Welcome to the world of Invention!

What is Invention Convention all About?

Check out this video from a past National Invention Convention. This could be you!

​

​

You are now an Inventor!

​

Inventors:

​

• Identify problems in their lives or the lives of others

​

• Solve problems by creating NEW and USEFUL inventions

​

• Build prototypes (models) for their invention

​

• Fail Forward– they test their ideas and keep

making them better

​

• Communicate – inventors share their ideas with others

​

​

​

​

​

What is an invention?

• A new device or product that solves a problem

​

• Inventions can also be ideas (like a new way to do something)

​

• Inventions are useful and did not exist before

​

• Inventions (usually) make things better or easier

​

​

Take a few minutes to look or walk around your classroom.

​

• Find 5 things that you think are inventions and write them down.

​

• Let’s discuss:
• Are they inventions?
• What problems do they solve?

The Invention Process

Step 1: Identify Problems

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

1

2

Talk to friends & family

Check out the news

Keep a “notice” card or journal with you to write down problems

3

Think about your interests. What matters to you?

4

Collect and share your problems/ideas.

Share feedback. Add more ideas…

Step 2: Brainstorm Solutions

Choose one problem and brainstorm an invention to solve it!

1

3

2

Step 3: Understand your Idea

1

Does my idea already exist?

Identify keywords for your invention

2

Start searching! Google, shopping sites, patent sites…

If it already exists, can you still innovate on the idea?

3

1

Write and draw your ideas out first in your Invention Log

2

Get feedback on your design. Make changes if needed.

Step 4: Design, Build Test (Repeat!)

3

4

Build a prototype of your invention. Use materials that are around you!

Test it out and gather data.

Testing your invention

Let’s Gather some Data!

​

Can you test your invention?

​

Can you ask other people to try it out?

​

Testing your invention

Invention is an ongoing process! You may need to try and test a few different designs before you have a solution you are happy with.

​

Step 5: Communicate

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

1

Create a display board

Record in your Logbook

Share your work!

Plan what you will say

Practice sharing your work!

Your invention log is the story of your invention. It’s very important!

Record in your log every time you work on your invention.

The process is just as important as the final product.

The Invention Logbook

Where will your ideas take you?