INVENTION - LibrarySparks€¦ · work with individual challenges. Finally, you’ll work with your...
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Webquest Introduction You, an inventor? Why not? We use inventions every day, from gadgets to games, from organizing systems to orchestra instruments. And we’ve probably all solved problems in inventive ways. In this webquest, you’ll learn about inventors and inventions of the past. You’ll choose a problem that needs solving, tap your inner inventor, and figure out a solution.You might improve on something that already exists or create something original and new. You’ll combine small group work with individual challenges. Finally, you’ll work with your whole class to appreciate and evaluate each other’s work at an Invention Convention. Get your thinking cap out and your creative juices flowing! Task As a class, you’ll explore the idea of solving practical problems by inventing gadgets or systems based on scientific knowledge. Your Convention Coordinator (teacher) will assign you to a creative team. Your team will research one of the following categories of inventions by completing an online worksheet: • Household Tools and Gadgets • Musical Instruments • Codes and Languages • Toys and Games INVENTION CONVENTION by | Diane Findlay Grades 4–5 March 2011 Web Resources • LibrarySparks •
Transcript of INVENTION - LibrarySparks€¦ · work with individual challenges. Finally, you’ll work with your...
WebquestIntroductionYou, an inventor? Why not? We use inventions every day, from gadgets to games, from organizing systems to orchestra instruments. And we’ve probably all solved problems in inventive ways. In this webquest, you’ll learn about inventors and inventions of the past. You’ll choose a problem that needs solving, tap your inner inventor, and figure out a solution. You might improve on something that already exists or create something original and new. You’ll combine small group work with individual challenges. Finally, you’ll work with your whole class to appreciate and evaluate each other’s work at an Invention Convention. Get your thinking cap out and your creative juices flowing!
TaskAs a class, you’ll explore the idea of solving practical problems by inventing gadgets or systems based on scientific knowledge. Your Convention Coordinator (teacher) will assign you to a creative team. Your team will research one of the following categories of inventions by completing an online worksheet: • Household Tools and Gadgets • Musical Instruments • Codes and Languages• Toys and Games
INVENTIONCONVENTION
by | Diane Findlay
Grades 4–5
March 2011 Web Resources • LibrarySparks • �
Next, each of you will choose a problem that is related to your team’s category, and develop an invention to solve it. Your team will meet to help each other improve your inventions. Finally, each team will display its work as part of a classroom Invention Convention. As inventors, you will evaluate your peers’ work and have a say in choosing the best individual inventions and best team effort.
Process
1. Watch Be An Inventor video together as a class: http://libraries.risd.org/bowlib/special/invention.htm.
2. Get your team assignment.
3. Gather your supplies—paper and pencil for taking notes and remembering things you need to share with your team—and claim a computer workstation near your teammates.
4. Get your mind in an inventive mode by taking the quiz at www.inventivekids.com. Click on the “Are You Inventive?” box. Write your score on your own note paper, to hand in with your other paperwork at the end of the webquest.
5. Click on your team’s invention category on page 3, and complete the research worksheet. Take extra notes to help you remember important details. Not all websites you’ll visit are written for kids, so you might need a dictionary. Read the text around the web links so you know exactly what you’re looking for on each site. Print your worksheet when you’re done.
6. Meet with your teammates. Compare worksheets and share your 4–6 step invention processes with each other. Brainstorm as a group about problems you might solve in your invention category. Each team member will choose 1–2 problems that interest you. Try not to overlap; it’s better if each person works on a different problem.
7. As homework, zero in on a problem to solve. Work through your invention process and come up with your invention. It might help to gather some props and materials and let your hands and eyes explore them to suggest ideas. Create a sketch and notes to present to your team.
8. Meet again with your team to share your invention ideas so far. Suggest improvements for each other’s ideas. Collect a copy of the Cover Sheet form to display with your model at the Invention Convention.
9. At home, make adjustments and create a model of your invention; complete the Cover Sheet to explain your model.
10. Place your model and Cover Sheet in its assigned display area at your Invention Convention with the other inventions in your category.
