Inventors' Workshop

What do all inventors have? Creativity! Form a team to design an invention that could change the world.

• 1.

  An invention is a product of the imagination, which can be a device or a process. Using Crayola® Colored Pencils, make a list of inventions that make your life easier. Compile a class list of helpful inventions with Crayola Washable Markers.

• 2.

  Discuss with your classmates what your lives would be like without these inventions. What wouldn't you be able to do? If possible, interview someone who lived before the items were invented. With a small group, act out what your life would be like without these inventions.

• 3.

  Now make a class list of inventions that you wish were available. What tasks could be made easier? How?

• 4.

  Divide into small groups. With others in your group, choose one invention to make. Together, draw a sketch of your invention. Write a paragraph to explain the name of your invention, how it works, and its purpose.

• 5.

  Break the invention into smaller parts so each person can make part of it. Use recycled cardboard boxes, recycled foam produce trays, recycled file folders, recycled cardboard paper towel rolls, recycled plastic containers, paper cups and plates, and othe

• 6.

  Decorate each part of your creation with Crayola Crayons, Markers, and Colored Pencils. Assemble stationary parts of your invention with Crayola School Glue. Dry.

• 7.

  Cover your art area with newspaper. Paint parts of your invention with Crayola Tempera and Paint Brushes. Dry.

• 8.

  Glue on decorative craft items such as buttons and collage materials. Dry.

• 9.

  Put all the parts together to create a whole-group invention. Act out your part of the invention. Then put all the parts together to become a "live" version of your invention. Create sounds that your section of the machine might make: Whiz! Bang! Clank!

Benefits

• Students identify inventions that help their daily lives.
• Students create, design, build, and cooperatively assemble a model of an invention.
• Students work cooperatively to put all the "moving" parts together to create a "live" human model of their invention.

Adaptations

• Design a timeline of the inventions on the class list. How many were invented in student lifetimes? Their parents'/teachers' lifetimes? Grandparents? Who were the inventors? What steps did they take on the way to their inventions?
• Write a futuristic fiction story that describes how your group's invention changed the world.
• Make a time line of famous inventions. Track a particular type of invention, such as transportation, communication, or food preparation.
• Demonstrate inventions for a family night. Interview families to find out what their favorite inventions are and why.