Before You Begin

Because Invention Convention is designed to be an application and extension of students’ magnets and electricity learning, it is important that students have used inquiry techniques to explore the following essential questions:

• How do I create a series circuit?
• How do I create a parallel circuit?
• When is it more useful to use either a series or parallel circuit?
• How do magnets work?
• What is magnetic?
• How can magnets push or pull to do work?
• Can I make other objects temporarily magnetic?
• Can magnets and electricity work together?
• How do I make an electromagnet?
• What inventions do I use that have electromagnets?

There are extensive internet resources with inquiry investigations allowing students to explore, question, and design ways of testing theories to facilitate learning about magnets and electricity. Some of these web resources can be found in the lessons.

Using a prepared science kit can often be helpful for teachers because it provides background information, a plan for addressing all magnets and electricity objectives, and all the materials needed to implement inquiry learning. The FOSS kit entitled Magnetism and Electricity is an excellent resource to be used prior to Invention Convention because it guides students to build circuits and electromagnets, and understand how both work. Students will be able to use this knowledge while designing and building their own inventions.

The Inventor’s Log is one of the most important aspects of Invention Convention. The log contains information that corresponds to the students’ writing logs throughout the process. It also contains several rubrics for the teachers and students to use. The book is comprised of twelve pages as well as an Inventor’s Log assembly page that will help users know how to assemble the inventor’s log.

Supplemental Files: 

How to assemble the Inventor’s Log (MS Word)

How to assemble the Inventor’s Log (PDF)

Inventor's Log (MS Word)

Inventor's Log (PDF)