11. Explore the work of your fellow inventors. Evaluate each invention by placing a tally mark below a number between 1 and 4 on the Voting form you’ll find near it. Your Convention Coordinator will compile the scores and announce the top scores in each category, as well as the team with the highest average scores.
Webquest
� • LibrarySparks • March 2011 Web Resources
Click on your assigned team below to access your research worksheet.
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Youusedozensofinventionsathomeeveryday.Aringingalarmclock.Toastinthetoaster,shoeswithVelcro,the
weatherforecastontheradioortelevision.Thedryerfullofsocceruniforms,gamesonthecomputer,snacksfromthe
refrigerator,latenightreadingthankstoyourbedsidelamp...Yougettheidea.Checkoutthesewebsitestolearn
moreabouttheinventionsthatmakelifeathomeeasier,andpreparetoinventyourownhouseholdgadget.Read
ALL of the text below so you know exactly what you’re looking for on each site.
•Takealookatsomeofthehundredsofhouseholdgadgetsweuseandtakeforgrantedeveryday.First,lookat
someolderinventionsthatpavedthewayformoremodernversionsweusetoday:www.womansday.com/Articles/
Shelter/A-Look-Back-15-Vintage-Household-Ads.html,www.ideafinder.com/history/category/homeitems.htm.Now
forsomenewergadgets:www.kitchendaily.com/2010/01/13/top-10-gadgets-for-kids.Atthisnextsite,quicklylook
atthelistandcountabouthowmanyoftheitemsyouhaveinyourhome:http://christchurchcitylibraries.com/
Kids/Inventions/Inventors.Writetheestimatednumberhere.__________________________________________
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•Thinkofahouseholdinventionineachofthesecategories:
-Kitchengadget
-Simpletoolforfixingthingsorcommunicatingwithfamily
-Bathroomgadget
-Clothinginnovation
Gotowww.invent.org/hall_of_fame/1_1_search.asp.Clickon“ByInvention,”andsearchforyourkitchengadget
alphabetically,ortrywww.factmonster.com/encyclopedia.html.AttheFactMonstersite,enterthekitchengadget
youchoseintheSearchTermsboxandclickonthe“encyclopedia”entry.Ifyouritemdoesn’tappearoneithersite,
chooseadifferentinventionthatdoes.Notedates(approximateorexact)andplacesimportantinthehistoryof
itsdevelopment.Dothesameforeachoftheothercategories.Onyournotepaper,combinetheinformationinto
atimelineshowingthedevelopmentofthefourhouseholditemsyouresearched.Afteryouprintyourworksheet,
attachyourhandwrittentimelinetoit.
•Readaboutahouseholdgadgetinventedbyayoungperson,AlexiaAbernathy,atwww.nmoe.org/gallery/i96.htm.
Clickonboththe“Seephotoandinventiondetails”andthe“Seecomicstripofinventor”links.
InwhatyeardidAlexiainventthisgadget?_________________________________________________________
Whatcompanymanufacturedherinvention?_______________________________________________________
Whatinspiredhertocreatethisproduct?__________________________________________________________
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•Towarmupyourproblem-solvingmuscles,spendsometimeplayingtheTinkerBallgameathttp://invention.
smithsonian.org/centerpieces/iap/playhouse_tinker.html.Didyougettheballintothecup?Drawonyournote
paperthearrangementofitemsthatworksbestforyou.Attachthistoyourprintedworksheetalongwithyour
timelinefromtheearlierstep.
•Formoreinformationaboutinterestingitemsinventedbykids,watchthesevideoclips:http://ellen.warnerbros.
com/2008/12/amazing_kid_inventors_part_one.php,http://ellen.warnerbros.com/2009/03/you_must_see_this_
incredible_k.php.Whichinventiondoyoulikebest?Nameitanddescribewhatitdoes.
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•Findaquotationaboutinventorsorinventingthatyoulikeatthissite:www.kidinventorsday.com/quotes.htm.
Copyitbelow,withthenameofthepersonwhosaidit.Thenexplainwhatitmeans,inyourownwords.
