Third Graders Meet the Challenge of Invention Convention

AE/MS third grader Dustin Hedderig poses with his Talking Dog Harness 2,000, an invention that lets you talk to your dog from a distance. Caption: Kasey Schoch. Photo: Haley Peters

Invention Convention is a very challenging and fun activity. The kids in this convention work very hard to create inventions. Invention

AE/MS third grader Joe Booth shows off his Zambeazy, a handheld zamboni that doesn’t require a hose or wire. Caption: Kasey Schoch. Photo: Haley Peters

Convention is something third graders work on towards the end of the school year. We have to problem solve and come up with inventions.

This year, the third graders present their inventions to second and fourth graders and the judges. The judges rate the inventions. For each class, the two inventions that the judges like the most win. This year, the two winners get a $5 gift card to Naughty Nellie’s. Students get rated for our presentation, the problem we’re solving, and how it helps the world.

Photo 3: AE/MS Third Grader Adalyn Tremblay shows off her Safety Sensor 3,000 — a motion sensor that senses motion from far away and keeps people safe from cars. Caption: Kasey Schoch. Photo: Haley Peters

Invention Convention is something that is good for third grade brains — and in fact, all brains. It also encourages kids to build and create. And guess what? Those kids were us!

Coming up with ideas and building inventions was challenging. The first thing we did was interview people to help us come up with ideas for our inventions. Once we decided what to do, it was time to get going.

AE/MS third grader Ava Strahan-Howe shows off her Disabled Color Helper, a tool that allows people with arthritis or other disabilities to continue making art. Caption: Kasey Schoch. Photo: Haley Peters

Our next step was to get materials. Then it was time for building. Building the inventions was stressful and exciting. We had to learn how to solve problems and be creative.

When the day came for the Invention Convention, it was stressful and we felt like we were going to vomit! It was scary at first, but when we got outside with the judges, we felt better. We had students in fourth, second, and eighth grade come to the Invention Convention, and we were all nervous but excited.

It was fun to present. However, the most important thing is that people stepped out of their comfort zone and did something they wouldn’t have done before. It is great to accomplish something big and feel good about it in the end.