Innovative Ideas
Emerge from Study
Seventeen fourth and fifth grade Kelley School students unveiled some pretty
creative invention ideas at the first annual Inventor’s Exhibition June 10.
Held in the school foyer from 4-5 p.m. the students presented their ideas, three
months in the making, from their individual stations complete with diagrams and
makeshift prototypes.
The Inventor’s Exhibition grew out of two-month Solution Symposium for 40
fourth and fifth graders picked by their teachers to participate in the program designed
to promote creative thinking and apply it to problem-solving skills.
District Enrichment and Arts-In-Education Coordinator Robyn Ross-Squirrell,
who taught the symposium, had students work on creative challenges such as: creating a
floating device that would hold the most weight and design and build a tower from
uncooked spaghetti that would hold the most weight.
Seventeen students that successfully completed the challenges and a final project
were invited to participate in the nearly three-month-long Inventor’s Exhibition program
that would challenge them even more and include problem-solving strategy sessions in
their class each week and homework.
Bobbi Clifford, former district Art-In-Education and Enrichment
Coordinator who is now the Co-Coordinator of the district’s after school
Compass Program provided some volunteer help at some of the weekly classes.
Once students learned not everything has yet been invented, they were
encouraged to think of how things could be improved by a new “invention.”
Each came up with an “invention idea” that would solve an identified
problem in some unique, but useful way after researching their idea to make
sure it wasn’t already on the market.
They then prepared a diagram of their invention/innovation. Once
their “invention” idea was carefully drawn and labeled, students spent a few
weeks developing a working model at home with parental help and developed
written descriptions of the idea in class that would be put on display and judged
during the exhibit.
The inventions were unveiled June 10. Students presented their
prototypes and explained them to the judges _ Kelley Principal Teresa Prinzi;
Clifford and Michele Vair, a reading teacher assistant at Kelley School.
They included:
Jacob Rodriguez – “The Hat Pack” is a secret “pack” or “pocket” inside
the hat where items like a cell phone or wallet could be hidden. `
Jacob Stalker – “The Waxer 2000” is a device that waxes your car for
you.
Simon VerMeersch – “The
Beanie Heater Hat” is a hat with a
pouch in it to hold heat warmers
that, when activated, will allow
people to stay outside in cold weather
for quite a while without thier head
getting cold.
Dylan Burley _ “The Forever
Glove” won’t be lost because the
Velcro on the glove attaches to
another piece of Velcro inside a coat.
Cameron Watson – “The
Space Saver Hanger” can hold three
pieces of clothing at one time,
allowing for use of only one hanger in
the closet instead of three. Watson was the first place winner in the fifth grade category
at the Inventor’s Exhibition.
Zach Mallette – “The Pain Away Shoe Insert” makes your feet more
comfortable in shoes.
Ashley Allegretti – “Balance My Bag” solves the annoying problem of purse
straps falling off your shoulder. Allegretti was the third place winner in the fifth grade
category at the Inventor’s Exhibition.
Emilena Wilck – “The Razor Trainer” training wheels help children not to
fall off a scooter when learning to ride one.
Gabriella Taylor – “The EZ Halter” helps a person keep their grip when
leading a cow or heifer, making the experience more comfortable for both the person
and the animal.
Broden Haltiner – “The Everything Arranger” is an organizer for Legos pieces
which, if used, will help prevent parents from getting upset when the Legos pieces
aren’t where they are supposed to be.
Preston Precourt – “The Scarf Shirt” conveniently has a scarf attached to it.
Precourt was the second place winner in the fifth grade category at the Inventor’s Exhibition.
Connor Elliott – “The Clothes Carrier” makes carrying clean clothes from
the laundry room back to your bedroom a breeze. It can also be used as a closet
organizer.
Cody Acquista – “The Tie-It-Up Shoe Safe” allows for safe storage of some
money in your shoe when you don’t have a pocket. Acquista was the second place winner
in the fourth grade category at the Inventor’s Exhibition.
Chip Murphy – “The Portable Sock Hanger” allows socks to be matched and
hung in pairs on rods off a pole. A small box on top holds socks needing to be
laundered. Murphy was the first place winner in the fourth grade category at the Inventor’s
Exhibition.
Everett Cole – “Dependables” are a leak-proof and reusable diapers for cats
with urinary-related problems. The exterior is rubber, with comfortable, absorbing
and disposable pads inside.
Michael Oberdorf – “Cat Bad Breath-Away Spray” made of safe, natural
ingredients applied to cat treats is activated by chewing and promotes better breath
right away. Oberdorf was the third place winner in the fourth grader category at the Inventor’s
Exhibition.
Jaston Brooks – “The Snow Launcher” propels snowballs higher and farther
than the average kid can throw them.
At a party to celebrate the young inventors’ accomplishments June 20, each
received certificates with specific designations for their ideas. Some students’
comments about the experience are also included.
•Micheal Oberdorf – Best Mouth Care Invention
“I learned how to research inventions, and am more
observant about problems around me to solve!”
•Everett Cole – Best Hygiene Invention
•Jacob Rodriguez – Best Loss Prevention Invention
“I rate this project an 8 (out of 10) because of the stress
level, but if I did it again it would be a 10 because I know what
to do now”
•Jaston Brooks – Best Toy Invention
• SimonVerMeersch – Best Thermal Care Invention
• Ashley Allegretti – Best Fashion Invention
“This experience was awesome! It was fun finding the
right fabric to use for my invention, and making the model. Planning the whole thing was the best part!”
• Gabriella Taylor – Best Pet/Animal Invention “I loved making the display board! I am actually using
my invention with my heifer, Filly.”
• Jacob Stalker - Best Help Dad Invention
• EmilenaWilck – Best Little Brother or Sister Invention
• Broden Haltiner – Best Organizer Invention
• Preston Precourt – Best Don’t Lose it Again Invention
• CameronWatson – Best Time Saver Invention
• Connor Elliot – Best Storage Space Invention
• Cody Acquista – Best Disguised Invention
“My favorite part was building it cause it then just ‘came
alive’! I made something that was unique and new. Creative
thinking is harder that it looks!”
• Chip Murphy – BestWorking Model
“I liked the whole invention experience because I did
something new and different from classroom work. I learned
that kids can make changes using creative thinking”
• Zack Mallette – Best Foot Care Invention
• Dylan Burley - Best Invention To Help Mom
Thanks to Robyn Ross-Squirrell for
providing some photos!