NEWS RELEASE: Fountain Elementary Fourth Grade Student Chosen as a Little Inventor
Chris Gillom, fourth grade student at Fountain Elementary School in Roseville, was one of ten Macomb County students chosen to have his invention come to life through the Little Inventors Challenge. Little Inventors is a global creative education organization that inspires imagination by taking student ideas and turning them into reality. Gillom’s design was selected out of 1800 entries throughout Macomb County.
As part of Roseville Community Schools’ Gifted and Talented Program, Gillom and his fellow classmates participated in the Little Inventors Challenge for the first time this year. Gifted and Talented Program teacher Sheryl Vitale said that the challenge encourages students to use their creativity to design something that generates energy, saves energy, or uses energy better. “They were taught to think about ideas that were fantastical, original, made-up, bonkers, futuristic, funny, inspiring, and ingenious.” Gillom and his fellow classmates kept a Little Inventors logbook to document their ideas throughout the process. “Students sketched out their ideas and wrote a short paragraph, highlighting what the invention is for, what it does, and how it works.” Through the lessons, Vitale taught her students about the invention process. “The students learned about how and why things get invented, whether it is out of necessity or if it is for solving a problem. They also learned about types of energy, how it impacts every living thing, and how humans move, inspired by biomimicry.”
Gillom’s invention is called “Super Wings.” “It’s a helmet with wings that automatically works when you jump,” said Gillom. “The helmet is made of metal, and the wings automatically flap. You wouldn’t have to spend a lot of money on flights, and if you’re not taking flights, there won’t be as much air pollution.” Gillom found out he was chosen on April 15 via a Zoom call between his class, representatives from the MISD, and staff from Little Inventors. He said he was completely shocked when his name was announced. “I didn’t know what to say. I was overwhelmed with joy.” Vitale said that Gillom is a creative and diligent student. “He has a strong artistic flair, and he excels in STEAM subjects. I am thrilled to have him as part of my class.” Next up for Gillom, he will meet virtually with an engineer/designer who lives in Germany to discuss his ideas. The engineer will design a prototype which will be unveiled during a celebration ceremony on May 29 at the Macomb Intermediate School District.
Through the Little Inventors program, students across the world showcase their creativity and problem-solving skills, build their confidence, curiosity, and resilience to become caring citizens of our planet, all invaluable attributes that will support them as adults in their everyday life and chosen career paths. Vitale said that challenges like the one Little Inventors offers show her students that inventions are everywhere and that they can create solutions to challenges. “It fosters creative thinking and problem-solving across various subjects. My students utilize the engineering design process to brainstorm, test theories, and authentically solve problems. They learn to express their ideas through drawings, writing, and speech, while planning and evaluating their work, as well gaining awareness of related careers and manufacturing.” You can learn more about Little Inventors at littleinventors.org.
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