Inventa is a system designed to develop a child's technological skills
and understanding through the designing and making of technical models.
Technology involves finding solutions to problems.
Technology allows students to put thinking into a meaningful and real
framework.
Inventa creates technical awareness by encouraging students to think,
question, and invent, which builds confidence for problem solving.
Inventa, through design and make, incorporates the use of tools, which
is a key element of technology.
Inventa integrates math, science, language, history, and art.
INVENTA ACTIVITIES
Use your imagination to become an inventor by improving one of the
following items: a glass so it will not spill, your school desk, an
alarm clock, a mailbox, the school playground, computers, etc. Other
possibilities are new or better methods to get to school, to get kites,
balls, or frisbies off a roof, to travel, or to learn information.
Brainstorm a list of the following: inventions that saved lives,
that are harmful, that improved communications, that were "mistakes"
that worked, that have made a big difference to society, and that improved
the lives of kids.
Learn about simple and complex machines by "taking apart" appliances
and small electrical items that no longer work. Remove the power cord,
allow students to choose a machine they would like to take apart, and
establish rules. (No hitting the machine with a hammer, take the machine
apart one screw or bolt at a time, record results and discoveries, stay
with your group, etc.) Students will share discoveries with the class,
and as an optional activity, they may be required to put the machine
back together.
Research an invention to find the inventor, time period, significance,
and need. Choose a way to present findings to the class. (Mistakes that
worked are neat research items.)
Collect "junk" and have students work in cooperative groups to invent
something by combining ten of the items selected by the group.
Have the class write "bio-poems" about an invention.
Line 1
Name of inventor
Line 2
Major accomplishment(s)
Line 3
How the accomplishment has helped us
Line 4
Qualities as an inventor
Line 5
Qualities as a family member, neighbor, and/or community
member
Line 6
Qualities as a member of society in general
Line 7
Birthplace
Line 8
Parents, siblings
Line 9
School life
Line 10
Synonym or adjective to describe the inventor (Challenge,
Issue 68, 1996)
Bring items into the class with which students are unfamiliar. Have
the students number a piece of paper and guess what each of the items
are. Then have the students, as a group, ask critical questions about
the use of the object. Let the group decide the use of the object, and
then tell the class what the object really is and its purpose.
Write an article for a newspaper as if you were a reporter on the
scene as an invention was created. In the article, answer who, what,
when, where, why, and how about the invention. Give the story a "catchy"
title.
Investigate comic strips such as Garfield, Peanuts, and Fox Trot.
List components, including characters, plot, theme, story frame, dialogue
bubbles, etc. Create comic strips about a cartoon inventor.
In cooperative groups, create an invention board game and demonstrate
it for the class.
Work in groups to create skits about inventors. Present the skit,
offering clues to help the class determine who the inventor is.
Create a class time line mural showing inventions from several time
periods. Attach an explanation of each of the inventions and inventors.
Pick an object you would like to improve. Think of several ways to
make it better. Experiment with one of the ideas.
Study Rube Goldberg cartoon inventions. Have students create their
own pictorial "Rube Goldberg" inventions to share with the class.
Debate the most significant invention or discovery during each of
the U.S. President's term of office.
List 10 inventions from a previous decade. Tell what your reaction
might have been if you had been living during that time.
Use the SCAMPER method to invent.
S
Substitute
C
Combine
A
Adapt
M
Modify, minify, magnify
P
Put to other uses
E
Eliminate
R
Reverse, rearrange
Discuss the format of a wanted poster and a postage stamp. Research
and illustrate a famous or a not-so-famous inventor. Poll your friends
to determine the most important inventions. Graph the results. Survey
at least 25 people.
Choose an invention and research how it has been improved since it
was originally invented. Report findings to the class.
Create a fictional account of how an invention was created.
