"I NEED an IDEA!!!"

Step One: Getting Started

• Talk with your child about the special science event happening this year:  The Invention Convention
•  Discuss inventions with your child that are familiar, such as cars, appliances, tools, and games, or toys.
• Ask: How did people see in the dark before there were candles? Did people always use cars to go from one place to another? Did people always have television to watch? Did people always have computers? For each invention you discuss, have your child offer reasons for what prompted the inventor to create his or her invention.

·        Let your child realize that not every invention is a product. A process or better way of doing something can also be invented.

·        Point out that new inventions come from people looking for a new and better way of doing something.

·        Ask your child to name changes they would like to make.

·        Look around your house, outside, or in places of business for problems to solve

·        Think of fun, creative, and SIMPLE ways to solve these problems

·        Talk to others about problems they’ve encountered

·        Think of several ideas and then narrow it down to the one that is most feasible

Congratulations! 

You’ve completed the first step to becoming an inventor:

Developing your idea!

Look again on the Professor Pizzazz website in March for the Steps for Research and Development