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•Whatprocessdoinventorsusetosolveproblemsandcreatenewproductsorsystems?Howdoyougetfrom
wantingtoinventsomethingtoafinishedinvention?Visitthesesites:http://scifiles.larc.nasa.gov/text/kids/Research_
Rack/tools/invention_process.html,www.just-think-inc.com/columbus/sz_started.html,http://sparklab.si.edu/
downloads/sparklab-inventors-ntbk.pdf(pp.21–23ofnotebook).Basedonwhatyoulearn,developyourown4–6
stepprocess.Writeitbelow.(NOTE:Don’tworryaboutthepatentingormarketingpartsoftheprocess.)
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Justabouteveryonelikesmusic;makingmusichasbeenpartofeveryculturethroughouthistory.Whetheryour
tasteisforrock,country,rap,classical,folk,orballads,musicalinstrumentsarepartofthepackage.Checkoutthese
websitestolearnaboutdifferentkindsofinstruments,musicalinventionsofthepast,andhowyoucanaddyourown
creationtothemusicalmix.Read ALL of the text below so you know exactly what you’re looking for on
each site.
•Visitwww.sfskids.org/templates/instorchframe.asp?pageid=3.Readthroughthefourfamiliesofinstrumentsand
listentoexamplesfromeach.Nameeachfamilyhere,giveanexampleofaninstrumentinthatfamily,anddescribe
howeachfamilyisplayed. _____________________________________________________________________
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•Gotowww.factmonster.com/encyclopedia.html.IntheSearchTermsbox,enterthenameofaninstrumentfrom
thebrassfamilyandclickonthe“encyclopedia”entryatthetopofthelistofresults.Notedates(approximateor
exact)andplacesimportanttothehistoryofitsdevelopment.Dothesameforaninstrumentineachoftheother
threefamilies.Onyournotepaper,combinetheinformationintoatimelineshowingthedevelopmentofthefour
instrumentsyouresearched.Afteryouprintyourworksheet,attachyourhandwrittentimelinetoit.
•Readaboutaninstrumentinventedbyanelementaryschoolstudent,Thomas,andlistentothesounditmakes,at
www.musicinventions.org/winn10/index.html.
WhatinstrumentfamilydoestheZebraFlutebelongto?______________________________________________
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•Spendsometimeinthevirtualinstrumentlabatwww.nyphilkids.org/lab/content.html.Movethemouseover
differentitemsandclickoninstrumentstoreadaboutthemandheartheirsounds.Somehaveinstructionsfor
makingthem,whichmightgiveyouideasforyourowninstrument.Clickontheboysittingatthetableand
experimentwithcreatinganinstrumentfromtheobjectsavailable.Giveyourinstrumentanameandprintyour
work.Attachittoyourprintedworksheet,alongwithyourtimeline.Writeherewhatinstrumentfamilyitbelongs
toanddescribehowyouthinkitmightsound._____________________________________________________
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•Formoreideasofinterestinginstrumentsinventedbykids,checkoutthissite:www.musicinventions.org/winn10/
index.html.Nameyourfavoriteoftheinstrumentsyoufindhere,alongwiththenameofthestudentwhoinvented
itandtheinstrumentfamilyitbelongsto.
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•Findaquotationaboutinventorsorinventingthatyoulikeatthissite:www.kidinventorsday.com/quotes.htm.
Copyitbelow,withthenameofthepersonwhosaidit.Thenexplainwhatitmeans,inyourownwords.
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•Whatprocessdoinventorsusetosolveproblemsandcreatenewproductsorsystems?Howdoyougetfrom
wantingtoinventsomethingtoafinishedinvention?Visitthesesites:http://scifiles.larc.nasa.gov/text/kids/Research_
Rack/tools/invention_process.html,www.just-think-inc.com/columbus/sz_started.html,http://sparklab.si.edu/
downloads/sparklab-inventors-ntbk.pdf(pp.21–23ofnotebook).Basedonwhatyoulearn,developyourown4–6
stepprocess.Writeitbelow.(NOTE:Don’tworryaboutthepatentingormarketingpartsoftheprocess.)
