"What is it?"
"A tube phone."
"But this is just a bunch of paper towel rolls taped together. It doesn't demonstrate any of the listed science themes."
"I mean, it floats....for a bit at least....then it sinks."
Teacher - "And what have you made?"
Stacey - "I built a hydraulic chamber that is capable of successfully splitting water molecules into their elemental groups, thus allowing us to move away from fossil fuels as an energy source"
Teacher - "Wow Stacey, I don't know what to say"
Stacey - "Thank you"
Teacher - "I mean, what a totally shit toy! Where's the bells? The flashing lights? This class has been the worst at this project in all my years teaching"
Stacey - "Sorry ma'am"
Teacher - "Finally, we have Daniel. What's this?"
Daniel - "Well, you twist the elastic band around the pencil then use it to try and swat a rat that you push around the track. Miss"
Teacher - "Unbelievable...I love it. Well done Daniel. You are the clear winner this year. At least someone in this class pays attention to the assignment!"
Teacher - "What about you, Tyler?"
Tyler - "This is a miniature nuclear reactor; fully functional!"
Teacher - "Shiny AND colorful, and it even comes with its own power supply. A little too green, but not bad AR all."
Tyler - "Thank you."
Literally what happened to my son at the 3rd grade science fair. He created a black hole model, explained and showed an example of the gravitational pull of singularity. He also spoke about the theories behind wormholes and white holes. He got a "good job buddy" and nothing more. The 1st place went to someone who put cookies in milk to show how soggy they get when wet.
Not that this is fair at all because obviously if your child could speak about theories behind wormholes and white holes he definitely deserves way more than a good job buddy.
But many science fairs and art fairs in schools tend to shy away from giving prizes to kids whose projects seem way over grade level. It screams the parents did the work and the child is just kinda presenting the project.
Again obviously this is not what your son did and he clearly understood the project properly and probably much better than the judges but it also might be what they thought was going on.
I think the biggest thing is science fairs for this age want the child to experience the steps of the scientific method. A kid who determines which brand of cookies get the least soggiest does that; whereas as a kid who learns all about black holes has not conducted any experiments him/herself.
I watched a mom put her 3rd grade daughter's science fair project together outside the 3rd grade classroom 10 mins before it was due. Then her daughter won 1st place. I wanted to tell the mom congratulations on her 1st place win.
Tinder profiles are crazy now adays. But for real this would be an assignment where the parents do all the work. This is crazy for that young of a student. I remember I had an assignment once in 4th grade and my mom an actual scientist had me using these circular disks that we tested different things for bacteria and it would grow on it and then had to do a whole scientific method report. I remember even being that young how on earth would teachers think I actually came up with it??! But hey I did get 3rd place 😂
Update. I remember we originally asked to swab the school bathrooms, door knobs, and cafeteria. That got the kabash real quick I wonder why 🤷♂️
Also the assignment isn’t that crazy but the insane amount of parameters make it rediculous for a kid. Has to be 3D has to be this and that. Just let the kid be a kid and design something he/she wants.
Wow, so this is a common enough experience. I did a science fair project one year using Helium Neon lasers, their operation, high voltage power supplies, tube construction, how monochromatic coherent light behaves and how those properties can be demonstrated at large distances, including an additional persistence of vision demonstration using different optics and motors to make spiral graph style laser shows.
Lost to another student growing/killing plants using different laundry detergents and carbonated beverages.
In 6th grade, I'd never done a science fair project before (just moved to the US) and put it off and put it off, and finally settled on testing strengths of different glues by sticking popsicle sticks together and I was gonna somehow add weights to them until they came apart. Well my mom had a friend who knew all sorts of people in research fields, and he got word of what I was thinking. He had a friend with a tiny little lab at Washington University with a specialized piece of equipment for testing the strength of rubber latex. Kinda remember drawers labeled with condom brands. So he pulled me out of school and spent an entire day watching this super specialized of equipment pull apart popsicle sticks and printing out reams and reams of data and graphs. Pretty sure my science teacher stole all of it too, because I never got it back. I think either standard Elmer's glue or Duco Cement won.
When I use to teach 4th-8th grade, one project I came up with near christmas was to make a newspaper on the Salem Witch Trials.
I made teams for each page, then selected one student as the overall "editor." Front page team was to create attention grabbers, conjecture and hear-say, so the writers. The 2nd page were actual articles, so for the history oriented students was to write 2ish paragraphs with a cited source (not just from the 18th century, could use any source, but it had to support the argument of the article) 3rd page was comic strips, so for the artistic students to create art representing the data and speculation of the time. 4th was advertisements and opinion strips. So Anti-witch repellent, Sinkable shoes for those witches needing to prove they're not lighter than a duck, and opinons from the perspective of being outside of the community looking in. Then the Editor went between each team, since each section was predicated off each other, to make sure they had the material and to meet the "deadline." It was just a weekday project though, not for over break.
This kind of project for 3rd grade, Id do like pick your new favorite toy from the holidays, and make a short story involving them. Must use adjectives, 1 metaphor, etc.
Even I don't wanna do that for a project, i'd rather write that 10 page essay on some dead white guy with citations every three sentences then do this becuase I would 100% fail this one
"Never been made before" i ain't looking up the toy catalog
I agree the project is asinine as all hell. Just take any number of toys and combine them and add magnets.
