The 4th Grade SEEK Students will be participating this year!!
The Invention Convention is an annual competition held in the spring for
public and private school fourth, fifth, and sixth grade children. The
overall mission is to provide a fun and unique way for children to engage in
divergent thought. The competition requires that the students actually make
their inventions using their own creative imaginations. It is hoped that
the development of such invention will help integrate many of the content
areas taught in the fourth, fifth, and sixth grade curricula.
Children are asked to invent a product from a specific set of conditions in
either category: inventions that are games or inventions that will somehow
make our lives easier...
In the games category, students may invent games that could be entertaining
or challenging for virtually any age group. In the make our lives easier
category, students may invent a device that would somehow make our lives
either more convenient or more comfortable. These inventions might be for
personal use, use around the kitchen or home, or for school use.
CONTEST RULES
The competition is open only to students in fourth, fifth, and sixth grade
classrooms in either public or private schools.
Students may submit entries as individuals or in groups no larger than five.
Entries can be in one of two categories: (a) games or (b) inventions that
would make life easier or more convenient.
An elementary teacher from an individual school may have entries in two
categories per teacher (I.e. a total of two entries per teacher). Decisions
regarding which two entries are chosen per school, will be left for local
teacher/school officials to make in whatever manner they see fit. An
individual student can be entered in only one category.
To enter the competition, classroom teachers must register by completing the
Registration Form that can be found on the last page of the announcement
brochure. There is no registration fee. Each invention entry (not the
actual invention) must be returned to MTSU. The invention entry should be a
written, detailed description of the invention. A picture or sketch of the
invention would be helpful also. The description must:
a) state the category of the invention
b) include the name or title of the invention
c) list all rules and/or directions playing or operating the invention
d) itemize all parts and approximate cost for the invention which is not to
exceed 15.00
NOTE: Each part of the invention must be listed with a price regardless of
whether or not the creator purchased the part or received it free.
Describe the invention: How did you get this idea? How does it work?
What is it used for? How will it make life easier?
All entries will be judged by an independent panel which will select the top
entries in each of the invention categories.
The top entries in each of the invention categories will be notified by
letter. These students or groups of students will be invited to the MTSU
campus to display their inventions, where the top three winners in both of
the invention categories per grade will be honored.
All students or groups of students who enter the contest will receive
certificates.
Additional prizes will be awarded to all those who are invited to MTSU.
Teachers or parents are not allowed to participate in the actual
construction of the invention; however, they may serve as consultants to
students who have questions as they develop their projects.
The dimensions for inventions in each category must not exceed 24” x24”x24”.
There are no restrictions on weight.
There are no restrictions on types of materials which can be used, but
students will be expected to itemize each part of the invention. The total
actual cost of the invention may not exceed $15.00.
