Welcome to the Inventa Zone Some people see things as they are and ask why; I dream of things that never were and ask why not. (Traditional Motto of Inventors) Inventive, creative thinking is an important skill for growing scientists. In the Inventa zone, students will have the opportunity to try out their inventive thinking skills with stations carrying an inventive twist. As you work, try to develop an inventor's mind-set: it's a can-do or let's try-it-and-see way of thinking. To be creative, you need to train yourself to see everyday objects in new ways. Remember the banana? Practice the process of seeing in your mind's eye - that is, visualizing pictures in your mind. Inventors are good at mentally picturing the hidden innards of gadgets and machines. It takes practice! A secret inventors always keep in mind - Inventions are almost never entirely new! Usually they are a combination of already existing objects and ideas put together in new ways for a new purpose. (References from Inventors Workshop by Alan McCormack, 1981) Good luck with your inventing. Keep at it, be persistent as well as creative. Best of luck! Dr. L Inventions and Inventing Websites of Interest Visit the Inventure Place from the National Inventors' Hall of Fame and Museum. the site contains some wonderful Check out the Inventions website from the National Geographic Society (for kids). this site includes some wild and wacky games. Follow the creation of Inventing a New Kind of Pencil from identifying a problem, brainstorming solutions to product development. You can do it! To own your invention, you need to file for a patent. Some patented ideas are wacky. Check out these Totally Absurd Inventions. They're real and they received patents for their ideas!  Famous Inventions - A to Z   Briefly describes inventions from A to Z  The Inventions of Thomas Edison   Thomas Edicson is know for more than inventing the light bulb. Find out about his many inventions.  Emile Berliner: Inventor of the Gramophone   Read about Emile Berliner, inventor of the gamophone (and many others) and listen to some of his music