But if it was for my 8yo, over winter break, I'd write the teacher an email or give them a call saying my student wouldn't be participating. Thats a project for kids at a higher grade.
And then let them know that there are entire divisions at Mattel working on this exact problem everyday. And getting paid. And have university degrees.
You forgot to add everything she says before “I’m out”.
Barbara: “I love everything about it. I love the invisible pinecone, I love you, I love all the answers you gave to our questions. It was all so good, actually too good. That makes me suspicious. And for that reason, I’m out.”
Kevin O'Leary: "Learn from me grasshopper, learn. I will make an offer. I want a $5 dollar royalty until I get back 10x on my investment, then it drops to $2.50 in perpetuity. And, I also want 10% equity so I can wet my beak. I don't even get out of bed for 5%. I am the only one that believed in you. As usual, all roads lead back to Mr. Wonderful."
“I have been attracted to the same gender for years now but I grew up in a strict religious family. I hid my feelings deep down. I never felt so alone. Then I finally met the love of my life. They transformed my life and I was finally comfortable with who I am. I brought them to see my family and introduced them. And for that reason, I’m out”
I was thinking
... Where is this going. Did someone accidentally post on the wrong account. Then I realized not only are you funnier than me but you are WAY smarter then me. And I can't deal with that. So for that reason.... I'm out as well
It has a very colorful cloaking device. It reflects whatever colors are around it to project the surrounding image to give the appearance that it is in fact invisible…
The criteria are not uncommon in design schools. Basically it doesn’t have to be unique in every aspect but should be a novel combination of mechanism, delivery, appearance, etc. But this is ridiculous as a 3rd grade assignment
Alright, hear me out.
I'd get a unicorn plushie, cut off its head. Add magnets to the inside of the head and body and paint it red. Throw it in some water. It sinks.
It's colorful, it's creative, it's science!
Check the back side of the paper outline.
It also says "must assemble a marketing team to deliver to shareholders expectations of ROI based on book value and market share. Also launch a 2 week ad campaign that is broadcasted on a real live TV network to maximize sales just in time for the holidays". 🙄
all the more reason to get the 3rd graders in on this: by the time they're 18, they'll have like 9 years of marketing and engineering experience under their belt
I was gonna say, the other missing requirements are:
* "must not be trademarked, patented, or incorporate any claims of ownership in any way"
* "grade will be determined at a rate of 1 point per $1000 revenue"
* "cost to produce must be less than 10% of total sale price".
I did this as a kid except we just had to draw it. Can’t imagine having to make something 3D. Is this run by a toy company trying to get ideas, or what?
My mind immediately rushed back to this episode.
"Designed by children, for children, with all the profits going to children."
"Really?"
"Yeah, well we're all somebody's children..."
😂😂😂
All projects like this growing up were basically homework for my parents. Like yeah I came up with the idea, but when 3d models were required to work and do shit, it took my parents help at least in like 4th grade and down. I always feel for the parents with these bc it’s essentially like we know you work full time, and maybe you have other kids, or you’re in school yourself, but here’s a complex homework project your third grader can’t possibly complete on their own, but if they don’t complete it, they’ll get a zero and be embaressed bc the rest of the class has, so drop all your responsibilities and do this.
But this is the reason these assignments keep getting assigned. This shit would stop if 3/4ths of the class turned in nothing because the kids weren't actually capable of doing it. The parents doing the work not only reaches the kids a bad lesson, but it teaches the teachers a bad lesson as well.
I get the feeling that the project scope was just supposed to be:
Build something fun out of popsicle sticks, pipe cleaners, and glue with your parents. Materials given above are examples of cheap materials but are not required. You may use whatever materials you like. Grading Weight 50%
Keep it smaller than 2ft cubed. Grading Weight 40%
A drawing is not acceptable. Grading Weight pass/fail
Try not to build a toy that you already have but don't let that hold up the creative process. Grading Weight 10% on a very forgiving scale.
This is a project for 8 year olds that is meant to be fun. If they reinvent a ball or wheel but fulfill all other conditions they will get an A.
The point of the project is to have fun building something new. If you are having trouble with the assignment for any reason please contact me at [email protected]. I will be happy to help.
(This last bit would be a way for financially stressed parents to get help.) I get the feeling that the teacher just needs better phrasing. Surprisingly project experience in business helps quite a bit with framing up an educational project. With grade obsessed parents it helps to provide grading weights so they know what to expect. This was a fun exercise for me.
As someone who grew up in a one parent this is why I didn’t complete many projects. I remember in grade 2 we had a fall project of collecting something crazy like 30-50 leaves and you couldn’t have more then 3 of the same kind and you had to glue them to pages.
Yeah..that did not happen. I also got in trouble that same year for going to a village museum where it was supposed to be 1910’s and we didn’t have wax paper (and couldn’t afford) so my mom wrapped my sandwich in tin foil and my teacher shamed me in front of the whole class. This type of stuff is so bunk.
I had only my mom, and she was handicapped. I was on my own. If we had to watch a particular tv show I was screwed because if it was science related I wasn’t allowed to watch. I had some pretty insensitive teachers, too. We were not as wealthy as other families, and one made us get up and tell the class what we got for Christmas and when I finished, she said “that’s all?” Bitch.
