Invention Convention

Invention Convention

Invention Convention

Fifth Grade Students at the Eleanor Lemaire Elementary School recently participated in a different kind of science fair called Invention Convention. The unit of study took about five weeks and used skills from the entire curriculum. Students took surveys, researched established products, designed display boards, wrote a marketing plan, presented their inventions to judges, and had to create a working model of their idea.

Upon completion of their invention, students competed for cash prizes, which were graded on creativity, originality, complexity, practicality, contribution to society, oral presentation and the effectiveness of their display boards. Judges for the event were Bill Cox (BMHS science teacher), Michael Smith (Newmont representative), Anna Penola (school board member), and Drue Domagala (BMJH student and former Invention Conventioneer). Prizes were awarded at an evening exhibition on May 15.

Ashlynn Newkirk won First Place Overall Best Invention with "The Ashy Pashy Cutting Board," a cutting board with a built-in strainer, scale and bowl. Second place went to Brooke Ripley for a nifty headband containing a zippered pocket called "The Band Buddy." Kennedy Soule received a third place prize for her "TAC on the Go - Tent A/C" invention, which cleverly allows portable air-conditioning in a tent.

Other winners were Tyson Dorris' "BBP," a combination BBQ and cooler (Best Outdoor Invention), Aaron Cardinal's "VRUUM," a vacuum and dustpan combo (Best Indoor Invention), Declan McClary's "PDOS," a desk organizer (Most Marketable), Anna Cochran's "JuJu Chair," a safety chair for children with disabilities (Most Beneficial to Humanity), Adriana Pacheco-Robles's "Ding-A-Ling Lunch Box Alarm" (Most Technologically Advanced), Shayna Seales' "All Around Boot Scrubber" (Male Choice), Jayce Pullams' "The Purse Light" (Female Choice), and Rachel Updike's "The Green Safety Backpack" (Best Display Board).

Honorable Mentions went to Destiny Villanueva, Stormy Johansen, Jackeline La Riva, Emma Lemaire, Alan Martinez, Lyle Whitten,

Grace Cahill, Jordan Gonzalez, Alicia Murry and Triston Price.

ELES and the fifth grade would like to extend gratitude to Newmont for its generous donation, the community for continuing to support the cookie dough and pizza fundraisers, and the parents for their assistance in this at-home project.[[In-content Ad]]