The world round us is stuffed with gadgets that began in another person’s creativeness. From gentle bulbs and airplanes to peanut butter and shampoo, inventors have used new concepts to make the world a greater place. Need to encourage college students to be revolutionary? Introduce them to well-known inventors everybody ought to know, after which encourage them to strive one in all these unimaginable invention concepts for teenagers—or give you one in all their very own!
Tip: Assist youngsters study concerning the design course of. Then strive some easy invention challenges with this information from Oregon State College: Invent It, Construct It.
Plus, click on the button beneath to get a free printable worksheet that helps your college students design their very own innovations.
Get Impressed With Actual-Life Innovations by Children
Children may imagine they’re too younger to invent something significant. Show them fallacious by sharing these inspiring tales of real-life youngsters who made one thing new that the world actually wanted. Then, use these improvements as a springboard to brainstorm extra invention concepts for teenagers to strive.
Popsicles
One of many world’s hottest frozen treats was initially invented by an 11-year-old! Be taught extra about Frank Epperson’s story from NPR.
Invention Thought: Invent a brand new and scrumptious moveable meals merchandise, ideally one which’s wholesome too.
Braille
Braille is a system of raised dots that permit those that are visually impaired to learn with their fingers. This groundbreaking system was the brainchild of a teen! Uncover the story of Louis Braille at Forbes.
Invention Thought: Create a brand new means to assist these with bodily challenges talk higher with others.
Pediatric IV Backpack
When Kylie Simonds was receiving her most cancers remedy, she discovered the big IV she needed to lug round only one extra frustration. To resolve the issue, she invented an IV backpack to make the expertise higher for future youngsters. Examine Kylie’s inspiring story at ABC Information.
Invention Thought: Design an revolutionary product to make issues simpler for teenagers present process any kind of medical remedy.
Alzheimer Alert System
When Kenneth Shinozuka was 15, he needed to discover a technique to hold his grandfather secure in case he wandered off and bought misplaced. His invention, a pressure-activated messaging sock, received him worldwide acclaim. Discover out extra about Kenneth’s story at WebMD.
Invention Thought: Devise a brand new technique to hold folks secure in harmful conditions.
Sizzling Seat
After studying one more story a couple of youngster who died in a sizzling automotive after being forgotten by caregivers, 14-year-old Alissa Chavez determined to do one thing about it. Her invention, Sizzling Seat, notifies mother and father in the event that they stroll away from their youngster in a automotive seat. Right here’s extra about Alissa and her invention from Elevating Good Ladies.
Invention Thought: Devise a product to make the lives of fogeys and youngsters simpler or safer.
Encourage College students To Enter Invention Contests for Children
Assume you’ve give you one thing actually revolutionary? On the lookout for a enjoyable classroom exercise to problem and encourage future inventors? Enter these invention contests for an opportunity to see youngsters’ improvements produced on a wider scale, and even win money and prizes!
Children Invent Stuff
The brains behind this common YouTube channel love creating the concepts of child inventors! They settle for submissions by way of their web site, then select their favourite improvements to construct and have in new movies on their channel.
Previous winners: Periscope hat, drill-powered sneakers, finger forks
Be taught extra: Children Invent Stuff
Thomas Edison Pitch Contest
College students in grades 4 by way of 12 create and pitch invention concepts in quite a lot of classes. They’ve the prospect to win prizes starting from T-shirts and present playing cards to a 3D printer to your faculty. They’ll even ship you a maker equipment stuffed with precious provides that can assist you get began!
Previous winners: Good recycling bin, simple parking app, water-runoff turbine
Be taught extra: Thomas Edison Pitch Contest
Younger Inventor Problem
Join with professionals within the toy and recreation business whenever you develop and pitch a brand new invention for this contest. Winners could earn the prospect to have their design constructed and bought by one of many sponsoring corporations. The competition is open to youngsters ages 6 by way of 18 and requires a pitch video and prototype.
Previous winners: Goo Shoe, Draw Into Crime, Ship of Treasure
Be taught extra: Younger Inventor Problem
Invention Conference
Academics can use the Invention Conference curriculum of their lecture rooms, serving to college students develop initiatives to enter into native, regional, and nationwide competitions. It’s open to youngsters in grades Ok-12, with winners eligible for all types of prizes.
Previous winners: Wrap-N-Go Pencil Holder, Good Mailbox, Manure Mower
Be taught extra: Invention Conference
ExploraVision
This STEM competitors asks entrants to select a expertise they need to enhance, then analysis and submit a undertaking detailing their proposed concepts. The competition has totally different necessities and classes for varied ages, so this one is nice for Ok-12 college students.
