Kids Invent Hawaii, class activities with science

Kids Invent! (Hawaii)

School Year Class Programs

Elementary

We offer two main programs of classes for elementary schools throughout the school year, one for K-3 grades and another for 3-5 grades. Students in grade 3 are able to choose either program at most schools.

The program for K-3 has different invention activities each class introducing one or more concepts of science. Through the invention activities, students learn to enjoy science. Our classes usually meet once a week.

For the program offered to K-3, students learn about friction, air pressure, gravity, kinetic energy, and many more concepts of science. While students learn science, they also have fun creating inventions, using their imagination.

For grades 3-4, we offer classes in

Easy robotics
Motorized car and other gadget fun
Solar energy

For grades 4-5, we offer classes in

Advanced robotics
Digital movie making

We will have an all new program of science and invention activities for 2008, but an example of the first series of activities we offered in fall 2007 for K-3 grades are shown below.

We offer different activities, each classes, throughout the school year. Classes during the school year are usually once a week.

Pirate & Treasure Activities (K-3)

Pirate Ship
Design your own pirate ship. Does it have adequate sails for the wind? Are you ready to test it in water to see how it floats?
Jolly Roger Chain
Make a chain that you can use to identify your backpack or your set of keys.
Ship Attack Game
Attack your opponent’s ships and sink them to win the game. Don’t let your friend sink your ships first.
Secret Messages
Mark a spot on a map to hide your treasure in a secret way. Then write a secret and invisible message.
Sundial Directions
Use a sundial to hunt for buried treasure. Can you keep track of directions to get to the treasure?
Buccaneer Cart
Make a pirate cart, add wheels, and fill it with treasure.

For the classes we will offer in fall 2008 for 3-5 grades:

Easy robotics (3-4)

Fun with Robotics
We will work with a different robots each session to see how they work. The robots must be put together by reading diagrams. Looking at diagrams and figuring out how to relate them to reality is a great skill to learn.

You also learn how motors, gears, and other parts work to make robots do certain tasks. How can a robot turn? How can it walk on legs? How does the robot make decisions?

Do good work on your robots because you get to keep them at the end of each series of classes.

Advanced robotics (4-5)

Robotics
What makes robots work? We look at sophisticated robots in this class. The parts and diagrams are advanced, so you much take time to figure out how the robots are put together. The time you spend is worth it, because the robots can do smart operations.

As you build your robots, you learn how designers make them perform difficult operations. Designers use motors, sensors, and other devices to make them work. The robots are toys that you get to keep at the end of each series of classes.

Middle school programs

We provide projects and kits for teachers, including curricululm and support. The curriculum we provide will be geared to the teacher's aims and include suggestions for student to write down and analyze their discoveries. We assist the teachers in starting the projects so they will understand how to manage them.

Science projects
Students learn science through hands-on projects to investigate concepts. We emphasize the inventive aspect in all projects so students will discover the ideas by themselves rather than learning from rote.