The Invention Challenge
Apply your inventing skills to your own lives. Use the ideas below to help identify a need and then do something about it by devising an original solution.
Find Problems to Solve
Keep your eyes open for problems. You don't need to look far. You can find opportunities to make improvements in your:
- community (animal shelters, grocery stores, shopping malls, recycling center, parks, etc.).
- school (lunch room, auditorium, playground, classroom, lockers, etc.).
- home (backyard, garage, bathroom, mailbox, kitchen, etc.).
- favorite activities (sports, music, reading, etc.).
Brainstorm and Design
Choose one of the problems and brainstorm solutions. To better understand the problem, talk to the people affected by it.
Build
- List the materials you'll need.
- Figure out substitutes for things that are unavailable or too expensive.
- Find someone to answer your questions.
Test, Evaluate, and Redesign
- Run tests to perfect your invention and to tell you when you've succeeded.
- Ask people who will be using your invention to try it.
Share Your Solution
- Use the Internet to find out how others have solved the problem.
- Enter your invention in an invention contest.
