CECsci.160


TITLE:    "Inventions, Puppets, and Commercials"

AUTHOR:   Jodie Coulson, Madill Elementary, Madill, OK

GRADE LEVEL/SUBJECT:     Appropriate for grade 4
                         Science/Language Arts

OVERVIEW:  This activity was used as an extension of the
electricity unit.
     The introduction to the activity consists of the names
of some inventors and their inventions, reading to the class
a summary of the life of Thomas Alva Edison, and an
explanation of what an invention is considered to be.
     An invention may be a totally different thing from
anything that you have ever seen, it may be an improvement
on something that already been invented, or it may be
finding another use for an invention already in existence.
     A discussion of things one imagines as a small child
leads the student to see that "anything goes."  There is no
right or wrong solution.

OBJECTIVE:  The student will think scientifically, from the
problem stage through to a conclusion and completion of an
invention.

RESOURCES/MATERIALS:  construction paper, glue, tongue
depressors, crayons or markers, staples, video camera

ACTIVITIES AND PROCEDURES:
1.   Divide the class into groups of three to four students.
2.   Each group will invent a product for sale.  This
     product may be a new type of clothing, a new brand of
     toothpaste, or some wild unique item.
3.   Each group will write a television commercial for the
     new product.  The script must have enough parts for
     every member of the group to participate.
4.   Each student will make a stick puppet of his/her
     commercial character.
5.   Each group will give a puppet presentation of the
     commercial.  A video will be made of each presentation.
6.   As a follow-up activity show the video and ask the
     following questions about each commercial for
     discussion.
     (1)  What did you like best about the commercial?
     (2)  Do you think it will sell?
     (3)  Can you think of another use for the product
          other that the one advertised?
     (4)  Is there any part that can be changed to make a
          different product?

TYING IT ALL TOGETHER:
This activity encourages problem solving within a group
format which is vital for students to develop.  It stresses
critical thinking skills as well as language arts outcomes.

This activity originally was shared by Shirley Dean of
Alabama, a 1990 Presidential Awardee for Excellence in
Science/Math Teaching.