by Joan Martin
The contestants on the television reality series “American Inventor” were put to shame by fifth and sixth graders of Brooklyn Friends School this April, when our students staged their annual “Invention Convention.” As a special project for their science classes, the middle school students—many working in pairs—design, produce, and then market their new products and inventions that appeal to the American consumer. Have trouble waking up in the morning? Try the new Alarm-Clock Pillow. Need help clearing your sidewalk after a snowstorm? Use the a new Super Shovel with an attached tube that releases rock salt while you scoop and lift. Constantly tripping over your shoelaces? Trip no more with the attractive and colorful Shoelace Seal.
More than 40 inventions were on display in the third floor hallway and conference room, and each was distinct—though pencils and pets were a big theme. There was a Portadesk no larger than 24 inches wide that had stapler, tape, ruler, pen, pencils, and paper conveniently attached; an H2 Oh! appliance that distilled and purified water; and a combination toothpaste-toothbrush gadget guaranteed to stop the toothpaste container from getting clogged. Some of the inventions were created with the fashion-conscious in mind. One student designed a casual jacket with pockets or slots for a cell phone, iPod, Metro-Card, and more, while another created Perfect Pockets that could be attached to any piece of clothing with Velcro stripping. The sneeze machine, magnetic trash lever, pencil gel finder, combo spray and wipe cleaner, and portable pet kit were representative of the wide range of inventions that the students produced.
As much fun as it was for the many visitors to the Invention Convention to view the work of these young scientists, it must have been even more exciting and gratifying for the students to create their inventions. They stretched their imaginations, learned how to problem-solve and work as part of a team, and gave all of us at BFS one more reason to be proud of our student body.