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March 2011 Web Resources • LibrarySparks • �
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Arelanguagesinventions?Mostspokenlanguagesdevelopedsoslowlyandnaturallythatit’shardtothinkofthem
asinventions.Buttherearemanycodesandlanguagesthatweredevelopedbyinventorstomeetspecificneeds.
MaybeyouliketocommunicatewithfriendsusingAmericanSignLanguageorasecretcodeofsomekind.Ifso,
youareusinginventions.ThinkofMorsecode,createdtosendmessagesovertelegraphwires.ThinkofSemaphore,
whichusescoloredflagstosendvisualmessagesbetweenshipsatsea.HowaboutEsperanto,aman-madelanguage
inventedtobeauniversallanguagesopeoplecouldspeaktoanyoneintheworld?TheCherokeeIndiansdidn’thave
theirlanguageinwrittenformuntilSequoyahinventedit.Visitthewebsitesbelowtolearnmoreaboutinvented
codesandlanguages,andgetreadytomakeoneofyourown.Read ALL of the text below so you know
exactly what you’re looking for on each site.
•Readaboutcodesandciphersatwww.cerias.purdue.edu/education/k-12/teaching_resources/lessons_presentations/
cryptology.html(thefirsttwosections)andwww.thunk.com/learn.html.
Whydopeopleusecodesandciphers?
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Whatdoesacryptologistdo?
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Whomightuseasecretcode?
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Gotowww.thunk.com/index.cgi.Writeashortmessageandhavethescramblerencodeitforyou.Printthe
scrambledmessage;thenwritetheunscrambledmessagebelowit.Attachittoyourcompletedworksheetbefore
youhanditin.
•Somelanguagesusevisualsignalsbasedonwordsorletterstosendmessages.Visitthesesitesandanswerthe
questionsbelow:www.anbg.gov.au/flags/semaphore.html,http://inter.scoutnet.org/semaphore,www.battleshipnc.
com/kids/games/morse/index.php,http://pbskids.org/arthur/print/signdesign,www.lessontutor.com/eesASLsimple.
html
Whichoftheselanguagescanbeusedwithsoundsignalsaswellasvisualsignals?
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Whichusesvisualsymbolsforwholewords,aswellasspellingletterbyletter?
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UsethetranslatoroneithertheSemaphoresiteortheMorsecodesitetoseeyournameinthatlanguage.Printthe
page.Afteryouprintyourcompletedworksheet,attachyourtranslatednametoit.
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•WhatisEsperanto?Whoinventedit,andwhy?www.pitara.com/discover/5wh/online.asp?story=89
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•LearnaboutaspeciallanguageinventedbyaboynamedLouisBrailleatwww.afb.org/braillebug/louis_braille_bio.
asp.LookataportraitofBrailleasanadultatwww.nbp.org/ic/nbp/braille/lb-portrait.html.
WhatcountrydidLouislivein?_________________________________________________________________
Howdidhebecomeblind?_____________________________________________________________________
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WhatwasthecodeLouisbasedhissystemoncalled?________________________________________________
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HowoldwasLouiswhenhepublishedthefirstbookinBraille?________________________________________
ArethereBraillebooksinyourlibrary?Ifso,getoneandtouchthecodewithyourfingers.
•Learnaboutdifferentkindsofcodesandlanguagesatwww.scouting.org.za/codes.Clickonthecodeslistedatthe
leftsideofthepagetoseehowtheywork.Writethenameofyourschoolbelow,inoneofthecodes,andtellwhich
codetypeitis.Ifyouwanttouseacodebasedonsymbolsyoucan’ttype,handwriteyourschoolnameonyour
notepaperandhanditinwithyourprintedworksheet.______________________________________________
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•Findaquotationaboutinventorsorinventingthatyoulikeatthissite:www.kidinventorsday.com/quotes.htm.
Copyitbelow,withthenameofthepersonwhosaidit.Thenexplainwhatitmeans,inyourownwords.
