.
>>>I do not believe that this invention has ever been patented or
described in any book, magazine, or newspaper before I
invented it.
Full name of Inventor: _____________________________________________
Signature of Inventor: _____________________________________________
Date of Application: ________________________________________________
Patent Certificate
Whereas __________________________ presented a
petition for the grant of a patent for a new and
useful invention entitled
___________________________________________ ,
a description of which invention has been
submitted according to all conditions provided,
and whereas upon proper examination the
applicant has been judged to be entitled to a
patent under Ranch View School requirements.
Now, therefore, a patent is granted to
_____________________________________
for the term of the remainder of the school year,
with exclusive rights to make said invention.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my
hand and caused the seal of the patent office to
be affixed on the _____ day of ___________________
in the year ________ .
Attest ___________________________
Commissioner of Patents
2016
2016
2016
2016
2016
2016
Ranch View School 5th Grade
S.T.E.M. Invention Convention
Dear Parents of 5th Grade Inventors,
Your child will soon be participating in Ranch View's First Annual S.T.E.M.
Invention Convention. This hands-on science activity will incorporate
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math into a fun grade-level event.
In class we are learning about inventors and their inventions. Then students
will be guided through the process of coming up with an idea for an
invention of their own.
Students will create their inventions at home and display them at our
Invention Convention, which will be held in the cafeteria on
Friday, January 22nd, at 8:15 a.m.
Please support your child by providing simple materials for them to use in
the creation of their invention. Your child will also need to create some sort
of display to show off their invention at the Convention. This might include
a tri-fold display board, a poster, or any other kind of display your child can
think of. Feel free to make this a family project, but please make sure your
child is the lead inventor. Encourage "out of the box" thinking, and have fun
creating a working invention that solves some sort of a real problem.
Sincerely,
The 5th Grade Teachers
Invention Convention Deadlines:
12/8/15 Bottom portion of this letter needs to be signed and
returned.
1/8/16
Intent to Invent form is due.
1/19/16 Completed Invention is due, along with display items.
1/22/16 Invention Convention begins at 8:15 a.m.
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I have received the S.T.E.M. Invention Convention letter and am aware that
this project is to be completed at home. I will supervise my child's work and
ensure that he/she meets all deadlines.
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Student Inventor's Name
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Parent's Signature
You Are Invited
to attend
Ranch View School's First Annual
S.T.E.M.
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math
Invention
Convention
Inventions will be on display
Friday, January 22, 2016 at 8:15 a.m.
in the Ranch View Cafeteria
Come meet the Inventors!
Hear how they got their ideas and created
their inventions.
Inventor's
Notebook
Name ________________________
Inventor's
Notebook
Name ________________________