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2 adults and several children are at a table, working on an activity in SparkLab.

Kids (and their teachers and chaperones) get inventive in Spark!Lab. © Smithsonian; photo by Kate Wiley

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The Hub Challenge

April 3, 2018 by Lemelson Center

We invite groups to join in on Spark!Lab's hands-on fun!

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Invention can happen anywhere! Take this activity back to your classroom or share with students so they can continue to invent at home!

THE BIG IDEA

Starting with a general prompt to identify a problem or a goal, students can explore the invention process anywhere and create prototypes from household items.

SAMPLE PROMPTS FROM SPARK!LAB

  • Make something that can carry a person from place to place
  • Make a game for people who play music
  • Make something to keep a firefighter safe
  • Make something to help you with your chores

Ask students to think about the following questions:

  • What do you want your invention to do (what is your goal)?
  • How will it be different from existing inventions?
  • What materials will work best to achieve your goals?
  • After you test it, what works and what doesn’t work?
  • What would you change about your invention?

sparklab_activities-2015_The-Hub-edit.jpg

6 children and 1 adult work at an activity in the SparkLab Hub, assisted by 2 SparkLab facilitators

The central tables in The Hub the “make and take” station offer visitors various materials to create their very own prototype. © Smithsonian

SAMPLE SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS

  • Milk straws or standard drinking straws
  • Twisty ties
  • Cardboard
  • Beads
  • A mix of recycled materials
  • Circle template
  • Duct or Masking tape
  • Popsicle sticks
  • Pipe cleaners
  • Bottle caps
  • Scissors
  • Crayons, markers, colored pencils

OUTCOMES

By participating in this activity, students will:

  • Engage in the invention process through a hands-on activity
  • Solve a problem by designing and building a prototype
  • Use materials creatively and resourcefully, adapting to supply limitations and restrictions
  • Test a prototype and identify tweaks for improvement or better outcome
  • Continue To Questions or Concerns?
  • Previous
  • Welcome!
  • Planning Your Visit
  • In Spark!Lab
  • Tips for Teachers
  • Tips for Chaperones
  • Post-Visit
  • Resources for Teachers
  • The Hub Challenge
  • Questions or Concerns?

Tags

  • Kid-friendly (Relevance: 20%)

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Here is the schedule for Draper Spark!Lab, our hands-on invention workshop for children and families.

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You can explore the history and process of invention through Draper Spark!Lab activities at home, too!

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