Challenges From Spring 2020

Week 12 Challenge (June 8 - June 12)

Only a few weeks until summer officially begins (June 20th)--at least for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere! With the days getting longer the amount of sun that shines also increases. How can we take advantage of the longer days and the shining sun?

This week's challenge is take take advantage of the sun by designing a new invention that fits with the prompt:

​It would be fun if we could put solar panels on...

Make sure you describe your invention, what it could be used for, and what inspired you to come up with the idea.

Week 11 Challenge (June 1 - June 5)

We've made it to June!! With only a few weeks left for the school year I bet it's hard to stay focused on your last few assignments. Maybe your mind keeps drifting to your favorite toy or game? 

Let's think about that favorite toy or game. What is it? What is it made of? What, if any, type of waste or garbage does it produce? Is there some way you could change or alter it so that is was more environmentally friendly? 

This week's challenge is take your favorite game or toy and change it to make it more environmentally friendly without making it any less fun. This change could include things such as: the materials it is made from, the amount of energy it takes to use, or the waste it produces. 

Week 10 Challenge (May 26 - May 29)

As summer nears, and people are spending more time around their homes, they've come up with ways to make the space more festive. 

Some are adding lights or decorations to their patio or backyard. Others are changing around their living room or bedroom space for Friday night fun. What new thing would you like to have at your at-home party? 

This week's challenge is to design a new decoration, accessory, game, or toy that you would love to have for your at-home party.  It can be whatever you can think up but it has to be a NEW idea or a NEW combination of existing ideas or products. 

Week 9 Challenge (May 18 - May 22)

Cities around the country are closing some of their less traveled streets to cars. They are doing this to make more room for people to run, walk, bike, and roll so they can enjoy the fresh air without getting too crowded. 

However, many of the road closure signs are ugly metal signs and orange cones like, these examples in  Seattle, WA. Wouldn't it be nice if these barriers were both functional and pleasant to look at?

This week's challenge is to design a better barrier. It must be 4 - 6 ft wide (so that it covers half the width of a street), weigh less that 20 lbs, and let people know that the street is closed to cars.

Week 8 Challenge (May 11 - May 15)

The grass in the parks near my home hasn’t been cut for weeks due to the pandemic. As a result, there are many more small flowers than usual—from the clover and dandelions to violets and other small flowering plants. These flowers make for some happy insect pollinators, such as the bumble bee that let me get close enough to take a picture.

This got me thinking about how the grass is usually kept short leaving the bees, and other insect pollinators, struggling to find food while they wait for summer flowers to bloom. Pollinators are very important to helping you, and me and farmers grow the food we need to survive. 

This week's challenge is to help the bees and design a spring-time pollinator buffet that could help feed the pollinators in early spring.  ​

Week 7 Challenge (May 4 - May 8)

The other day I heard a news story about a gray whale tangled in fishing gear in Puget Sound in the Pacific Northwest. You can read more about it here, but scientist from NOAA spent all day trying to free the whale. They were ultimately successful but it got me thinking how much easier things would have been if they could communicate with the whale? I know it seems like an unrealistic goal--but that's how many great innovations start.

This week's challenge is to pick an animal and design a way to communicate with it. It can just be an initial idea but you should think about how the animal you want to "talk to" communicates normally.   ​

Week 6 Challenge (April 27 - May 1)

Last week the world celebrated the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. There were many stories from all over about people working to protect Earth and its natural resources. One action discussed was the effort to reduce the amount of garbage generated by reusing things instead of throwing them away (like this bag my niece made me out of coffee bean bags).

This week's challenge look is to look around your house and find a new use for something you would otherwise throw away.  ​

Week 5 Challenge (April 20 - April 24)

Last week I had a chance to chat with my friends in Team 3P in Upstate New York and they were talking about different animal bridges (and tunnels) they were designing. Our discussion provided the inspiration for this week's challenge question. 
This week's challenge look around your neighborhood and find a place where animals could use some help getting from one habitat to another. Create a device or structure that will help them move between habitats more safely. 

Week 4 Challenge (April 13 - April 17)

This week health experts made a suggestion that everyone should wear cloth face covering when possible (you can read what they said here). However, cloth face coverings can make life harder for people with some physical challenges, such as those who need to read lips to communicate or those with hearing aids or otherwise sensitive ears. 
This week's challenge is to invent a face covering that helps someone who might not be able to use a typical cloth face mask.

Week 3 Challenge (April 6 - April 10)

This week's challenge was inspired by Ma'ayan's cat treat dispenser invention below (see week 1). 
Invent something to make a chore you don't like doing better or more fun. 
(If you love doing all your chores ask your parents which chores THEY don't like doing and invent something for them.)

Week 2 Challenge (March 30 - April 3)

A lot of us get exercise by playing games such as soccer, basketball, or even tag. However, with social distancing requirements recommending people stay 6 feet apart, we can't play these games right now.
Your challenge for this week is to invent a game, that involves at least 4 people, and that can help us get exercise while still remaining 6 ft apart.

Week 1 Challenge (March 23 - March 27)

We know a lot of you are learning from home or learning online right now.
Invent something that would make your at-home or online learning more fun.

Check out Mack's submission.

Here's Ma'ayan's submission. 

She needed a break from working on her original invention and decided to solve her own "cat treat dispensing" challenge.