A Kid Invented It Lesson Plan

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Academic Standards

 

Reading Objective:

Children will learn about how inventors solve problems by engineering solutions.

Next Generation Science Standards:

K-2 ETS1 Engineering Design: Define a simple problem that can be solved through the development of a new or improved object or tool.

Vocabulary: 

invent, inventor, sew, accident

Use these questions to check students’ understanding and stimulate discussion:

 

1.  Before Chester invented earmuffs, what problem did he have? (His ears got cold when ice skating.)

2. How did Tom solve the problem of wanting to ski and skateboard at the same time? (He invented the “ski board,” later called the “snowboard.”)

3. What problem did Kathryn solve with Wristies? (Her wrists got cold.)

4. Which was your favorite invention? Why? (Answers will vary.)

 

Go online to print or project the Reading Checkpoint.

  • Chester Greenwood grew up in Farmington, Maine. The town has a parade each year to celebrate him.
  • Frank Epperson first called his invention an“Epsicle.” When he grew up, his own children persuaded him to change the name to “Popsicle.”

Materials: pencils, markers, copies of the skill sheet

Overview: Children will design an invention to solve a problem: cold noses!

Directions:

  • Remind students that inventions solve problems. Now give them an imaginary problem to solve: Their nose is cold! Their job: Invent something to solve this problem.
  • Pass out the skill sheet. Students will use this to draw and label their invention. Before they start drawing, ask them to think about their invention first:
  • What could keep their nose warm?
  • What material(s) would their invention be made of?
  • How would their invention stay attached and not fall off their heads?
  • How could they make their invention look great so that people would want to buy it?
  • Kids can draw, label, and write about their invention on the skill sheet.