Invent a New Tool
In the short video below, Caroline Harrison shows off the tools she uses on a daily basis. Some of them are store-bought, but she’s also had to make some of her own to meet specific needs.
Now, it’s your turn to imagine a new tool that could solve a specific problem!
Grade 3-4
Duration : 1 period
Objective
Come up with a new tool and present it to your classmates.
Guidelines
Watch ”Caroline Harrison – Outils et technique” (English subtitles)
Follow the steps listed below.
Material
- Paper
- Pencil
- Ruler (if necessary)
Steps
1
Get in teams of four.
2
Make a list of problems that could be solved with the invention of a new tool. Pick one problem to focus on.
3
Invent a tool that could solve this problem.
4
Draw the tool and identify all of its parts.
5
Write a paragraph that answering the following questions:
- What problem did you decide to work on?
- What is this new tool?
- How does it work?
6
With your teammates, present the tool in front of the class.
Food for Thought
Did you know chindōgu is the Japanese art of inventing something that is useful yet impractical? The word means ‘’curious/strange tool’’. For example, an electric fork to roll up spaghetti, and someone else created mini umbrellas for shoes!
