A productive way to vacuum.your home, easy-fit swim goggles, and a football that can warm your hands on cold days were among the 38 creative projects that were on exhibit when Van Holten Primary School held its Invention Convention on Thursday, March 19.
The Invention Convention, under the guidance of Van Holten Science Coordinators Kelly Kokotajlo and Meghan Kipila, is an annual exhibit that attracts large, curious crowds to the school’s gymnasium.
The Van Holten students devised projects under the following categories:
Around the House, Health and Safety, Fashion/Art, Animals, Sports, and Entertainment.
A few of the student demonstrations included the El E Vac by Mason, a vacuum that resembled an elephant. The trunk sucks up debris and litter. Goggles that Stick Around by Esther, swimming goggles that don't pull on your hair when swimming, can be put on with ease, and
Blaze Ball by Drew and Jack, which was(a heated football that is perfect for chilly days.
Ms. Kipila and Ms. Kokootajlo reported that volunteers from Bridgewater-Raritan High School's National Honor Society and Operation Elementary helped facilitate STEM activities before the event began.
One impressed attendee was Van Holten Principal George Rauh.
“Our ingenious 3rd and 4th Graders have worked for the past couple of months to create solutions to real-world problems that they face in their daily lives,” Principal Rauh said. “Their research and work lead to actual inventions or prototypes that address the problems they face. I would not be surprised to see some of these inventions in stores in the future!”
Ms. Kipila and Ms. Kokotajlo concluded:
“It was a very well-attended event! The students were beaming with pride as they presented their inventions!”