From the “Hurtometer” to the “Shampooch,” more than 70 fifth and sixth graders from Massapequa Schools’ academically gifted Magnet program dazzled parents and educators alike with innovations they created for the district’s first ever “Invention Convention,” which showcased students’ ingenuity.
Set up like a science fair, students displayed their creativity, critical thinking and problem-solving skills with colorful trifold displays that explained what their inventions were, how they came up with the idea, how they operated and their cost.
Have you ever gotten something stuck in your vacuum cleaner that’s interfering with its suction? Unqua fifth grader Jonathan Berzner can take care of that with his SmallSaver invention—a mini vacuum that sucks up objects that get caught in a full-size vacuum cleaner. Is your violin or viola sadly out of tune? No worries. East Lake sixth grader Ryan Wienczorkowski can fix it with his automatic tuner. Wienczorkowski repurposed a watch into a tuner that straps onto the instrument and, with the mechanism that tightens or loosens the strings, tunes it to the right note/pitch. McKenna fifth grader Emma Reilly had multitasking in mind when she came up with the Electric Mouth Brush. It looks like a mold of your mouth with battery-operated spinning bristles in it to clean your mouth like an electric toothbrush, but this one is hands free and dispenses its own toothpaste.
“It’s great for when you are running short on time in the morning before school or if you have other things to do before you go to bed at night. You can do them simultaneously,” said Reilly.
Fairfield’s Shayna La Douceur invented a convenient way to have all of your makeup needs in one tightly bound “Beauty Bundle,” which she said is “great for traveling.” Other Lockhart students cleverly created a variety of educational games that could rival those sold in stores.
Earlier in the day, four real-life inventors, sparked students’ curiosity when they presented their inventions in small groups and discussed the invention process. Students were intrigued by Robert Veech, best known for inventing the Pooper Scooper, Richard Edelman, who invented numerous fitness–related board games and other innovations, Art Lih, longtime Massapequa resident who developed the LifeVac, a device that saves children from choking and Steven Hanania, whose expertise in robotics led to inventions such as his voice–activated mechanical arm and his sound-activated mousetrap.
“Mr. Hanania’s inventions were really good and fun to watch because they were interactive,” said Lindsey Black, a fifth grader from Fairfield Elementary School.
Lockhart fifth grader Tricia Krakoff was equally impressed with Lih’s LifeVac. “It’s an important product because it will save a life,” she said.
Massapequa Schools Superintendent Lucille F. Iconis called the event, “a spectacular display of ingenuity” and commended the students on their innovations and the Magnet teachers for coordinating the event.
“This was a way for all the Magnet students from each elementary school to share ideas and celebrate their achievements after working for weeks on their inventions,” said McKenna Elementary School Magnet teacher Elizabeth Natke. “The idea of bringing in actual inventors brought to life what inventors do and how they can change the way we lead our lives.”
—Courtesy of Massapequa Public Schools
