Invention Project
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This project may be completed by students in 6th, 7th or 8th grade.
Handouts related to this project are posted below:
1. Project Schedule with target due dates. Getting started and finding a problem to solve is the hardest step so students may feel a little behind at the start. Not to worry if they persevere they'll identify a project and will soon get caught up. These dates are our best estimate of the pace students should try to maintain to complete each step of their project without added stress. Exact due dates will be announced by your child's teacher as the project progresses. Use the project schedule together with the information posted at the invention website in item 3 below.
invention_project_schedule.13-14.doc | |
File Size: | 41 kb |
File Type: | doc |
2. The PATENT SEARCH is critical for this project. You can't take credit for another person's idea so you need to know if the idea has already been proposed. A patent search will help you learn the answer to this question. Here are some resources for inventing and doing a patent search:
http://www.nevadasciencefair.net/patent-search/ In general, a Google search of a description of your idea that shows zero "0" pages would indicate that your idea or innovation doesn't already exist. A printed page of this search would be evidence of your patent search and would be part of your project documentation.
http://www.nevadasciencefair.net/patent-search/ In general, a Google search of a description of your idea that shows zero "0" pages would indicate that your idea or innovation doesn't already exist. A printed page of this search would be evidence of your patent search and would be part of your project documentation.
3. The proposal form allows the teacher to provide input to the student as they begin the process of developing their invention. Often students learn that their idea has already been invented and so need to make an improvement or modification that makes their idea unique. It will be critical for students to use the regional science and invention fair website to get inspiration as well as document their process.
proposal.form.2011.final.pdf | |
File Size: | 377 kb |
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4. Use this website for a guide to creating your invention project. All of your notebook pages and forms for a patent search can be found here:
http://www.nevadasciencefair.net/resources/
Resources:
_1. Use the science textbooks to refresh in your mind about the engineering process in the skills handbook starting on page 812 for LIfe Science or look at the digital textbook on Science Inquiry. It has a whole chapter on the engineering process. You can find it at:
www.pearsonsuccessnet.com
www.pearsonsuccessnet.com
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Are you stuck for ideas? Try this...
- Think about activities you participate in like sports, hobbies, chores at your house. Do you run into challenges that an invention could help to simplify? Perhaps a family member or neighbor has a job that would be made easier by an invention? Brainstorm your ideas on paper. _
- Keep a sharp eye on the news. Reading or listening to the radio or television news may spark a good invention idea.
- Your project can be an improvement on an already existing tool. Think about items you use that aren't very effective. What changes could make the tool better? An improvement of an existing invention is called an innovation. Search the Internet and see what ideas you can brainstorm.
- Check out the Patent Seach page at: http://www.nevadasciencefair.net/PATENT_SEARCH.html Near the bottom of the page is a list of invention websites. Viewing them may get your creative thinking started.
_Scoring Rubric -
Much of the information about the presentation board is included in the invention notebook including an example of how to arrange the information on your presentation board. READ it carefully. Students will also be provided with a printed copy of the rubric in class. Thanks!
invention.rubric.rev.2014.digital.doc | |
File Size: | 38 kb |
File Type: | doc |