Ms. W & Ms. W's Invention Convention 2013: February 2013

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Makers days at the Tech Museum of Innovation

Hello families of future inventors!

The Tech Museum of Innovation features a program called Open Make @ The Tech. This program highlights the tools, techniques, and ingenuity of local makers. Here are some examples of the monthly offerings:

Open Make: wearable tech, Saturday, March 16th.

Open Make: music, Saturday, Saturday, April 13th.

Schedule of open maker days:

10:0o-12:00 maker led activities

12:00-12:30 break/lunch (I'd advise bringing a lunch/snacks)

12:30-1:30- meet the makers

They have a really fun and educational gift shop. My son gets his space suits there, he outgrew the first one so we went back and got a larger one for him, he wore the space suit for Halloween.

Information:

The Tech Museum of Innovation

open daily, from 10:00AM-5:00PM

201 South Market Street

San Jose, CA 95113

(408) 294-8324

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Brain Awareness Day at Chabot Space & Science

Saturday, March 2nd is Brain Awareness Day at the Chabot Space and Science Center in Oakland. I wish I could take my son but he has two birthday parties that day!

I've been to a brain awareness day at another museum and it was fascinating!

Information:

Brain Awareness Day

Saturday, March 2nd

1PM- 5PM

Chabot Space and Science Center

10000 Skyline Blvd.

Oakland,CA 94619

(510) 336-7373

www.chabotspace.org

Monday, February 25, 2013

California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, CA

My son and I have been going to the California Academy of Sciences since he was really little. It is a really fun place to take out of town visitors, and to go with grandparents. There is a delicious cafeteria in the museum with yummy food. During the holidays they had reindeer and snow, with their annual exhibit, "Tis the Season for Science." My son's favorite part of the museum is the aquarium.

I highly recommend this museum for a family field trip for the whole family!

California Academy of Sciences
55 Music Concourse Drive
San Francisco, CA 94118
Telephone: 415-379-8000
800-794-7576
special events website- calacademy.org/events

Sunday, February 24, 2013

Chabot Space and Science Center

The Chabot Space and Science Center is a fun and educational place to go on a family field trip. They even have special nights where you can look through their giant telescopes (I haven't done that yet, but want to!) My son takes preschool science classes there on most Tuesdays and he loves it! They also have a cafeteria, if you want to grab a snack or lunch. Please let me know if you visit the Chabot Space and Science Center, and how you like it!

Sunday, February 17, 2013

Second Drafts of Student Inventions Are Here

Our students are continuing to refine their inventions in anticipation of the upcoming Science Night, and our future Invention Convention. The revised drafts are posted here, along with all-new pictures, sketches, and diagrams.

AO: Glowing Glass Table

Inventions can be many things. Me and my friend would make a glow up glass table.

For the science fair, I would bring in my lego truck. I can make lots of things out of random stuff. One of them would be a bag.

JT: Robot Football Player

Everybody would drink chocolate water. Women, men, and children.

Then I would make a robot 49er player that plays football with me. Then play against my brother so I can crush my brother.

V: Football Helmet

Inventions can be many things. I thought of an invention I call the football helmet. It tells you what to do. Like if you are in a game you use it to help you. You can turn it from defense to offense. And you can turn it off and on. I can't wait to make this invention.

H: Duct Tape Game

Inventions can be many things. I love duct tape and games so I made a duct tape game. I made it in one day. It had 6 colors, now it has 10 colors. I have over 30 colors. It would be made all out of duct tape.

MMe: Cat-A-Polt

I am going to make a cat-a-polt. I am going to make it with my BFF. I am going to see if the lighter the thing the farther it goes or the heavier the thing the farther it goes. Down below is a blueprint that is labeled.

OS: Homework Machine

My invention does everything for me. It would get me $1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,001. It would do my homework. Do my spelling. And my math.

IEH: Scratch Your Back Machine

Inventions can be many things. My invention would be called the Scratch Your Back machine. It would scratch your back for you. It could even massage you. And you just press a button to make it scratch your back or massage you.

BA: Animal Hotel

Inventions can be many things. I am going to invent an animal hotel. Cats and dogs are going to be on separate floors. There is going to be a dinner restaurant. There will be a lot more than just that. My pet hotel will be huge. It is a kennel, rescue center, and adoption center. It will be the best time building the toy model.

