Lunchbox!

One of our workshops this week was about form and function. We posed the question: is it time to redesign the school lunchbox?

Could it be easier to transport? Could it be more eco-friendly? Could it be adapted for other types of food? Could it be multifunctional?

This industrial design challenge may seem pedestrian at first sight- especially for those of us who have to scrape leftovers from a school lunchbox every evening. You might think that a lunchbox is just a box with a handle, but in the hands of a set of eager kid inventors there are many interesting possibilities for lunchbox innovation.

Consider the eco-lunchbox. It comes with a lidded rain-catcher (in case you forgot to fill your water bottle) and in sunny conditions you can use the solar panel for re-heating food. In another design, the students felt that lunch was sometimes too heavy to carry. What about a food buggy. It has a colourful cupcake holder (6 slots, so you can bring cakes for all your friends), a flexible sandwich pouch, a snap clipped rain cover and has a robust frame and wheels for street transport.

In some of the designs, the lunchbox was transformed into something else: a racing car (with a zipped closure) or a table with mounted plate to eat on or an extra pouch for a friendly lunch buddy.

At the end of the session, we had demo time. This is a chance for our students to show their designs and get some great feedback from their friends. They did an excellent job of describing their creations!

Once upon a hat

In our Once upon a hat class, we worked with 6-7 year olds to imagine fantastical hats

                                            Why make this?

When you could make these?

Toddler Time

"Nurturing our kids true potential isn't about making sure they reach some predetermined standards, it's about helping them develop the skills they need so they can create a life that is meaningful and satisfying to them"         

                                                                Eileen Kennedy-Moore, psychologist and author

Our first workshop was a riot of colour, texture and playfulness as we designed toys for babies and toddlers. Out of mounds of material emerged a squid clan, a rotating furry thingamajig, a play dashboard (complete with turnable knobs, steering wheel, ignition knob and clutch!), a kick-mobile, a disco dish, a twistable octo-cone and catching cup and a bouncy fur pet.

These are prototypes -or model designs. The kids have taken this open-ended challenge and invented toys with the senses in mind. In this first class, we let the kids think with their hands. We want them to turn their ideas into something tangible and to get comfortable with a wide range of materials.

In our demo time, everyone did a great job of saying what they liked and what they could improve about their designs. We also talked quite a bit about how these models would have to be adapted in the real manufacturing world, to make them safe for little kids. Some of the boys wanted to know how and when they could start production.

This class introduces the kids to the concept that inventions and designs are for someone: the "user". When we're designing for someone else- it's a good idea to think about who they are and what they need or want. Better still ask them! The students had a lot of enthusiasm for this project because many of them have little sisters and brothers. So in this case empathy and understanding of the user come naturally.

"my brother would love this squid, but he might pull it apart!"

"a toddler would love this because it spins and it's furry"

Make something Awesome: Winter after-school sessions

A 7 week session is starting up on Mondays at Artscape Youngplace. There will be a pick up at Givins Shaw school. Students from other schools are welcome to join us at Artscape. 

Here's our schedule:

Week 1: “Toddler alert” Squeeze it, chew it, pull it, shake it. Using colour and texture, invent a new toy for toddlers.

Week 2: “Animal Treehouse” Plan and build a cosy tree-home for critters.

Week 3: “Groovy grub” Young entrepreneurs create a special meal, logo, brand and advert for their own restaurant.

Week 4: “Ready, set, go!”Make a super speedy junk-mobile and race your friends.

Week 5: “Set design” Create the stage for a production of your favourite story: Harry Potter, Star Wars, Cinderella.

Week 6: “Fairground game” The Wackamole moles have had enough! Invent a new game for the Ex. and test it by playing it.

Week 7: “Can-Am 2015” Design a new uniform for Canada in the 2015 Pan-Am games

For more information or to register, please email us: info@inventionsquad.ca

And here's our schedule for a 7 week session at Niagara Street on Tuesdays (starting on Jan 27th): Week 1: “Lunchbox” Invent a smarter way to dine in style at school. Week 2: “Animal Treehouse” Plan and build a cosy tree-home for critters. Week 3 : “Groovy grub” Young entrepreneurs create a special meal, logo, brand and advert for their own restaurant. Week 4: “Ready, set, go!” Make a super speedy junk-mobile and race your friends. Week 5: “Set design” Create the stage for a production of your favourite story: Harry Potter, Star Wars, Cinderella. Week 6: “Fairground game” The Wackamole moles have had enough! Invent a new game for the Ex. and test it by playing it. Week 7: “Can-Am 2015” Design a new uniform for Canada in the 2015 Pan-Am games For more information or to register, please email us: info@inventionsquad.ca