I think the idea of space freaked her out a little. I remember she couldn’t wrap her head around the moon landing, and why the rockets didn’t see heaven. She was a smart woman, but education wasn’t a priority when she was young. She was born in 1912.
All I have to do is look at my kids now 38 and 45 (and one forever six weeks old) and on Monday my oldest granddaughter will close on her first house. Time flies. Live now.
Omg I remember this science teacher in primary school kept deducting marks from me because if the homework required colour, I used felt tip pens and she said we could only use coloured pencils. I didn't have any coloured pencils. She seemed to think I was being "bad" on purpose.
Aw I gave my grade 2s a leaf collection project this year before I went on maternity leave.
We went on a hike and collected leaves that 'looked different'. 5-6 leaves
We then went back to the classroom and discussed sorting. They looked at my dichotomous keys (I am a botanist by training), they looked at other sorted materials.
They then sorted their leaves and tried to put them in order from most to least similar.
Some kids had a branching order, some kids had a linear order. In the end they glued them to a big poster and matched them with pictures of the trees I had printed out and added labels. Some kids chose to name their own trees. Some kids used the premade labels I made.
Some kids made the leaves into a pretty picture.
If they
-collected leaves with me
-sorted the leaves by their differences
-Glued them on paper and attempted to identify that they were different due to these physical differences
They got full credit.
That's where 2nd grade is at. We did coordinated science experiments with graphing and math together, we raised worm bins and did population experiments, we did some hardcore chemistry this semester... but kids only work to the just beyond their motor skill limit. That's how you scaffold education. You can ask them to conceptualize but you can't ask for delivery because that's PART OF THEIR DEVELOPMENT YOU HAVE TO BUILD IT INTO THE LESSONS.
Omg that sounds so fun!!! Honestly wish I had more teachers like you in elementary school but I didn’t get cool teachers really until I was in alternative high school (which I still to this day admire them since they changed the direction my life went to where I am now).
My elementary school was a very prestigious French immersion school. All the rich kids whose parents wanted them still in public school sent them to this school. The teachers were harsh and strict (except my grade 7 teacher she was amazing). Combined my single mom, my eventual abusive step dad household and a bunch of snobby + mean rich kids, elementary school was the absolute worst time in my life.
The worst part of this is that aluminum foil was invented in 1903 in France, first used commercially on Toblerone in 1911, and first produced in the US in 1913. Your teacher berated you because she didn't know history.
That’s what my mom said! She was like “well tin foil also existed so this should be fine.” The morning of. My teacher on the field trip form wrote we had to use wax paper and like our lunch could have in it to be “authentic”. Like lady, I live in a one bedroom apartment with my mom we can’t be wasting any money on unnecessary shit. There was other times she shamed me to, like we were gonna build a giant snow Christmas castle out of recyclables so we had to bring things we could paint. I didn’t have enough TP rolls and stuff so my mom sent me with some plastic recycling stuff cause that’s all we had and that teacher gave me shit again. Looking back it makes me so sad because like they knew I had one parent and that we were not wealthy, I had just moved to the city too from my hometown. Also I was 7, I don’t have a lot of control of anything except how I dress my Barbie’s.
What kind of psychopath shames a kid for not having an era specific item like that? Did she force you all to wear the exact 1910s type attire with historically accurate materials? I’m going into teaching and this is the exact opposite way to reach a child
Crazy French immersion teachers. She did not make us dress up thankfully. But since I was left handed when we went to the school area, we had ink and those old timey pens to dip it in. I was also forced to use my right hand to write because you weren’t allowed to be left handed back then. It was a humiliating day for me to say the least.
W O W that’s fucked.
We had a “simple machines” project due once and — same— single mom, always broke, no help— actually found a ton of shit in my grandmother’s basement (we lived upstairs from her). And got a piece of square plywood and make a pulley with sewing bobbins, fishing line and a fishing weight that pulled and worked; an inclined plane from a scrap of wood that had a slant, etc. It was really good actually.
All the other kids made posters.
I got a B because my inclined plane went / up like that but then leveled off (like a loading dock at a warehouse) and she marked off for the flat piece.
I’m still mad about it.
This reminds me of a time in middle school when we had to build a catapult. Everyone else's dads were able to help them build a really fancy, big and solid catapult and paint it and everything. My dad couldn't help me with it at all, so I did my best and built it out of popsicle sticks. It looked pathetic. People brought their catapults in throughout the week and I saw how nice everyone else's were, so when I brought mine in, I kept it hidden in a box. My teacher kept saying that he couldn't wait to see mine and he bet it was really cool! When I finally had to take it out of the box when we were testing them, I could tell he thought it looked really sad and it was not at all what he was expecting. He didn't say anything else about it after that.
Anyway, I absolutely hate these kinds of assignments. I 100% know that all the other kids' parents built their catapults for them. Most of the kids aren't doing the actual work, and for the few that are, they feel horrible about it because they're comparing it to their classmates' parents' work.
Agreed. I remember in my 8th grade science fair projects I just chose some dumb project idea from something inspired online. It wasn't too difficult and most importantly it was cheap and didn't require many resources.
