Dear Parents,
This year our school will be participating in a special kind of science fair called the Invention Convention. It is designed to promote your child's problem-solving and creative-thinking skills. Your child will be following a step-by-step process to invent a new product or develop a new method for doing something. The project will be worked on and developed in all subject areas.
We will begin our preparation for the Invention Convention by having the students learn about inventors and their inventions. By doing so, we hope the students will gain an appreciation for the invention process and thus be better prepared to create their own inventions. The first step in the actual invention process will be finding an idea for an invention. Your child has been encouraged to find a problem that needs to be solved. He or she may ask if you have a need for something that will help you solve a problem. Your interest and encouragement at this stage will help to make the invention process a fun learning experience for your child.
Once your child has settled on an idea and researched it to make sure that the idea has not been used before an “Intent to Invent” form will be completed in class and brought home for your signature. Your child can then begin the planning stage. Time will be set aside each day in school for developing and completing the cross-curricular assignments.
As your child begins the actual process of inventing, your continued interest and encouragement will be helpful. Discuss the progress he or she is making and any problems that are encountered. Remind your child that although inventors often experience failure along the way, they remain persistent and keep trying and thinking of new ideas to solve a problem.
The Invention Convention will be held at Brecksville-Broadview Hts. Middle School on the evening of Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. You are invited to attend the event. Each student's entry will be judged as will the student's knowledge of his or her invention. We will be asking you to invest in the inventions with “votes” which will be provided by the school. More information will be provided with your “investment options” at a later date.
We know your child will enjoy and benefit from this experience in scientific problem solving. Although we want you to encourage your child in this inventive effort, we ask you not to become “overly involved” in your child's project. Your support and cooperation are greatly appreciated. We hope to see you at Invention Convention.
