BY PENNY LEUTHARD, STAFF WRITER

 

 

The three fifth-grade classrooms were filled with people, inventions and displays as the students eagerly demonstrated and explained their projects and answered questions, often in Spanish.

 

This year’s inventions again exhibited the students’ talent and imagination, with ideas that ranged from the practical to the unique. Pets, activities and sports were a common theme.

 

In Mrs. Clymer’s classroom, Nikita B. explained ‘The Hamster Carrier.’ The carrier, made out of a storage container, has all the necessities for hamster comfort, including a house, toys, water and bedding. Treats are attached to the side. 

 

“Say you have a small pet and want to stay with him at all times,” he said. “This invention lets you do that.” Nikita’s own hamster inspired his creation.

 

Harrison P. invented ‘The Sport Table’ because he has so much sporting equipment. The invention has spots for a basketball, baseball, hockey puck and football, keeping everything in one place.

 

‘The Kitty Chaser’ was James G.’s invention. She created a mouse on wheels that she attached to a long string so it can be drug around.

 

“My cat’s too energetic and lazy at the same time,” she said. “She loves it.”

 

Over in Profesora Maria’s classroom, Addie S. was explaining her invention, ‘Find My Arrow,’ which she even created a logo for. 

 

“There’s a GPS on the arrow and an app for your cellphone that helps you track it,” she said. “My dad hunts all the time and always loses his arrows, so he really wants this invention.”

 

Jocie W. created ‘The Paralyzed Bike,’ which can be pedaled and steered with a person’s arms, because she felt bad for people who can’t go on bike rides with their families because they can’t use their legs.

 

Her twin sister, Izzie W., developed ‘The Skate Boot,’ a combination winter boot and ice skate.

 

“I love to go skating but when it’s cold out I can’t be out very long,” she explained. “And skates take forever to get on. You can slip The Skate Boot on easily, and it’s warm and fuzzy inside so you can skate longer.”

 

Ian E. invented the ‘Cooler Caddie’ to give people a place to put their fast food, keeping the food warm and the drinks cold.

 

Profesora Jourdan’s classroom was also filled with inventions and crowded with people milling around admiring them.

 

Ella G. created ‘The Cat Cleaner,’ a device that helps keep kitty litter from getting all over the house.

 

“I have two cats that inspired me to make it,” she explained. “They always have kitty litter in their paws and it gets everywhere. I hate it. The Cat Cleaner keeps it front of the litter box.”

 

Sam B. invented ‘The Cube,’ which has separate cord sections for electronics such as cellphones, game controllers and tablets, and provides a place to plug them in.

 

“I saw my family was getting mad about who took their cord all the time,” he said. “I think it will really help them.”

 

A problem with too many stuffed animals inspired Cora B. to create the ‘Rotatable Animal Tree Swing,’ which works on a pulley system and has seat beats so the animals can’t fall out. One of Sawyer T.’s chores is to feed the family pets, so he invented ‘The Fast Feeder’ to help make the job quicker and easier.

 

A love of fishing led to Shayne P.’s invention, ‘The Como,’ a tackle box that uses safety pins to keep hooks on.

 

“I like to fish a lot,” he said. “I like using The Como because it makes my hooks organized and safer.”

 

“They all put a lot of effort into their inventions,” said fifth-grade teacher Mrs. Clymer. “They all did awesome.”