Young Edisons display their devices at Invention Fair
By Stuart Hedstrom
Staff Writer
GUILFORD — Piscataquis Community Secondary School seventh- and eighth-graders have been quite busy getting projects ready for the annual science fair, which was held on March 16. Some students put their minds to work even more by developing concepts for the March 17 Invention Fair.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
CLEAN SWEEP — Piscataquis Community Secondary School eighth-grader Jemyni True cleans the cafeteria floor, while classmate Jorja Hunt looks on, with her Hover Helper during the annual Invention Fair on March 17. About 30 grade 7-8 pupils opted to put their minds to use by devising an invention and then checking on patents and conducting interviews to come up with a product and ensuing marketing plan. Invention Fair winners earned the right to take part in the Maine Invention Convention, scheduled for May at the University of Maine.
“Yesterday was the Science Fair,” PCSS science teacher Trisha Moulton said as the inventing students were getting their displays set up in the cafeteria to show their peers, teachers and visitors. She explained about 60 middle-schoolers used the scientific method to come up with a question they would like to test for their projects.
“Today we have around 30 students who chose to be in the Invention Fair,” Moulton said. She explained the participants devised an idea and then researched any existing patents for their concepts, developed a list of the materials and conducted interviews related to their inventions.
“They thought about what their needs are and what they want,” Moulton said.
She said another component of the project was promoting the invention. “They have to learn about ads and techniques to get attention,” Moulton said.
Other project criteria included directions for consumers to use the invention — some projects were the actual items while others had prototypes on display for the public — as well as procedures for building the products and a list of materials used.
“Students who win can go on to the next level, which is the Invention Convention at the University of Maine,” Moulton said, as previous PCSS students have taken part at the state competition which will be held in May. “It’s a great opportunity for students to compete with others, they are right up there with their ideas.”
“Once people come around and comment, it makes it all worth it,” Moulton said, as the pupils have the opportunity to share their ideas intended to better people’s lives.
Eighth-grader Cameron Kendall, who helped draw attention to his invention display by wearing a hot dog costume, invented “The Swirly Twirly Mixing Cup.” Kendall, like many of the Invention Fair pupils, had business cards to hand out and his proclaimed that users would have no more spills with this one of a kind cup.
Kendall said the idea for his product came when he would try to mix drinks and spilled by stirring manually. So to rectify the problem, he installed an automatic wind-up in the bottom of the cup.
The invention process took Kendall several hours with the help of a friend. “I went three other cups before I used a drill,” he said to get the Swirly Twirly Mixing Cup right.
Seventh-grader Colby Chadwick invented a pitch return, which enables a baseball to be returned back to the hurler. “It goes about 20 feet,” Chadwick said, using a slingshot to send the ball back.
The pitch return is listed at a price of $30 and Chadwick wrote “it is extremely fair-priced because of the hard work that went into it.” He said his invention took about three days to complete, and the price is divided into $15 for wood, $10 for the netting and the remaining $5 for labor. Chadwick had business cards with replica contact information, including the pitch return headquarters being located at 43 Baseball Street.
“I made a SnowMoCool, it cools in your helmet,” grade 7 student Jacob Nadeau said about his invention. Nadeau said when traveling on a snowmobile, a riders’ head can get warm beneath a helmet and his item helps solve this problem.
Nadeau’s business card included a fictional website for the SnowMoCool to help let potential customers know more about his product.
“This is a cheap alternative to an air conditioner and it sprays you with a nice cool mix of water,” seventh-grader Henry Rowell said about his Screw an Spray. Rowell said in about an hour he constructed the water bottle and wood enclosure, which is designed to be hung for easy access on hot days.
Seventh-grader Sean Leland had both cooling and heating in mind when designing his therma shirt. “It’s designed for people who are traveling and there are five heating pockets and five cooling pockets,” he said. “Zip your jacket and go enjoy yourself,” Leland said, as his therma shirt can take the place of a more bulky and heavy backpack.
Eighth-grader Jemyni True took an existing product and outfitted it for a different practical purpose. Her “Hover Helper” features a small broom on the back of a hoverboard, which can help sweep in a more fun manner.
“It’s hard to balance at first, and after that it’s simple,” True said, as she drew a great deal of attention maneuvering in and around her classmates on the Hover Helper and letting a few Invention Fair attendees try her invention.
“This is the easy remote and it’s for elderly people who have trouble using their remote and to remember to take their pills,” grade 8 student Madelynn Crosby said about her prototype. She explained the easy remote has larger sized buttons for the TV and different cartridges to dispense pills at various times of the day.
Eighth-grader Jorja Hunt opted to take the selfie stick a step further with her phnoodle, which she proclaims can hold a phone like no other. “It’s a noodle and you put your phone and case in it,” Hunt said. “You can hang it and take pictures from the ceiling.”
Grade 7 student Elizabeth Gray had walkers and runners in mind when she invented the walking watch. The watch face is designed to attach to the top of the shoe for a quick glance at the time. “It takes less energy to check your shoe than to slow down and check your watch,” Gray said.
Grade 7 Invention Fair winners are Cole Desjardins (Free Energy Generator), Ted Taylor (4 Season Sled) and Colby Chadwick (Pitch Return).
Grade 8: Noah Larry (Weedwacker Battery Charger), Madelynn Crosby (The Easy Remote), Zachary Priest (Egg Cracker), Cameron Kendall (Swirly Twirly Cup) and Macee Pearl (Sticky Ninja Base).
Science Fair winners: Most Creative Display Board Anna Morin (The Uncanny Valley) for grade 7 and Taylor Willey (Does the Material of Field Hockey Stick Affect the Accuracy of a Hit?) for grade 8.
Most Original Project: Kyle Gillespie (Citrus Fruit Electricity) for grade 7 and Sidney Gebo (Hemoglobin) for grade 8.
Demonstrates Superior Scientific Inquiry: Nyla Larrabee (Minding Your Mummies) for grade 7 and David Armstrong (The Effects of Handwashing) for grade 8.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
SWIRLY TWIRLY MIXING CUP — Cameron Kendall was one of five grade 8 winners in the Piscataquis Community Secondary School Invention Fair on March 17 at the Guilford school. Kendall invented the Swirly Twirly Mixing Cup to prepare beverages automatically, such as to accompany a meal of hot dogs.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
COLD AND HOT POCKETS — Seventh-grader Sean Leland’s therma shirt is equipped with five cold pockets and five hot pockets to aid the traveler on their journey. Leland’s invention is designed to take the place of a more heavy and bulky backpack.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
CHEAPER THAN AIR CONDITIONING — Henry Rowell, a PCSS seventh-grader, invented the Screw an Spray to provide a splash of water on a hot day.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
EASY ACCESS — Eighth-grader Madelynn Crosby devised an easy remote, to help senior citizens who may have trouble using their remote and to help them remember to take their pills. Crosby was one of five Invention Fair grade-level winners.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
WATCH WHERE YOU’RE WALKING — Seventh-grader Elizabeth Gray had her walking watch on display at the PCSS grade 7-8 Invention Fair on March 17.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
PHNOODLE — PCSS grade 8 student Jorja Hunt took the selfie stick a step further with her phnoodle invention.