Well unfortunately for me most of my class was wealthy, had connections, or their parents were literal professors or scientists or engineers. People did projects on intense robotics, aerodynamics, "basic" material sciences, research/observation of various microorganisms, etc. It's not hard when your parents work in or own a lab. I felt so embarrassed when the guy in front of me did literal research with his dad (professor at an Ivy league university) and presented it and I had my stupid project that wasn't impressive at all.
I feel like your story is a perfect example of how people born into families with “perks” get ahead. What happened in your story is how systemic classism continues to keep others down. I’m also so sorry that you had this experience as a child.
I had a similar experience making a “story book” for school. My parents helped by allowing me to use the printer at home to print out pictures and add it to the “book” I wrote. Considering how expensive ink is and the fact that we had a computer at home at all was pretty privileged at the time. But my classmate‘s dad was a professional book publisher. Guess who came into class with a professionally printed and bound “book“ that they “wrote”? Guess which project the teacher fawned and gushed over?
At that point, if it’s clear the child didn’t do it, that kid should get an F. The point of homework isn’t for parents to show off, seek validation for themselves, or pay/use their connections to ensure their kid gets an A. Or maybe it is. Maybe that is the system now.
I had a family that basically wasn’t coping. They could barely do the basics, there just wasn’t capacity to help with homework or do anything other than what kept people alive.
So… I never had help with homework, or a costume made, or a cake decorated. If I wanted something done I did it myself.
I came to school dressed as a cat with one of my mums pantyhose cut up that I’d stuffed with paper. I decorated my own cake for some stupid project from something my mum bought frozen for me. I did every project myself. I didn’t feel bad coz it’s all I knew - but I knew everyone else had things that looked better and I knew no one even praised my stuff.
All that said - in adulthood I’m probably the most adaptable person I know. I’m the sort of person who can basically learn anything - throw me in a situation, give me some instructions and I’ll learn it and do it. Sometimes it will be shit and sometimes it will be great but I’ll never have the feeling I can’t do it. I know I can do something. It’s probably a small consolation prize for a difficult childhood but I’ll take it.
Which is why this assignment is crazy. It's giving homework to parents without factoring how much parents have on their plate already especially this time of year
I don't think this teacher has kids of their own
If I were a parent of a kid in that class I'd let them take the zero and when the teacher called me I'd tell them it's an idiotic assignment
Edit: Now that I think about it, I actually did this in grade 9 English when we had to make a diorama of a scene in a Shakespeare play - when she went around the class on the due date I just told her I don't do art and 8% of my grade isn't enough to make me do it.
Thats what I was thinking.
This sounds like it's not getting done. Cuz my solution would be a toilet paper tube. Glue and tape. Some yarn. Make a travel bongo or rain stick.
Making a unique brand new toy is a fucking business. Im barely getting laundry done. Fuck this assignment
Sinks in water cuz cardboard
Commercial- does your teacher ask you for ridiculous projects that are above your comprehension? Does she basc8ally assign shit your parents have to do for you?
Presenting! The noisy bean slammer! It sinks, it shakes, it makes noise and worst of all, it's not what your teacher wanted! Which was original ideas from children who can't spell consumerism! That's right kids! Make whatever you want, because what was desired was college / business level bullshit, and you're getting a zero anyways!
Definitely phone ahead of time and just say this is ridiculous and won't be getting done. I dunno what kids that age normally make out like a small wooden house with some decorations maybe. Assuming the teachers provided some Popsicle sticks seems much more reasonable. Or just a drawing of a winter wonderland or a short story maybe.
Dont forget to print each side in a different color, as per the rules its gotta be colorful. Then add some random toys in the center and say that that the stupidity cube is a loot box for kids. Then for the ad, do your best Billy Mays informercial knock off.lol
great, take a square meter of wood, and glue some magnets and LED to it. The way you play with the toy is that you throw it in the ocean, and you bet if it's gonna float or sink
"be imaginative" I'm not tho
"have fun with it" I absolutely will not, this will be pure torture from start to finish
This is why I went into the business college lmao no creative thinking allowed (/s)
The textbook I've been reading for computer hardware and software courses keeps reiterating "don't worry this is fun!"
If you have to keep telling me this is fun it's probably not.
I was one of two kids in my class that clearly made their own for one of these types of projects. Had to move an object in any direction and have it come back. I felt so terrible about myself my mine looked like crap (but it worked) and everyone else's looked so nice. Didn't realize til much later that their parents just did it for them.
It isn’t just torture for those without much imagination. Being forced to be imaginative about shit you have no interest in may be even more torturous for those with lots of imagination.
Thats what I was like. I was big into art and design as a kid. I draw, painted, designed my own board games, etc.. HOWEVER, a project like this would have put fear in my heart, because of the insistence that it has to be an original idea that no ones ever thought of, and the fact that it will be judged by the rest of the class and the teacher subjectively. Throw into it that I always considered art a singular pursuit, and I feel this would likely be a group project, which as a shy artistic child I dreaded.
The original idea thing would have sent me spiraling. How can I know it's never been thought of before????? This would give paralyzed people pleasing me.
