Wednesday, January 29, 2025 | By Mike Natarella | 150 views
“Have a great idea. Have a lot of them.” - Thomas Edison
This quote from Thomas Edison encapsulated the spirit of the fourth-grade Literacy unit: Eureka! Student Inventor. This unit was organized as a quest in which students were immersed in the world of inventors and inventions. Students embarked on daily challenges associated with six principles of invention: Collaboration, Research, Pitching, Knowledge, Documentation, and Failure.
Students worked in teams each day reading, analyzing material, participating in building challenges, and reflecting on their daily activities. Once each group earned each of their wedges associated with each principle of invention, they began to develop their own invention. This provided an opportunity for each student to brainstorm, research, explain, and pitch their invention. Each student integrated technology into their presentation by designing the final product on Canva. Once created, they shared their presentation with the class and answered questions about their invention. Students created inventions such as a surfboard for individuals who are wheelchair bound, flying chairs, material melting conveyor belts, asteroid slingshots, and various devices needed to clean our oceans. We truly have students who are ready to tackle the challenges of the 21st Century!
