Last week during our Inventor’s Workshop, students had a well-rounded day filled with educational activities, sports, art and fun!
In the morning, students learned the difference between a machine and a toll as well as what an invention is. Haverford Instructor, Michael Brodine, even brought in his own patents to show the boys that it is possible for them to be an inventor, too! The theme of our day was “If you can dream it, you can build it”.
Some students took the opportunity to build their own toys such as boats or planes. Others came together as a team to make a pulley system that could transport small objects from table to table across the dining hall.
In the afternoon, a group of students were given the task to create an invention that could benefit a Third World country. They were extremely imaginative as they constructed a spaceship that could drop supplies to needed areas, and a submarine drone that would monitor local schools of fish for those who are hungry.
The take away from this workshop was the opportunity for students to get hands on experience within the process of invention-making. Whether as a group or individually, students took time to plan on paper what their invention would look like, list what parts would be used, number how many parts their invention would use, and describe what the function of the invention would be. They learned the importance of the entire planning process as well as the execution process. Great work everybody!