MP: Lemon-Powered Clock, Perfume, or Volcano?

My invention is going to be a lemon powered clock or a perfume. If I made a lemon poewred clock, lemons would make the clock turn on without any electricity.

If I made perfume I would get good smelling lip gloss and pour it all out in a blender and turn on the blender until the lip gloss turns into liquid.

Maybe I can make a volcano.

Step 1: First take the baking soda and put three scoops of baking soda in the flask.

Step 2: Pour a couple of drops of red dye into the vinegar.

Step 3: Put a couple of drops of dish soap in the flask.

Step 4: Put the flask on the cake pan. Pour the vinegar mixed with red dye in the flask to make the volcano erupt.

I would make a volcano with things you can get from your kitchen. You need dish soap, a cake pan, a flask, baking soda, a spoon, vinegar, and red dye.

LR: Talking Pet

My invention is a pet that talks. It is cute. There are lots of kinds. It talks every language.

There are [five] kinds of pets. There are horses, dogs, goats, guinea pigs, and hamsters! The horses are black, white, brownish, and redish. The dogs are white, brown, and black. The goats are white, black, and brown. And horses that are white and gray. The goats are white and black and brown and white. Dogs that are German shepherds and bishons. The guinea pigs and hamsters are the same, they are white and carmel color.

MM: Ice Cream Spaghetti

My invention is ice cream spaghetti. You can change the ice cream flavor from chocolate to vanilla. It sounds so good. When I'm done making my ice cream spaghetti I will try it for the first time.

MB: Pencil Holder with Clip

My invention is that I am going to make a pencil holder that can hook on a desk or any table. I am so excited to make my invention. I got the idea from my dad.

SG: Hair Pony-Clipo

I'm going to make a hair pony-clip. It looks like this. I'm almost done with it. I have to use hot glue, heart clips, and a hair band.

MQ: Interesting Creation

Me and Z are doing a little tube thing that looks like this. Can you protect it for me and Z so we know people can't steal it?

Z and I will cross our fingers that it will work. I really hope it works for our class to see it. Me and Z are going to work hard on it so we can try and make it work.

AM: Heated Driveway

It might take almost a month to make. I might need tons of dirt and it needs a heater. It needs crushed ice and the colors black, green, brown, and paint. I might need a bit of help.

ZM: Exciting Creation

Inventions can be exciting. I think that M and I are doing a little tube thing that looks like this. Can you protect it for me and M so people can't steal it?

It's going to be a great invention. I just know it. Hopefully it will be successful. I can't wait until May. I am going to use liquids and solids. Solids for the outer part and liquids for the inside. Flip the page for a picture.

KC: Translating Dog Collar

Inventions can be many things.

I will invent a dog collar that can talk for the dog. The collar can speak five languages for you. It can speak English, Japanese, Spanish, and Italian. The collar can come in all of your favorite colors. I can't wait to spread it.

BW: Coin Power

I can't wait to do the invention convention. I'm going to find a way to make power with coins.

REH: Condapoo

Condapoo is used for people and dogs. Condapoo makes your hair all sudzy and smooth. You can wash your hair with condapoo. There are different flavors. It gets away lice.

DB: Reallyyyy Fast Shoes (and Other Inventions)

I like to make shoes that make you run reallyyyyyyyyyy fast and will make you jump superrrrrrrr high.

I will like to make an xbox that can download every game.

I will like to make a book that has a body.

I will like to make a game.

OJ: Car for Kids

I would invent a car for kids. They would make little roads for the cars. It would have only a wheel so its very simple. They would cost $100. They would be sold at car stores. Parents would like them so they wouldn't have to drive their kids. You would have to have a kid license. I can't wait to make this invention!

SC: Super Pocket Knife

If I could make an invention it would be a pocket knife that has like nine or ten things in it. I will sell it for $5,000. Rich people can probably get like two or three. It will have a t.v., an xbox, and a phone, ice cream, pizza, chips, soda, and water, 3-Ds, and a clock and one extra thing ... MONEY!!!

Sunday, February 10, 2013

Invention Convention 2013!

Welcome to the blog for Invention Convention 2013! After a lot of brainstorming and discussion, our amazing inventors have conceived all sorts of new inventions. Some are serious. Others are intended to be funny and silly. All of them get us to think about important questions like, "What is an invention? What does it mean to invent something?" Our inventors have written about their inventions, and we will blog about them here!

