Inventors...Start...Your...Engines...
This week the 3rd grade students took the first steps to becoming inventors. In science, we examined an invention, the paper lunch bag. Students observed attributes of the bag, as well as possible problems with the current invention. Some student responses were, "too many trees have to be cut down to make paper bags," "you can't see what's in the bag without opening it," and "you can't hold anything wet in it or it will break." Next the students brainstormed extensive lists of all the bags that they could think of, both usual and unusual. Some unusual examples were, pillowcase, purse, cargo pocket, and tea bag. We discussed that slight improvements on the common bag have led to inventions that solve particular problems in people's lives. Students are currently thinking of problem situations or problem objects in their own lives that can be solved with improvements to current inventions, or new inventions.
Ask your child what usual and unusual bags they came up with during the brainstorm!