Making ideas happen: the steps of an invention
Read the text on page 88 of your book about how to turn an idea into an invention. Then read our own text about a school bag. The steps of an invention usually go in this order: notice a problem, brainstorm ideas, build a first version, test it, and improve it. Sequence words show the order: first, then, next, after that, at last. To find the writer’s attitude, look at the adjectives and verbs: smart, simple, proud, happy show a positive attitude. Our new words: complex means made of many parts; impact is a strong effect; a step is one stage in a process; a thought is an idea in your mind; a version is one form of something, such as the first version of a bag. Always use the whole sentence around a word to check its meaning.
| Step | Sequence word | What the inventor does |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | First | Notices a problem |
| 2 | Then | Brainstorms ideas |
| 3 | Next | Builds a first version |
| 4 | After that | Tests it and improves it |
| 5 | At last | Shares the final version |
Reem noticed that the fruit in her school bag became warm and soft. She decided to find a solution. First she asked three friends if they had the same problem. Then she brainstormed ideas: a wet cloth, a cooling pad or a thicker bag. Next she made a first version with a wet cloth and a plastic box. She tested it for one morning, but the cloth dried too fast. After that she improved her model by adding a second cloth. At last her new bag kept the fruit cool until noon. Her teacher said it was a smart and simple idea, and Reem felt proud.
Invention steps. Think of a small problem at home (a door that closes loudly, a warm drink, a messy desk). With a grown-up draw the five steps of your invention in boxes with sequence words. Present it in five sentences.