Invent Idaho 2010 - Regional Competitions

Schools and Districts register for one of the three regional Invent Idaho events. Inventions are selected from the regionals for the state final. Homeschool groups may register as schools (virtual schools may register as one school in each of the three regions.) Please review District and school entry forms for details.

North Idaho Regional

February 12-14

Silver Lake Mall, Coeur d'Alene

East Idaho Regional

February 19-20

Eastern Idaho Tech. College, Idaho Falls

Southwest Idaho Regional

February 19-20

BSU College of Engineering, Boise

Please double check with Regional coordinators on dates and locations.

• Working Models
• Non-Working Models
• Games
• Adaptations
• Jules Verne!!

• 1st & 2nd
• 3rd & 4th
• 5th & 6th
• 7th & 8th

Regional Coordinators

State Entry Forms will be distributed by regional coordinators to students who qualify at regional conventions. Inventions qualify at regional by placing in one of the following ways:

Best of Show - Primary level (grades 1-4)

Best of Show - Intermediate level (grades 5-8)

Best of Category

1st or 2nd Place in Category/Grade Level Divisions

Inventions must be preregistered for the state competition by March 7th. Walk-in entries will not be allowed or displayed. Teachers who collect these state entry forms for students who are not in attendance must be sure to deliver them to students/parents immediately.

State Final

The Invent Idaho State Final will be held at the Discovery Center of Idaho. Invention set-up will be on Friday afternoon, March 12th with the Awards Ceremony at 3pm Saturday, March 13th.

Inventions must be present until end of ceremony to receive award.

State Registration deadline: March 7, 2010

Inventor's Journal or Log

The following ideas can be used as the basis for your journal or log which documents the inventing process.

• All entries should be dated and initialed by inventor. Initials allow you to sign your work but still remain anonymous to judges.
• Document how your idea unfolded through detailed writing and many rough blueprints that show how your idea took shape.
  • Brainstorm/list different ideas for inventions.
  • Narrow those ideas down by circling, starring or underlining your favorite three ideas.
  • Draw rough blueprints of possible inventions for each of those ideas. Title each blueprint. Label each blueprint part.
  • Research each invention to find out if it is original and new. If you go online, print web pages showing what inventions you looked at, document what sources you used, who you talked to, etc.
  • Choose your favorite original, new invention from the three you drew.
  • If you learn something new to make your invention, document who taught you, what they taught you and how you participated in the learning.
  • If someone makes part of the invention for you because it is unsafe for you to make it all by yourself, document who did this, what they did and how you helped, if at all.
  • Research and document how to turn this blueprint into a model. Stay within the cost range. Look for ways to use salvaged items with your new invention.
  • Write in your inventor's log any idea in the inventing process that didn't work out but helped you go on to create your invention.
• Brainstorm/list many ideas for a name, choose your favorite.
• Brainstorm/list ideas for logos. Include drawings of your favorites and choose the best one.

2010 Regional Guidelines

To go on to State, projects must qualify at one of three regional conventions (see above for details).

How do I register for a Regional Convention?

Schools may register up to 15 inventions at a regional convention. The fee is $20.

Districts may register up to 45 inventions at a regional convention. The fee is $50.

Districts registering must involve at least three of their schools in the inventing process. Otherwise the schools must enter separately as 'schools' (i.e. one or two schools may not register as a 'district' in order to get more than the 15 allowed entries each.)

If more than 3 schools in a district enter, they must consolidate into one 'district' entry of 45 inventions. (Your regional coordinator can tell you if your district is one of these).

These rules help prevent the volunteer-run regionals from being overwhelmed by sheer numbers.

When must I register?

The Intent to Register form, along with registration fee for either a school or district, must be mailed to the Registration Center of the appropriate region. This form and fee are due DECEMBER 1, 2009. Checks are payable to Invent Idaho. No purchase orders. You do not have to list the inventions you are entering, or even have selected them at this point. That comes later. This form merely informs the District Coordinator that you are attending Regional Invent Idaho, gives them contact information, and provides them with the entry fee they will need to prepare to host the event.

How do we choose our inventions for entry?

Ideally, you'll hold your own invention convention that is open to as many students as possible in your school or district. A convention is highly recommended, but each school or district may choose their own selection criteria. Your regional coordinator may be able to give you advice on holding your convention.

What happens next?

Your regional coordinator will contact you with forms and information necessary for your school's participation in the regional. They will provide convention details, a tracking form to list student entries, and a deadline for its submission.

What else should I know?

You must provide 2-3 adult volunteers to assist on the day of the convention. These are crucial to the success of the convention. Identify yours early and include them on your tracking form.

Districts and Schools may enter only one regional convention. Projects will be judged in grade-level divisions (1st/2nd, 3rd/4th, 5th/6th, and 7th/8th) within the five Invent Idaho categories.

Invent Idaho Rules

• The Invention must be student initiated: Help from parents or friends is acceptable but must be fully documented in an Inventor's Journal.
• The overall theme of the invention must enhance the quality of life and be humane.
• Each invention must include a model or the actual invention.
• A free-standing display (not wall poster) is encouraged. Display must include name of inventions, blueprints, goal or problem it solves, and how it works/solves problem. No student names/faces/schools on project, worksheet, journal or free-standing display.
• Cost of new materials, not to exceed $15.00, including free standing display, and all sales receipts must be attached to the journal or display.
• An inventor's journal must accompany the invention. This allows students to document the inventing process and show judges they have met the criteria below.
• Inventions in any category may be entered by individuals or pairs. Mixed grade pairs must register in the grade division of the oldest member.
• Inventions from prior years will not be accepted.
• All inventions will be judged by the same criteria.

Invent Idaho Judging Criteria

Useful Links

• Google Patent seach allows you to find other patents similar to your idea to help refine your's and make it unique: http://www.google.com/patents
• Kids Invent is an educational program that uses inventing to teach science: http://kidsinvent.org
• Do you know of others? Let us know: education