Phoenicia Elementary School students hold 'Invention Convention'

Phoenicia Elementary School second-grader Stella Schiavo, 7, daughter of Ame Schiavo of Mount Tremper, talks about how her invention, "Hot Bulb Heater Lamp," works by positioning it over food to keep it warm. (Freeman photo by Tania Barricklo)

PHOENICIA, N.Y. -- First-grader Milo Turba was annoyed that his long hair gets in his eyes, but he found barrettes to be too feminine.

The solution: he invented a "Boyrette," similar to the apparatus used by his female counterparts, except constructed in the forms of more masculine superheroes or Lego men.

Milo's Boyrette was among about 60 inventions Phoenicia Elementary School students recently showcased at the school's first "Invention Convention," which was organized by parent Heather Roberts as part of the PTA's shift from the annual science fair to a new theme to encourage students to develop an interest in science, technology, engineering, and math.


"All these projects were just from the kids' imaginations -- ways they thought they could improve their lives or their community's lives or their families' lives," Roberts said.

Many inventions, like a seed spreader created by Milo's big brother Hudson, were designed to make every day life easier.

Hudson and Milo were tasked with planting grass seeds when their parents bought a new house, and Hudson explained his seed spreader is designed to be attached to a lawn mower to easily distribute seeds around the yard. The seed spreader was constructed from an empty Tropicana orange juice container, tubing, and a hair dryer.

It is not difficult to envision second-grader Meadow Madera's "Spic and Span Sponge Bob Shoes" raking in big bucks on late night QVC. The invention comprises sandals with sponges attached to the bottoms to clean floors while the wearer walks.

Nash Roberts, Heather Roberts' son, displayed sunglasses with pen lights mounted on the frames so people can still wear their shades at night, in addition to a camouflage cover for mako sharks to protect them from poachers.

Another socially conscious invention came from third-grader Oliver McGillicuddy, school board president Ann McGillicuddy's son. The idea behind "The Amazing Flying Chair," a plain white chair with propellers attached to it, is to allow handicapped people to get around more easily.

Principal Linda Sella estimated 85 percent of the school, from kindergarten through third grade, got involved in the invention theme in some way, whether through classroom activities, an after-school program, and the culminating "Invention Convention" event.

Teacher Jane Wolfrom was among teachers who integrated the theme into their classes. Wolfrom's second-grade class, in the midst of studying simple machines, came up with a clothesline run by pulleys to help their snow clothes dry more quickly.

"We wanted to get away from the solar system models and erupting volcanos that you see every year at science fairs and force the kids to start thinking a little more creatively," Roberts said of the PTA initiative to move away from the annual science fair to the invention-themed activity.

Roberts said students learned about the history of various inventions and famous inventors. Some classes and the after-school Young Inventors Club comprising 26 students that Roberts organized included some brainstorming and guidance, and then students made their ideas come to life at home.

Other activities at the Young Inventors Club included deconstructing existing technology, such as telephones, and imagining other ways they could be built.

"It's very, very exciting for our children to be able to come up with their idea, think it through, and then actually invent," Sella said. There's a few research (projects), but not many. Most of them are clearly inventions."

Sella said even though the Young Inventors Club is done meeting for the year, students will be encouraged to keep refining their projects and using their imaginations.

Bennett Elementary School students in grades four through six have been participating in similar activities and have their own Invention Convention upcoming on Feb. 27.