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8 - PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, May 11, 1999 "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" Young inventors strut their stu By Sally Cooke ort Perry Star Young inventors at Cartwright Central Public School had a chance to show off their genius when an Invention Convention was held in the school gym. A wide range of items from the fertile minds of 11 and 12-year-olds made a public debut last month to the amazement of fel- low students, and the relief of their parents. Displays ranged from games to recipes to innov- ative approaches to cook- ing, moose calling and even a deluxe pooper- scooper. The convention was the brainchild of Grade 6 teachers Mary-Anne Deanike and Michelle Rohrer. "The students worked on it for two months," said Ms. Deanike. "There was a real parent involve- ment. We pride ourselves in the parents being involved, but the kids are in charge. Dad or mum can help, say if Dad has to show the child how to use a jigsaw. The kids are learning how to do some- thing." The convention involved five steps for the students. The first step was learning about inventors. The kids learned to keep an open and curious mind, to gather as much information as they can before they invent, and not to give up. The second step was to find an idea. The teachers suggested asking other people if there was any- thing they needed. Students were also encouraged to brainstorm for creative concepts, either alone or with oth- ers. They were then required to research and plan the idea, and encour- aged to change unwork- able plans. Developing the inven- tion and discovering if it works was the fourth step. Teachers encour- aged their students to keep going, and not be discouraged by small set- backs. Finally, the children had to develop displays for their inventions. James Shaw didn't only invent the scoop-a- poop, he made a dynamic sales person. James actively engaged passers- by to watch his demon- stration of the tool... luck- ily, without the real thing attached. oo "It's my third version," he said. "I invented the first version at Christmas 'for mom." James realized he needed to make changes, so he improved his first model: "It was made with tin and I didn't want any- one to get hurt," he said. "I made the second one better, painted it gold and we used it." James' current version is basically the same as the second one, but this one was unused. The scooper is a wooden pole with a plastic peanut-but- ter type container attached to the end. The cup can be used to pick up all kinds of samples. Although some children were wary of the device, it held plenty of interest for adults. Willy Matthaeus invented a mitt dryer. "I couldn't figure out a name," Willy said of his product's utilitarian moniker. He credited his mother with the inspira- tion for the invention. "In the winter, my lit- tle brother got his mitts wet, and he went three days without a mitt. And my mom was also mad at him." Willy's dad helped round up the needed sup- plies. "My dad got me all the pipes," he said of the TRUCK i e Custom Fit e Lifetime Warranty e Includes Tailgate Liner TONNEAU COVERS e Aluminum- Frame e NO DRILLING Ps e NO ADHESIVES Lifetime Warranty Van & Truck World, Website: www. .vanandtruckworld.com Scarborough 1498 Midland Rd. 416-759-5001 Pickering 1051 Brock Rd. S. NIVE SS A 426-5509 e<iang OL EIVE! 579-6868 1670 Simcoe St. N. f 401 Just S. of Durham College A "etbeg /L EN x bt | Aurora 6 Allaura Blvd. Just S. of Wellington & Yonge 726-4441 #0 ff at local school SEES SRE # = ¥ Games, such as this one involving the old chicken and egg question, were among the popular displays when students at Cartwright Central Public School held and Invention Convention recently. The event challenged young- sters to think of an item the world needs, and make it a reality. 'plumbing pipes that con- nect to the mittens and the wide opening for a hair-dryer. Willy shared a table with Mike Parr, creator of Mike's Super Challenge. This game requires play- ers to roll a ball up an inclined board to receive 1) i <7") PORT PERRY DENTAL CENTRE Kelly, Zuly, Greenway, Bruce BARRISTER AND SOLICITORS Motor Vehicle - Criminal - Personal Injury Wills - Real Estate - Family Law Corporate & Commercial Evenings and Weekends by Appointment 114 King St. E., Oshawa 723-2278 [A points. Mike said he was influenced by two games he likes. "I kind of used two games, Battle Ball and regular pinball, and I combined them together to make this," he said. All of the displays fea- turing games proved to be New Patients' Smiles Always Welcome *Dr. J. Cottrell «Dr. J. Hardy Dr. L. Gideon * Dr. C. Banfield Dr. L. Poranganel * Dr. T. King (Orthodontist) «Dr. T. Mcintyre (Periodontist) --Today's Smile... The things that count the most cannot be counted Dental Care For The Entire Family (ZZ Evening & Saturday Appointments Available Z¢ ' or !, [&4 . Please Call 985-8451 Visit our website: www.iluvmydentist.com highly popular with the visiting children from other grades. Large crowds could be found around tabletop games featuring hockey, mag- net-controlled ducks, and basketball. Kristy Popowich invented a basketball game which vied for attention beside the hock- ey-player game. Kristy said she thought of the game because: "I just like bas- ketball". Inventions could be a variation of an already existing product, such as a Snakes and Ladders game with a hockey theme. Other variations included recipes that all the kids wanted to try. Amanda Spears made chocolate and blueberry minis, or tarts. She was limiting samples to par- ents and teachers, but somebody managed to sneak a few. Perhaps it wasn't a surprise, since everyone told Amanda how good they were. Jenna Noseworthy invented a milkshake called the Strawberry Starblaster, and soon found she'd finished her supply. "I ran out of drinks too fast," she said. Jenny Morrison made a Duck Dispenser. The simple yet effective device held a juice bottle upside- down, and the snap-lid let the juice out easily when popped out. "It's to help young kids and those with arthritis to pour juice," said Jenny. "I ran out of juice so my mom had to get more, and then I ran out of cups." Another invention soaked hot-dogs with solar heat. Unfortunately, the hot-dog cooking under a heating lamp (in place of the sun) took so long, only one was ready to eat by the end of the conven- tion.