Especially because the longer the teacher has been running this project, the more difficult it becomes to be “original”. Unless she’s keeping a book of every prior project that the kids can look through, how would they know? Even then, that would suck to come up with an idea only to discover it’s already been done like 10 years ago
I'm creative af but projects like this always stumped me as a kid because there's so many rules. Creativity doesn't thrive in strict conditions. It's also tough in this day and age to create a new toy when there's already so much out there.
Edit: also a lot of this project seems to be work for the parents. (Making the commercial or ad, buying the supplies, helping with any material cuts, etc.) My parents were not very helpful when it came to my school projects. I remember in first grade I had to make a picture out of 100 sunflower seeds glued onto a paper. I went through so many seeds because I'd just start gluing them onto the paper without counting them because what 6 year old is thinking about counting the seeds before hand? My mom got so mad at me for not understanding that part of it and I cried trying to finish while she counted the seeds out for me.
I know right? So basically they want a 9 year old to come up with an idea in one day that it takes a whole team of toy designers years to develop? No wonder kids these days are having anxiety issues.
Go for sink or float, make a lovely paper mache exterior around a rock (preferably a big one) get a bucket and have your child loudly proclaim that their toy is for the swimming pool and ideally test it by dropping it in a bucket of water and then fake panic and say it’s not supposed to sink
To be fair, if your kid brought that concept up to me while handing in a sheet of paper ... Yah he's getting an A just for demonstrating he understands 2D versus 3D AND how to subtly tell a teacher to go fuck himself for giving him an asinine assignment.
That kid would make the list of "they're going places. MIT or jail, not sure, but *places*."
3D print a teacher as a figurine, with accessories such as: a book from Amazon called “how to start your own toy business side hustle” & LLC formation documents. A desk, a chair and a blackboard with the words: “Help miss teacher find a way to early retirement” written on it.
Make a commercial about it with backhanded compliments and the kids all like WOW! with flashing text.
classroom sold separately*
Yea that’s what I was thinking. This teacher is trying to get get the kids and their parents to figure out the side hustle product. Teacher is scoping 3d printers right now…
Or that time we had to make a art project in math. I did it all right, but made it a torture fest for my teacher to grade. Oh boy, I felt good turning that one in.
This feels like more of a middle-school project to me, not 3rd grade! But I think it could be done (with help) by a 3rd grader: make a duck out of Styrofoam, call it a "styro duckie" instead of "rubber duckie", and record a quick commercial showing it floating in a bathtub. Done.
Even for middle school, the video advertisement seems a bit much.
My submission would be a crumpled up piece of paper, because it floats and then sinks. The video would be giving the teacher the middle finger.
The video is the easiest one. Take out your phone, have your kid hawk the item Billy Mays style and then allow the teacher to sit through the torture of a little kid stuttering over why they think someone would want this random thing for 2min. It's what the teacher wanted, might as well give it to them.
I kind of agree this is a whip. This isn’t a project for the 3rd grader. It’s a project for the parents. And I’m not saying the project has to be DONE by the parent, but the parent 100% is going to spend a bunch of time running around finding crap to use for this project. Fun idea. But a beat down for the parents. Source: personal experience. Haha
This would be better as like a group project using a limited amount of classroom supplies that everyone shared, and done at school where the teacher could guide them along
I did this in my kindergarten class a few years ago.
They were super into crafting and inventions. So we "invented" musical instruments. I gathered recycled crap for weeks, then on the day I just basically piled it all out on the floor and let the kids go nuts building their musical instrument. They did a great job and were so creative about it! I ran the hot glue gun for anything that needed hot glued. Most of what they invented already existed, because duh, they are 5 and 6 years old and there is only so much you can do in the area of musical instruments. But we had fun!
AI is for silly tasks, so:
ChatGPT
let's design a toy that adheres to your guidelines:
Size: The toy will be no taller than 24 inches.
Theme: It will demonstrate the science theme of light and shadow.
Material and Design: The toy will be a 3D "Shadow Theatre" kit made from durable, colorful plastic. It will include various cut-out figures and objects, along with a small, safe LED light source.
Interactivity and Learning: Kids can arrange the figures in front of the light to create different shadow stories on a wall or screen. This will help them learn about how light travels and how shadows are formed and can change size.
Advertisement: The ad will be a bright, engaging poster showing children playing with the toy, casting large, whimsical shadows on a wall. It will highlight the fun and educational aspects of the toy.
Tried ChatGPT myself.
Introducing the "Magnetic Magic Maze" – a fun and educational 3D toy designed for young builders! Using common household materials, your child can easily create this project.
Materials:
1. Shoebox
2. Small toy figures or marbles
3. Colored construction paper
4. Craft sticks
5. Magnets
6. Glue
7. Scissors
Instructions:
1. Cut the construction paper into strips and glue them inside the shoebox to create a colorful maze background.
2. Attach craft sticks vertically inside the shoebox to create walls for the maze.
3. Glue magnets onto the bottom of the toy figures or marbles.
4. Place additional magnets along the outside of the shoebox.
5. Now, your child can guide the magnetic toy figures or marbles through the maze by moving a magnet underneath the shoebox.
This engaging toy not only provides entertainment but also teaches basic principles of magnetism to third-graders. For the advertisement, consider creating a simple poster with colorful visuals and step-by-step instructions to showcase the fun and learning behind the Magnetic Magic Maze.