Previous winners: synthetic photosynthesis system, magnetic propulsion rocket launcher, mosquito lure
Be taught extra: ExploraVision
Attempt These STEM Problem Invention Concepts for Children
STEM challenges are at all times classroom favorites, however lots of them current actual alternatives for teenagers to give you a intelligent new invention. Begin with these STEM problem invention concepts, then check out our STEM matter pages for much more actions. Additionally encourage college students with these 15 Superior Invention Movies for Children
Make a Rube Goldberg machine
These foolish machines use a sequence of extraordinary steps to perform a single easy job. College students use them to find out about chain reactions, however they’ll additionally encourage creativity in the case of fixing issues. Set a primary job, like ringing a bell, and problem youngsters to give you the wackiest attainable methods to make it occur!
Be taught extra: Rube Goldberg Machine at TinkerLab
Design a smartphone projector
This can be a common classroom STEM undertaking that makes use of a shoebox and magnifying lenses. As soon as youngsters have the essential idea down, encourage them to give you a extra superior model with extra options like zoom, distant management, and so forth.
Be taught extra: Smartphone Projector at TechBuilder
Create a perfect residing house
The Fibonacci sequence seems often in nature—for example in sunflowers, pine cones, seashells, ferns, roses, pineapples, and extra. Problem your college students to take inspiration on this pure design phenomenon as they design a perfect private residing house utilizing primary supplies like cardboard, paper, tape, and glue. Urge them to study extra about totally different sorts of residing areas world wide, and to consider what would make a room, home, or different house extra snug or eco-friendly.
Be taught extra: Fibonacci Design at Nationwide Inventors Corridor of Fame
Craft and indoor composter
Composting retains meals out of landfills and creates higher soil for rising crops. However not everybody has room of their yard for a compost heap. Ask college students to design an indoor composter as a substitute, one that each household can hold of their kitchen.
Be taught extra: Indoor Composter at Full-Time Child
Construct one thing that flies
Be taught concerning the 4 forces concerned within the science of flight, and problem your college students to create a flying object utilizing abnormal classroom supplies.
Be taught extra: Construct One thing That Flies at Nanogirl
Assemble a water filter
Many individuals on the earth lack easy accessibility to wash ingesting water. Problem college students to give you a intelligent water filter, one which’s cheap, efficient, and simple to make use of.
Be taught extra: Water Filtration Problem at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Carry out a microplastics intervention
Microplastics, tiny bits of plastic lower than 5 mm lengthy, will be dangerous to animal life (together with people), particularly after they get into the water provide. Take the Microfiber Innovation Problem, and devise a brand new technique to stop microplastics from inflicting hurt to our planet.
Be taught extra: Microfiber Innovation Problem at microfiberinnovation.org
Brainstorm options for an oil spill cleanup
An oil spill could cause huge environmental harm, each within the ocean and on land. Innovate new, extra environment friendly methods to wash up after an unintended spill, serving to return Earth and its creatures to good well being.
Be taught extra: Oil Spill Problem at Vivify STEM Schooling
Take the Egg Drop Problem
This can be a traditional faculty STEM problem, however it actually does have broader functions. Along with designing a container to guard an egg from a fall, encourage youngsters to take the following step by arising with invention concepts that suggest a real-life goal for his or her container.
Be taught extra: Finest Egg Drop Challenges
Assemble a mechanical hand
Use easy supplies to create a mechanical hand on this kid-favorite STEM problem. Or take this invention concept a step additional and problem youngsters to create a mechanical hand or different synthetic limb that might profit those that’ve misplaced their very own.
Be taught extra: Construct a Robotic Hand at Science Buddies
Construct one thing that floats
Buoyancy is the property that helps objects float. Issues that float properly often have a number of air as a part of their construction. Utilizing abnormal supplies, problem your college students to create one thing distinctive that’s able to floating.
Be taught extra: Construct One thing That Floats at Nanogirl
Create one thing from nothing
The principles for this invention are … there are not any guidelines! It’s the final word freestyle problem. Present quite a lot of common provides, however permit youngsters to make use of different gadgets from across the classroom or home as properly. In the event that they’re having bother getting began, ask them to finish this phrase: “I want I had a _____ that might ______.”
Be taught extra: One thing From Nothing STEM Exercise at Nationwide Inventors Corridor of Fame
“Construct a Higher …” Invention Concepts for Children
Many inventors bought their begin by attempting to enhance on one thing that already existed. Problem youngsters to give you invention concepts that construct higher, simpler variations of a few of these current merchandise:
- Mousetrap
- Moveable shelter (e.g., a tent)
- Squirrel-proof chicken feeder
- Pet care product (e.g., mattress, leash, meals/water dish)
- Pet toy
- Automated toothpaste dispenser
- Alarm clock
- Backpack
- Flashlight
- Beverage container
- Backyard device
- Board recreation
- Academic toy
- Faculty desk and/or chair
- Smartphone app for teenagers
- Toy field/storage
- Transportation mode for teenagers
- Multi-purpose hat
- Procuring cart
- Slip-proof socks
- Silent sneakers
- Cereal-pouring machine
- Glove-drying machine
- Clothes or shoe organizer
Get my free worksheet!
When you liked these invention concepts, take a look at our free-to-save worksheet to finish at residence within the classroom. The worksheet prompts you to work by way of the main points of making your invention.
