News Release

Lemelson-MIT program expands invention education opportunities for middle and high school students

Free invention activity guides available to educators nationwide to bring hands-on learning to the classroom

Grant and Award Announcement

Lemelson-MIT Program

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Feb. 25, 2016 - The Lemelson-MIT Program announced today the expansion of the Junior Varsity (JV) InvenTeam™ initiative, adding California to its geographic line up of student teams in Massachusetts, Oregon and Texas. The initiative launched in 2014 and equips educators with invention-based activity guides, materials and tools to enhance science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education through hands-on skill building. JV InvenTeam activity guides are available for any educator to download here.

"There is a need for hands-on invention experiences in the classroom for middle and high school students," said Leigh Estabrooks, Lemelson-MIT Program invention education officer. "The JV InvenTeam initiative reinforces integrated STEM learning and offers a structured, fun and team-oriented environment for students to solve problems. These enrichment experiences engage youth by making science relevant to the real-world. Students can begin to envision a future in the STEM workforce."

The JV InvenTeam initiative is helping to build an ecosystem of invention within each team's community. Teams of students in grades 7-10 will have the opportunity to create useful and unique invention projects and explore STEM opportunities on a college campus. Educators are offered support from local partner organizations, including 21st Century Community Learning Centers, Boys & Girls Clubs and museums. Corporate sponsor Stanley Black & Decker has generously equipped the teams with a donation of hand and power tools to help students develop new skill sets in inventive thinking and doing.

Meet the 2016 JV InvenTeams

There are 37 JV InvenTeams from 27 schools in California, Massachusetts, Oregon and Texas that represent a diverse group of students in grades 7 -10 from public, public charter, and magnet schools. JV InvenTeams in each geographical location are offered a Campus Connection, a unique opportunity to visit a college campus.

California JV InvenTeams

Campus Connection: Antelope Valley College

  • Boys & Girls Club of Carson at King Drew Medical Magnet High School (Los Angeles)
  • Boys & Girls Club of Carson at Alain Leroy Locke College Preparatory Academy (Los Angeles)
  • Downtown Magnets High School (Los Angeles)
  • JetSpace at Alain Leroy Locke College Preparatory Academy (Los Angeles; 2 teams)
  • Knight Preparatory Academy (Palmdale)
  • SOAR Preparatory Academy (Lancaster)
  • West Valley Boys & Girls Club at Canoga Park High School (Canoga Park)

Massachusetts JV InvenTeams

Campus Connection: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  • 21st Century Baystate Springfield Educational Partnership at Roger L. Putnam Vocational Technical Academy (Springfield)
  • Alfred G. Zanetti Montessori Magnet School (Springfield)
  • Chelsea High School (Chelsea)
  • Expanding Horizons: Salem Public Schools and LEAP for Education (Salem)
  • Lowell High School (Lowell)
  • Pittsfield High School in partnership with the Berkshire Museum (Pittsfield)
  • Monument Valley Middle School in partnership with the Berkshire Museum (Great Barrington)
  • The English High School (Jamaica Plain)
  • Wareham Middle School (Wareham)

Oregon JV InvenTeams

Campus Connection: Portland State University

  • Dayton High School (Dayton; six teams)
  • Oregon City Service Learning Academy (Oregon City; four teams)
  • ScienceWorks Museum/Ashland Middle School (Ashland)
  • Siuslaw High School (Florence; two teams)

Texas JV InvenTeams

Campus Connection: University of Houston

  • Energy Institute High School (Houston)
  • KIPP Generations Collegiate High School (Houston)
  • KIPP Houston High School (Houston)
  • Paul Revere Middle School (Houston)
  • Sharpstown International School (Houston)
  • Waller High School (Waller)
  • Yes Prep Brays Oaks (Houston)

"As a science educator, I always believe there can be more hands-on STEM projects in our classes. When students are able to work collaboratively on a design, they are building life skills of communicating, problem solving, and planning," said Bethany Taft, JV InvenTeam educator with Oregon City Service Learning Academy. "Now using the JV InvenTeam activity guides, we see students being more creative in their problem solving, applying their prior knowledge to new situations, and communicating better with their peers."

The initiative, supported by The Lemelson Foundation, builds upon InvenTeams™, the Lemelson-MIT Program's national grants initiative engaging high school students in invention education activities. Additional partnership opportunities are available for corporations, universities, civic groups, nonprofits, and private foundations interested in cultivating inventiveness among students in grades 7-10 underserved in STEM. Visit http://lemelson.mit.edu/get-involved for more information.

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ABOUT THE LEMELSON-MIT PROGRAM

Celebrating invention, inspiring youth

The Lemelson-MIT Program celebrates outstanding inventors and inspires young people to pursue creative lives and careers through invention. Jerome H. Lemelson, one of U.S. history's most prolific inventors, and his wife Dorothy founded the Lemelson-MIT Program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1994. It is funded by The Lemelson Foundation and administered by the School of Engineering at MIT, an institution with a strong ongoing commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for K-12 STEM education.

ABOUT THE LEMELSON FOUNDATION

Based in Portland, The Lemelson Foundation uses the power of invention to improve lives. Inspired by the belief that invention can solve many of the biggest economic and social challenges of our time, the Foundation helps the next generation of inventors and invention-based businesses to flourish. The Lemelson Foundation was established in the early 1990s by prolific inventor Jerome Lemelson and his wife Dorothy. To date the Foundation has made grants totaling more than $185 million in support of its mission. For more information, visit http://lemelson.org.

ABOUT STANLEY BLACK & DECKER

Stanley Black & Decker, an S&P 500 company, is a diversified global provider of hand tools, power tools and related accessories, mechanical access and electronic security solutions, healthcare solutions, engineered fastening systems, and more. Learn more at http://www.stanleyblackanddecker.com.


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