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In 1999, third-grade teacher Jenny Himmelstein and teacher-librarian Judi Moreillon facilitated a telecomputing learning experience. After students studied kid inventors and wrote about their inventions, the educators solicited kid-friendly problems from our school mates and from children across the country. Ms. H. and Ms. M. joined several telecomputing listservs to connect with teachers in other states. Explorer Room students selected ten challenges: a dog ladder; With educators' guidance, students formed groups and created inventions to solve these problems using everyday materials. Students wrote about their inventions, published their work on the school website, and shared it with those who had offered the challenges and with the school and global community. The photo below is of Ashley, Jamie, and Paul (now adults), their invention, and their summary paragraphs. Problem-solving, integrating technology tools into the classroom curriculum, and collaboration (for students and educators) were at the heart of this learning experience. Invention Challenge
Our teacher Ms. H. and our librarian set up a challenge on our web page. We got an email back with a challenge to make an envelope licker. Licking envelopes can taste nasty. The problem was to make something that could seal an envelope without using your tongue. We brainstormed ideas as a group. Our first idea was to use a metal can, a sponge, a tube, and a straw. The idea was that when we filled the can with water, it would wet the sponge. Then, when we would put the envelope on the sponge it would wet the envelope enough to seal it. It didn't work because the tube was too fat and the straw was too skinny and all the water came out. This was not a good solution. Our second idea was to use a marker, a sponge, and some water. How? That's a good question. We took the marker apart then we filled the tube up with water, then we put a sponge where the ink usually is and tried it. It worked! We solved the problem and invented the Envelope Licker and you didn't have to use your tongue! The four life skills we used were effort, problem solving, perseverance and cooperation. We used these life skills by working together, staying with it, working on our invention, and not giving up.
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Launched: 11 May 1999
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