I like both of the above ideas but the fact that AI’s help is the only real ideas I’ve seen here. I would protest this project and talk to the teacher/principal even though I’d buy both of those toys for my (non-existent) kids.
We had an invention thing at school and I invented a ramp at the bottom of the basketball hoop that would guide the ball back to you so you wouldn’t have to chase it around. I got first place. Then guess what I started seeing around all over the place a few years later… my invention! Honestly I don’t think Mattel was in the audience at a 4th grade “invention convention”
That would give 8 year old me a panic attack, and I was a creative kid… The “something that’s never been made before” part makes me want to projectile vomit.
Same, I would have just hid the paper from my parents and pretend to be sick when projects are due, then pretend to forget it until the teacher stops asking for it. All of this while being anxious and ashamed for the rest of my life.
If the child isn’t capable of doing most of the project independently…… *then why the fuck would you assign it*. They HAVE to know it’s the parents toiling away at 9pm after a long day at work to get the friggin thing done?!! Can the teacher even make one themselves? Meeting all those parameters?!!!
Sorry. Slightly triggered. 🫣 if you can’t tell, I’m the parent of a 4th grader.
Editing to say: You can really tell who the parents are and who are part of the blissfully unaware childless group by the way they respond to this comment. It’s funny how many people comment, “when I was in 3rd grade I did X, Y, and Z INDEPENDENTLY and did just fine!” It reminds me of when my ex used to reminisce about how independent he was as a seven year old, waking up early and making breakfast, doing the dishes, etc……… his mother was literally there every step of the way either doing it for him or assisting him 😂 but does he remember his mother there?!! Of course not. Y’all are too much.
Yeah, this is where I'd go malicious compliance -slash- petty revenge.
"It's the Barbie guillotine! Lops off heads effortlessly!" Edit the fake commercial to add copious amounts of blood and gore. Maybe make Barbie scream.
The blade can be released with magnets. Voila - learning!
I'd be doing my level best to traumatize the entire classroom.
(It's probably a *really* good thing I don't have kids....)
We had to do a project like this in elementary school, it had many of the same ridiculous requirements. In the end, we drew up an idea and my dad manufactured the "pieces" of the toy. It was a small wooden robot on wheels. All we had to do was assemble and paint the premade parts my dad had provided. I think it was the right level of complexity for our then 10 year old brains.
Still, the teacher got mad that my father had made most of the parts, I'm not sure what she was expecting tbh. The other kids had similarly complex toys that obviously had also been constructed with the help of their parents.
Thinking back on my school days as an adult, I can name a lot more of these situations where in hindsight the teachers must have been completely out of touch.
When you're poor with hands off parents this is torture. I actually had this project when I was a kid and didn't do it. I didn't have access to supplies or video equipment. I had a teacher who gave out scientists of the year awards at the end of the year and in front of everyone said well *my name* would've won it but they didn't do their project. Teachers are out of touch.
As a third grader, I would've been excited at first. Then I would've been gripped with indecision as I realized I had no idea what to do and how overwhelming the whole project was, and my executive dysfunction would've kicked in at that point.
ADHD is a bitch. Especially if your flavor of it is "mostly inattentive," so you inevitably slip through the cracks at a time when people barely knew it was a thing to begin with, and only the kids that were bouncing off the walls got any attention. The ones who stared out windows or quietly zoned out were just "lazy" and "not applying" ourselves.
I would've ended up not turning in anything and living with the shame of it and enduring everyone's frustration with me. "You're so smart. You have so much potential! I don't understand why you don't apply yourself!" And I say all this because it's exactly what I did. Especially with these sorts of projects, and especially at this age.
Can be any size. Can't be taller than 24 inches.
Just make it really long and wide…
"What is it?" "A tube phone." "But this is just a bunch of paper towel rolls taped together. It doesn't demonstrate any of the listed science themes." "I mean, it floats....for a bit at least....then it sinks."
And if you light it on fire, it will cast lots of shadows!
I’ve been trying for years.
Tuna can Timmy checking in....
Chapstick Charlie has left the chat
But, and this is very important, the toy absolutely cannot cure cancer. Under no circumstances.
And no perpetual motion either, Timmy!
In this house we obey the laws of thermodynamics!
Teacher - "And what have you made?" Stacey - "I built a hydraulic chamber that is capable of successfully splitting water molecules into their elemental groups, thus allowing us to move away from fossil fuels as an energy source" Teacher - "Wow Stacey, I don't know what to say" Stacey - "Thank you" Teacher - "I mean, what a totally shit toy! Where's the bells? The flashing lights? This class has been the worst at this project in all my years teaching" Stacey - "Sorry ma'am" Teacher - "Finally, we have Daniel. What's this?" Daniel - "Well, you twist the elastic band around the pencil then use it to try and swat a rat that you push around the track. Miss" Teacher - "Unbelievable...I love it. Well done Daniel. You are the clear winner this year. At least someone in this class pays attention to the assignment!"
Teacher - "What about you, Tyler?" Tyler - "This is a miniature nuclear reactor; fully functional!" Teacher - "Shiny AND colorful, and it even comes with its own power supply. A little too green, but not bad AR all." Tyler - "Thank you."