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•Whatprocessdoinventorsusetosolveproblemsandcreatenewproductsorsystems?Howdoyougetfrom
wantingtoinventsomethingtoafinishedinvention?Visitthesesites:http://scifiles.larc.nasa.gov/text/kids/Research_
Rack/tools/invention_process.html,www.just-think-inc.com/columbus/sz_started.html,http://sparklab.si.edu/
downloads/sparklab-inventors-ntbk.pdf(pp.21–23ofnotebook).Basedonwhatyoulearn,developyourown4–6
stepprocess.Writeitbelow.(NOTE:Don’tworryaboutthepatentingormarketingpartsoftheprocess.)
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What’syourfavoritetoyorgame?Didyoueverstoptowonderhowitcametobe?Someoneinventedit!Whether
it’sadolloractionfigure,aboardgameorvideogame,buildingblocksoranoutsidesport,someonesawaneedand
figuredoutjusttherightcombinationofmaterials,design,rules,orwhateverelsewasneededtomakeyouloveit.
Visitthesewebsitestolearnaboutinventingdifferentkindsoftoysandgames,andstartthinkingaboutwhatyou’ll
inventtoaddtothefun.Read ALL of the text below so you know exactly what you’re looking for on
each site.
•Whatkindsofgamesarethere?Getanideaofthepossibilitiesbyvisitthissite:www.chitag.com/dl/YIC_10_Packet.
pdf.Scrolldowntopage6andlookatthecategoriesofgamesintheright-handcolumn.Listfourkindsofgames
youenjoy,fromthatcolumn.Thenvisithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Toys_by_typeanddothesamefor
categoriesoftoys._____________________________________________________________________________
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•Visitwww.ehow.co.uk/list_6302420_ideas-kids_-inventions-patents.htmlandreadthesectiononGames.Then
checkoutthissite:http://blog.scholastic.com/ink_splot_26/2009/11/how-problems-can-lead-to-awesome-
inventions.html.Fromthesuggestionsthere,writedownfourideasforgamesortoysyoucouldinvent.
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•Readaboutatoyinventedbyayoungperson,AustinMeggitt,athttp://nmoe.org/gallery/i99.htm.Clickonboththe
“Seephotoandinventiondetails”andthe“Seecomicstripofinventor”links.
HowoldwasAustinwhenheinventedtheBattieCaddy?_____________________________________________
WhatTVchannelsfeaturedhisinvention?_________________________________________________________
Whatinspiredhimtocreatethisproduct?_________________________________________________________
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•Formoreideasofinterestingtoysandgamesandhowtheywereinvented,visitwww.ideafinder.com/history/
category/toys.htmandclickonthreeorfourinventions.Chooseone,andinthespaceprovidebelow,brieflywrite
whatitis,whoinventedit,when,andoneinterestingfactaboutitshistory.
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•Findaquotationaboutinventorsorinventingthatyoulikeatthissite:www.kidinventorsday.com/quotes.htm.
Copyitbelow,withthenameofthepersonwhosaidit.Thenexplainwhatitmeans,inyourownwords.
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•Whatprocessdoinventorsusetosolveproblemsandcreatenewproductsorsystems?Howdoyougetfrom
wantingtoinventsomethingtoafinishedinvention?Visitthesesites:http://scifiles.larc.nasa.gov/text/kids/Research_
Rack/tools/invention_process.html,www.just-think-inc.com/columbus/sz_started.html,http://sparklab.si.edu/
downloads/sparklab-inventors-ntbk.pdf(pp.21–23ofnotebook).Basedonwhatyoulearn,developyourown4–6
stepprocess.Writeitbelow.(NOTE:Don’tworryaboutthepatentingormarketingpartsoftheprocess.)
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Inventor’sName: ______________________________________________________________________________
InventionCategory:____________________________________________________________________________
Invention’sName: _____________________________________________________________________________
Whatproblemorchallengedoesyourinventionsolve?
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Whatdoesitdo?
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Howdoesitwork?Howdoyouuseit?
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Whatotherinventionsinspiredyouorhelpedyoudevelopyourinvention?Namethemand,ifpossible,nametheinventorswhocreatedthemandtellwhentheywereinvented.
