Our school-based project for Term 2 is called “Inventor’s Notebook”.

There are 8 steps we will be completing:

 

Congratulations!

You have been given an opportunity to become an inventor.  You will design, make and discuss your new invention in class, which will then be displayed at the INVENTORS’ EXPO 2013 this term.

 

Step 1:

Design a front cover for your Inventor’s Notebook. You can give it a creative name of your own. Do a draft layout first, get feedback from two other people in your grade and ask them for any suggestions. Show your teacher, then complete a final copy on coloured paper or digitally.

 

Step 2:

Choose a product that has been invented because of a “gap” or requirement in the community/society. Find a picture or draw and label a picture of this object. Explain what it is and the purpose it serves.

Present this on the first page of your booklet.

 

Step 3:

Research your item to find out information eg:

Why it was invented?

The history of how your item has evolved or changed over time.

Did it improve something that already existed?

This will be presented on the second page of your booklet.

 

Step 4:

Think of ways you might improve this invention.
Use the SCUMPS framework (Size, Colour, Use, Materials, Parts and Shape) to alter this item.
Draw a series of diagrams of your altered invention.

This will be on the third page of your booklet.

 

Step 5:

Select a diagram (from previous page) to develop further.

Give a description of what it is and how you have improved it and how it will help you and others.

This will be on the fourth page of your booklet.

 

Step 6:

Design a model or detailed poster of your new invention.

Make a list of materials you will need in order to complete this task. Negotiate with your teacher to make sure all materials are available.

This will be your fifth page.

 

Step 7:

Collect your required materials and build/create your invention!

Obviously you won’t be able to have this as a page in your booklet but you can take a photo of your invention using a digital camera or iPads – ask your teacher about it.

This will be presented as the sixth page of your booklet.

 

Step 8:

Present your invention to the grade – discuss what it is, how it works and post photos and details of it on the class blog.

Then ask for some feedback from two of your peers about your product.

Get them to post their comments about your invention on the blog.