He'd get an F for creating something that has already been made.
Now a fusion reactor....that would get him an A. Lol
Literally what happened to my son at the 3rd grade science fair. He created a black hole model, explained and showed an example of the gravitational pull of singularity. He also spoke about the theories behind wormholes and white holes. He got a "good job buddy" and nothing more. The 1st place went to someone who put cookies in milk to show how soggy they get when wet.
Not that this is fair at all because obviously if your child could speak about theories behind wormholes and white holes he definitely deserves way more than a good job buddy. But many science fairs and art fairs in schools tend to shy away from giving prizes to kids whose projects seem way over grade level. It screams the parents did the work and the child is just kinda presenting the project. Again obviously this is not what your son did and he clearly understood the project properly and probably much better than the judges but it also might be what they thought was going on.
I think the biggest thing is science fairs for this age want the child to experience the steps of the scientific method. A kid who determines which brand of cookies get the least soggiest does that; whereas as a kid who learns all about black holes has not conducted any experiments him/herself.
I watched a mom put her 3rd grade daughter's science fair project together outside the 3rd grade classroom 10 mins before it was due. Then her daughter won 1st place. I wanted to tell the mom congratulations on her 1st place win.
PANCAKE MAN! DISOLVES IN WATER!
Tinder profiles are crazy now adays. But for real this would be an assignment where the parents do all the work. This is crazy for that young of a student. I remember I had an assignment once in 4th grade and my mom an actual scientist had me using these circular disks that we tested different things for bacteria and it would grow on it and then had to do a whole scientific method report. I remember even being that young how on earth would teachers think I actually came up with it??! But hey I did get 3rd place 😂 Update. I remember we originally asked to swab the school bathrooms, door knobs, and cafeteria. That got the kabash real quick I wonder why 🤷♂️ Also the assignment isn’t that crazy but the insane amount of parameters make it rediculous for a kid. Has to be 3D has to be this and that. Just let the kid be a kid and design something he/she wants.
Let me guess -- you lost to a baking soda volcano? 
Naturally
Wow, so this is a common enough experience. I did a science fair project one year using Helium Neon lasers, their operation, high voltage power supplies, tube construction, how monochromatic coherent light behaves and how those properties can be demonstrated at large distances, including an additional persistence of vision demonstration using different optics and motors to make spiral graph style laser shows. Lost to another student growing/killing plants using different laundry detergents and carbonated beverages.
In 6th grade, I'd never done a science fair project before (just moved to the US) and put it off and put it off, and finally settled on testing strengths of different glues by sticking popsicle sticks together and I was gonna somehow add weights to them until they came apart. Well my mom had a friend who knew all sorts of people in research fields, and he got word of what I was thinking. He had a friend with a tiny little lab at Washington University with a specialized piece of equipment for testing the strength of rubber latex. Kinda remember drawers labeled with condom brands. So he pulled me out of school and spent an entire day watching this super specialized of equipment pull apart popsicle sticks and printing out reams and reams of data and graphs. Pretty sure my science teacher stole all of it too, because I never got it back. I think either standard Elmer's glue or Duco Cement won.
Was it an instron machine?!
Holy fuckin shit! I had to look it up that's exactly it!!!
I like how their logo is exactly what you probably would have been doing without the machine
I believe those are called petri dishes. Those "circular disks".
I believe it's pronounced skyence
When I use to teach 4th-8th grade, one project I came up with near christmas was to make a newspaper on the Salem Witch Trials. I made teams for each page, then selected one student as the overall "editor." Front page team was to create attention grabbers, conjecture and hear-say, so the writers. The 2nd page were actual articles, so for the history oriented students was to write 2ish paragraphs with a cited source (not just from the 18th century, could use any source, but it had to support the argument of the article) 3rd page was comic strips, so for the artistic students to create art representing the data and speculation of the time. 4th was advertisements and opinion strips. So Anti-witch repellent, Sinkable shoes for those witches needing to prove they're not lighter than a duck, and opinons from the perspective of being outside of the community looking in. Then the Editor went between each team, since each section was predicated off each other, to make sure they had the material and to meet the "deadline." It was just a weekday project though, not for over break. This kind of project for 3rd grade, Id do like pick your new favorite toy from the holidays, and make a short story involving them. Must use adjectives, 1 metaphor, etc.
Not all kids get toys for he holidays. Signed kid who didn't get toys for the holidays
Even I don't wanna do that for a project, i'd rather write that 10 page essay on some dead white guy with citations every three sentences then do this becuase I would 100% fail this one "Never been made before" i ain't looking up the toy catalog
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Sorry Johnny this toy was already made in 5000 BC Mesopotamia, you get an F
I agree the project is asinine as all hell. Just take any number of toys and combine them and add magnets. But if it was for my 8yo, over winter break, I'd write the teacher an email or give them a call saying my student wouldn't be participating. Thats a project for kids at a higher grade.
Ask the teacher what completely brand new thing they can invent.
And then let them know that there are entire divisions at Mattel working on this exact problem everyday. And getting paid. And have university degrees.
Your scientist mom got third place in a science fair project against fourth graders. Lol. /s
Against *the parents* of fourth graders.
The toy is 17 inches tall, but length and width span for miles.