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ConclusionCongratulations! You’re officially an inventor. Now that you’ve experienced the creative pro-cess, the sky’s the limit! Who knows what you’ll think up to make life easier for yourself and others? Go for it!
Here are some books about inventions and inventors that you might enjoy.
Fiction
• Back in Time with Thomas Edison: Qwerty Stevens Adventures by Dan Gutman. Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, 2007.
• Centerburg Tales by Robert McCloskey. Puffin, 1977.
• The Homework Machine by Dan Gutman. Simon & Schuster, 2006.
• Night of the New Magicians by Mary Pope Osborne. Random House Books for Young Readers, 2007.
• The Secret Science Alliance and the Copycat Crook by Eleanor Davis. Bloomsbury USA Children’s Books, 2009.
• The Toothpaste Millionaire by Jean Merrill. Sandpiper, 2006.
Nonfiction
• 10 Inventors Who Changed the World by Clive Gifford. Kingfisher, 2009.
• Build a Better Mousetrap: Make Classic Inventions, Discover Your Problem-Solving Genius, and Take the Inventor’s Challenge by Ruth Kassinger. Wiley, 2002.
• Incredible Inventions: Poems selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins. Greenwillow Books, 2009.
• The Kids’ Invention Book by Arlene Erlbach. Lerner Publications, 1999.
• Mistakes that Worked by Charlotte Foltz Jones. Doubleday, 1994.
• So You Want to Be an Inventor? by Judith S. George, illustrated by David Small. Puffin Books, 2005.
Nonprint
• Bill Nye the Science Guy: Inventions directed by Michael Gross and Darrell Suto. Disney Educational Productions, 2004 (Interactive DVD).
• Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. Sony Pictures, 2010 (Feature Film DVD).
Webquest
�� • LibrarySparks • March 2011 Web Resources
JUDGE THIS INVENTION ON THE CRITERIA BELOW. PLACE A TALLY MARK NEXT TO
THE APPROPRIATE NUMBER. (#� means the least of that quality and #� the most)
USEFULLEAST USEFUL <----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------->MOST USEFUL
� � � �
EASY TO USEHARD TO USE <--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------->EASY TO USE
� � � �
CREATIVELEAST CREATIVE <---------------------------------------------------------------------------------->MOST CREATIVE
� � � �
MARKETABLE (I WOULD BUY THIS)LEAST MARKETABLE <---------------------------------------------------------------------->MOST MARKETABLE
� � � �
March 2011 Web Resources • LibrarySparks • ��
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Yourgradewillbebasedonyourwrittenwork(onlineresearchworksheet,attachments,andInventionCoverSheet),teamwork,andyourinvention.
Excellent4
Good3
Acceptable2
Incomplete1
Online research—Worksheet and attachments
Worksheet complete and very accurate, all attachments present, shows excellent effort and interest
Worksheet complete and accurate, all attachments present, shows good effort and interest
Worksheet complete and mostly accurate, most attachments present, shows some effort and interest
Worksheet incomplete or inaccurate, attachments missing, shows little effort or interest
Teamwork Frequently shares useful ideas in a very encouraging manner, listens courteously
Sometimes shares useful ideas in an encouraging manner, listens courteously
Occasionally shares ideas in a fairly positive manner, listens fairly courteously
Rarely shares useful ideas, shows little positive attitude or courtesy
Invention Invention fulfills purpose very effectively and creatively
Invention fulfills purpose effectively and creatively
Invention fulfills purpose somewhat effectively, shows some original thinking
Invention does not fulfill purpose, shows little original thinking
Invention Covert Sheet
Cover Sheet complete, very clearly explains invention, shows excellent effort and interest
Cover Sheet complete, clearly explains invention, shows good effort and interest
Cover Sheet mostly complete, explains invention farily clearly, shows some effort and interest
Cover Sheet incomplete, does not explain invention clearly, shows little effort or interest
Invention—Classmate evaluation
Average classmate scores 3.5 or above
Average classmate scores 2.5–3.5
Average classmate scores 1.5–2.5
Average classmate scores below 1.5