We can do a few things on this blog:

First, we will share our inventions here.

Second, we can share comments about our inventions on the blog. Anyone can make comments, so long as they follow a few rules (which we will list in a later blog post).

Third, we will discuss the upcoming 2013 Science Fair. We will also share resources that you can use in creating a Science Fair project if you would like to do that.

Fourth, we will share lots of resources and ideas about science and invention.

We look forward to having you spend time with us here on our blog!

2013 School Science Night!

The 2013 Science Night is coming up on Thursday Feb. 21st! Everyone is invited to attend. The Science Night is NOT a competition. It will be great fun for everyone. Visit the school's web page for details about the Science Night. A few presenters will be selected to participate in the District Science Fair, which is on March 8th.

If you want to participate in the Science Night with a project, Tuesday, February 19th is the due date for submitting an entry form! Please give your entry form to the teacher on or before February 19th!

Students create their projects using the scientific method. The school's website includes a link discussing the scientific method, and providing a check-list that will be helpful when creating a project. The main web page for the Science Fair includes a diagram illustrating how to display the science fair project.

Science Resources

A number of parents have asked us about hands-on resources for use in teaching science. You can find resources in a number of different places in the Bay Area and on the internet.

One of my favorite places to visit locally for teaching resources, including science, is the Lakeshore Learning Store. Lakeshore Learning Store has a location in Walnut Creek at:

1929 Mt. Diablo Blvd.

Walnut Creek, CA 94596

925-944-1495
Fax 925-944-1585

Resources for use in preparing science projects for the upcoming Science Fair, or for every-day use, can take all sorts of forms. Here are a few examples:

Lakeshore Learning Stores (and stores like it) carry science title cards and three-sided displays for use in displaying Science Fair projects.

Places like Lakeshore Learning Store also carry a range of science kits and other resources. For example:

The Lakeshore Volcano Kit includes everything you need to build a realistic "volcano" and to make it erupt. The kit elaborates on the traditional "volcano" using vinegar, red food coloring, and baking soda, and also includes materials for building the volcano with paper mache.

The Learning Resources Primary Science Lab Set is a great first lab set. It has twelve pieces of equipment -- three test tubes with test tube holders, a beaker, a measuring cup, a dropper, etc. The kit includes ten cards describing easy experiments.

"Science Wiz" has a series of science kit boxes that focus on a range of different topics including "Inventions," "Electricity," and "Magnetism." The kits include books, which describe the topic and step through interesting experiments. They also have kits for building circuits and various simple machines. According to sciencewiz.com, hundreds of testers from science museums and schools around the San Francisco Bay Area helped refine and polish the content of these kits.

"Pop Bottle Science," which comes in a bottle-shaped container, includes 79 different experiments.

Dunecraft "Speedy Snow" allows kids to make realistic-appearing "snow."

"Gobbledy Goop" is a small kit for kids to make multi-colored slime using a simple chemical reaction.

Resource books might include "Inventions" by Glen Murphy (published by Simon & Schuster), and "Science Projects, Grades 3-4," published by Harcourt, which includes 70 science projects.

Other sources for great resources include the science museums across the Bay Area -- from Chabot Space and Science Center in Oakland and Lawrence Hall of Science in Berkeley to the Bay Area Discovery Museum in Sausalito and the Children's Discovery Museum in San Jose, to the Academy of Science in San Francisco (the Exploratorium in San Francisco is currently closed because it is moving to Pier 15, and will reopen in late April), we are lucky to have a lot of different sources for science-related activities for young scientists.

The Inventors Present Their Inventions!

On February 1, after lots of hard work and thought, students put pen to paper and wrote down their fantastic ideas for their inventions. We've entered each of their ideas as blog posts for you to enjoy. We will supplement the blog posts with drawings, diagrams, pictures of models, and links later in the year.

Rules for Commenting on Inventions

We have two simple rules for commenting on our Invention Convention blog.

1 - We are using students' initials for privacy. Please just use initials. Do not include a student's name in the comments. Parents, guardians, and other visitors can comment using their first name and an initial.

2 - Remember: our students put a lot of time, thought, and effort into conceiving their inventions. Please keep comments positive!