GLEN HEAD SCHOOL FIRST ANNUAL INVENTION CONVENTION

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On February 25th, Glen Head School held its first annual GHS Invention Convention. Over 100 students in grades K-5 presented approximately 55 original inventions and games. Children, families and friends were invited to participate and play, then the students selected which ones would be considered for indoor play alternatives!
To help solve a problem that “indoor play was not fun”, Glen Head School (GHS) Principal Lori Nimmo challenged her entire student-body to develop new, different, or better ideas that could be considered for use during indoor playtime. As part of the educational S.T.E.A.M. (Science,Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) challenge, she asked her students whether they would commit to solving the” indoor play problem” as aninventor or innovator to help make a difference in the lives of others. Not surprisingly, her students were up to the challenge and showcased their inventions during the first GHS Invention Convention.
To help prepare her K-5 students for the S.T.E.A.M. challenge, Principal Nimmo explained that an inventor was someone who creates something new, while an innovator is someone who finds a better way of doing something. She asked them to make the following GHS Invention Convention commitment:
  • Identify one specific problem with indoor play
  • Work by yourself or with others to bring your idea to life
  • Brainstorm a variety of ideas to possibly solve this problem
  • Select one idea to plan, create, test out, and revise
  • Build a prototype or model
  • Test your prototype for the first time and make observations
  • Make revisions to improve upon your idea (then conduct other tests)
  • Create a finished product and make presentation
  • Allow GHS to implement your ideas
To get started, the Glen Head students had to complete a registration packet and attend a design workshop on January 8th. Formal proposals needed to be submitted by January 22nd in preparation for the final GHS Invention Convention on February 25th. Students initially met with an adult coach as they began to select ideas to consider. Prior to final presentations, students met with a small group of students for peer feedback, in time to make last minute revisions. Some ideas and games submitted included Roll-A-Word, Rocket Toss, Mandarin Hopscotch, Marble Champ, Flick-It, Drawing off the Top of the Head, Wheel of Fun, Neon Drawing Board, Birthday Bash Ball Tossing Game, Viking Mazeball PinBall Game, Magnet Run and Air Racers.
Principal Nimmo said, “I am very proud of the way they used interdisciplinary learning in all of the important areas of S.T.E.A.M. to create new, exciting, and fun indoor play ideas, games, and inventions. I have assisted them throughout the design process along with their peers as they initiated, built, and fine-tuned their presentations. It was an incredible night on February 25th as all of the wonderful inventions were exhibited and chosen as new indoor playtime alternatives for Glen Head School. The following were selected as the most popular ones Drawing off the Top of the Head, Wheel of Fun, and Neon Drawing Board. The other highly rated ones were Viking Mazeball, Rocket Toss, School Shot, Invasion of the Galaxy Game, and Flick It.”

Principal Nimmo concluded by saying, “This challenge not only exemplified my students’ knowledge and skills of S.T.E.A.M., but also demonstrated many aspects of our North Shore School District’s Shared Values Outcomes (SVO) initiative that goes beyond everyday testing and test prep. During the process, my students engaged in creativity, brainstorming, effective communication, inquiry, critical thinking, independent learning, and collaboration. In addition, they demonstrated respect for each other’s ideas and differences, advocacy for their ideas and inventions, and a deeper, more meaningful understanding of the subject matter.”

Article by Shelly Newman with direction from Principal Lori Nimmo 
Photos by Shelly Newman