Guidelines for Inventions
Think of a need that exists for people in general, or a person with a specific handicap. Think about a device that could make a certain difficult task easier. Think of an inconvenience that could be made easier with a simple device. For example, if you hate searching for the toothpaste tube every morning, consider developing a homing beacon for it. You might want to look at specialty stores or catalogues for ideas for invention projects available in the library and book stores.
Once you have thought of your idea, plan out how to make it by writing your ideas into an "inventor's notebook" (any small spiral tablet will do). Draw your plans, measurements and blueprints" into this notebook. Every time you work on your project, you should summarize the things you did in the notebook. (Inventor Thomas Edison took very detailed notes on every step in the process of inventing the incandescent light bulb.) You should also list all materials you used and/or tried in the construction of your invention.
Next, build your invention out of sturdy materials that can be handled and operated by you and the Science materials that can be handled and operated by you and the Science Fair judges. Your invention MUST WORK at the time of the judging. Test your invention for "bugs" (things that won't make it work right) and reliability.
Finally, prepare your display for the invention. Please include: Need: Why you invented the device. Description: What it does. Use graphs, pictures and visuals. Be thorough, but concise. Procedure Thoroughly describe step-by-step instructions on operating your invention. Before writing this down on the display board, test the instructions on a friend. Make sure they can follow the instructions by just READING THEM.
List of materials: Do not forget anything, including what you tried and eventually used.
