Shenendehowa Inventors Program 

The Shenendehowa Inventors program is an extra-curricular enrichment program that is focused on the inventing process. By participating in this program, Shen Inventors express creativity and ingenuity by utilizing their scientific, technological, mathematical, language arts and artistic skills. During the project development process, the Shen Inventor will be brainstorming, identifying problems and solutions, designing the invention, conducting research to find new ideas or improvements, and preparing a poster displaying the invention. The goal is to stimulate the development of creativity, imagination and entrepreneurship in students grades K-8.

To the Parents:

Your support and encouragement is very important to your child’s success at school, and we ask you to support your children in joining this special program. Encourage your children to participate in this extra-curricular enrichment program by having your child be a problem-solver in your home! Please provide positive reinforcement by encouraging ideas, even those that may seem unfamiliar or unusual, especially in the early stages of the program.

Your involvement is strongly encouraged; however, it is important that the invention ideas, illustrations and descriptions are the student’s own.

INVENTOR RULES

·         You can invent and submit a practical invention and/or a fantasy invention

·         A group of students can work on one invention

·         Computer generated or hand written diagrams and descriptions are acceptable

·         You can improve on a previously publicized and/or patented invention

·         Originality and creativity are emphasized

Inventor Guidance

·         Identify an idea. The better you are at defining your idea, the more likely you will be able to describe it on your poster as an effective improvement, idea or new product. Do you want your invention to do it’s “job” all on its own or along with something else? Will it be a process, product or both?

·         If you’re to come up with something that could be improved or a way things are done now then brainstorm: Can you substitute, make it different, combine ideas, make it better, make it smaller, add to it?

·         Do your research. Find out what makes your invention different or find ways to make it different.

·         Draw your idea. Think about what it might look like and how you might use it. What kind of materials is it made of? What are some names it could be called? Can 1 or many people use it at the same time? Do you need to provide instructions? What are they? How does your invention improve something or an environment of some sort? What are the parts and pieces? Do you use it with something else or on its own?

·         Get Feedback--thoughts and reactions about your invention from others. Does it work (in theory)? Will people like it? Will people buy it?

click here for JUDGING GUIDELINES

click here for F.A.Q