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04/12/2016 03:30 PMFor more than a decade, 4th, 5th, and 6th graders at Essex Elementary School have been coming up with creative new ideas that solve problems and make life easier. Each year, these innovative ideas are showcased for parents, friends, family members, and judges at the annual Invention Convention evening held in the school’s gym.
This year there were 21 participants in the imaginative competition. Each invention was accompanied by a science display board explaining the invention, along with identification of the problem, solution, procedures, conclusion, and explanation of how the invention worked. As judges visited their stations, each student had to explain how they came up with the idea and outline the particulars of their individual invention.
“This is an afterschool project. The students work on going above and beyond and I think it is wonderful to see the motivation to learn about science applications, problem solving, and inventing,” said Essex Elementary School Principal Scott Jeffrey. “The students are guided through workshops by our 4th grade science team as well as 6th grade teacher Emily Reed and Assistant Principal Jennifer Tousignaunt, who helped them explore their curiosity. It is a very linear process and each year it is amazing to see what these kids come up with and invent.”
He added, “These students work very hard and are personally motivated by their own lives to come with solutions to problems they see happening and that truly is what inventions are all about.”
Fourth grade teacher Tracy Plumley said, “This experience gives our students another outlet to explore their creativity and do things outside the curriculum that are fun and challenging.”
The three winners of the Essex Elementary School Invention Convention were 4th grader Ella Brenneman, 5th grader Henry Breckenfeld, and 6th grader Nicholas Wyzkowski.
Brenneman’s invention was the “Reed Refresher,” which gives a good taste and smell to her clarinet reed. She hopes it will help her and other reed instrument players have a more pleasant musical experience. The invention was a big hit at the convention with fellow reed playing musicians
Breckenfeld was recognized for his “Solar-rella” solar powered cell phone battery recharger, that attaches to a beach umbrella and harnesses the sun’s power to ensure that his mother’s cell phone battery never dies again while enjoying a day at the beach.
“I have been working on this invention for the past three weeks, but I came up with the idea a while ago,” said Breckenfeld, whose invention included a solar panel inside a pencil case attached to an extendable cord that then can be used to power up cell phones.
Wyzkowski won for his unique cat watering bowl, which came about as a way to keep his 17 year-old cat happy when he wanted fresh water in the middle of the night—the invention also kept his family happy as the cat would wake everyone up until water was provided.
Other inventions included the “Thermal Beverage Buddy,” created by 5th grader Lily Glaski, to combat lukewarm hot chocolate on chilly winter afternoons. This invention included hot stones that are microwaved, then placed inside hot beverages to help them stay hot.
Fourth grader Ben Rector came up with the coyote clapper as a way to protect his family from the wild canines that are often seen in his neighborhood.
“I came up with the idea after my mom came face-to-face with a coyote in our driveway,” said Rector, who constructed the noise maker out of a snowball maker fashioned with small cymbals attached.
Fifth grader Aidan Garrity came up with the cell phone sun shield to help combat sun glare while texting and 4th grader Tyler Ruel came up with the leaf eliminator to make the chore of raking leaves easier and more efficient.
“All the inventions were wonderful and well thought out,” said Tousignaunt. “It has been great to watch these students, over the past three weeks, work so hard and come up with all these different ideas. It was very difficult for the judges to decide the winners, they were all so good and we are so proud of every student who participated.”
The three winners will now move on and present their inventions at The Connecticut Invention Convention 2016 on Saturday, April 30, at the University of Connecticut’s campus.