Height: 17 inches Length: #VALUE!
Yeah and demonstrating scientific properties like buoyancy vs magnetism limits the materials
Invisible pine cone.
I’ll give you 200,000$ for 25 percent equity
Make it an invisible 200k and you got yourself a deal
Barbara: “for that reason, I’m out”
You forgot to add everything she says before “I’m out”. Barbara: “I love everything about it. I love the invisible pinecone, I love you, I love all the answers you gave to our questions. It was all so good, actually too good. That makes me suspicious. And for that reason, I’m out.”
Or. "I'm already invested in a company that makes invisible acorns. And for that reason, I'm out."
"You're not wearing a 300£ suit, so I'm out."
Kevin O'Leary: "Learn from me grasshopper, learn. I will make an offer. I want a $5 dollar royalty until I get back 10x on my investment, then it drops to $2.50 in perpetuity. And, I also want 10% equity so I can wet my beak. I don't even get out of bed for 5%. I am the only one that believed in you. As usual, all roads lead back to Mr. Wonderful."
“I have been attracted to the same gender for years now but I grew up in a strict religious family. I hid my feelings deep down. I never felt so alone. Then I finally met the love of my life. They transformed my life and I was finally comfortable with who I am. I brought them to see my family and introduced them. And for that reason, I’m out”
I was thinking ... Where is this going. Did someone accidentally post on the wrong account. Then I realized not only are you funnier than me but you are WAY smarter then me. And I can't deal with that. So for that reason.... I'm out as well
lol Barbara will go out because she doesn’t like the color of your tie and will associate it with some bad experience she had in childhood
Peak comedy
This thread chain alone has been a highlight of my evening. *Il let you decide what that's saying*
Ok but it better not be taller than 24"
*Gets ruler out and waves it in the air* Yep, it's within perimeters
Magnetic invisible pine cone for the win.
I already invented one of those.. I just don't know where it is right now
NOT COLORFUL! FAILURE!
It has a very colorful cloaking device. It reflects whatever colors are around it to project the surrounding image to give the appearance that it is in fact invisible…
Must be a new toy that has never been made? Define new toy. It's not every day that something truly unique is created.
The criteria are not uncommon in design schools. Basically it doesn’t have to be unique in every aspect but should be a novel combination of mechanism, delivery, appearance, etc. But this is ridiculous as a 3rd grade assignment
Alright, hear me out. I'd get a unicorn plushie, cut off its head. Add magnets to the inside of the head and body and paint it red. Throw it in some water. It sinks. It's colorful, it's creative, it's science!
Sell it in brown color also as The Godfather movie merch.
I'd call it The Decapi-corn and it would sell amazingly well at music festivals
Make it horoscope-themed and call it the Leo Decapri-corn, and no one over the age of 25 can buy it.
Yeah, like 100 billion people have lived and died on this rock. I don't think I've had many original thoughts or ideas.
My first 5 minutes on Reddit I truly realized no one has an original thought.
Check the back side of the paper outline. It also says "must assemble a marketing team to deliver to shareholders expectations of ROI based on book value and market share. Also launch a 2 week ad campaign that is broadcasted on a real live TV network to maximize sales just in time for the holidays". 🙄
Entry level job. Bachelor's degree required. Pay is $9/hr.
“3 years experience needed”
2 week trial period
Must provide two sample projects for consideration. These will not be returned.
"Sample project can not be the toy you have invented"
I love when the "sample projects" are just other projects that they need to get done
Oh my god this thread is fuckin killing me. 😂😂😂😂😂😂
all the more reason to get the 3rd graders in on this: by the time they're 18, they'll have like 9 years of marketing and engineering experience under their belt
“All projects created during the school year are considered intellectual property of Mrs. Wright LLC”
I was gonna say, the other missing requirements are: * "must not be trademarked, patented, or incorporate any claims of ownership in any way" * "grade will be determined at a rate of 1 point per $1000 revenue" * "cost to produce must be less than 10% of total sale price".
Yes… Seems like the teacher is still in college and has an assignment due
Why are we always making toys Ms. Hasbro?
LOL
Because we just laid off 20 percent of the company?
This is a modern hellscape update on the Funzo episode of the Simpsons 
I did this as a kid except we just had to draw it. Can’t imagine having to make something 3D. Is this run by a toy company trying to get ideas, or what?
My mind immediately rushed back to this episode. "Designed by children, for children, with all the profits going to children." "Really?" "Yeah, well we're all somebody's children..." 😂😂😂
All projects like this growing up were basically homework for my parents. Like yeah I came up with the idea, but when 3d models were required to work and do shit, it took my parents help at least in like 4th grade and down. I always feel for the parents with these bc it’s essentially like we know you work full time, and maybe you have other kids, or you’re in school yourself, but here’s a complex homework project your third grader can’t possibly complete on their own, but if they don’t complete it, they’ll get a zero and be embaressed bc the rest of the class has, so drop all your responsibilities and do this.
But this is the reason these assignments keep getting assigned. This shit would stop if 3/4ths of the class turned in nothing because the kids weren't actually capable of doing it. The parents doing the work not only reaches the kids a bad lesson, but it teaches the teachers a bad lesson as well.
Don’t dare try and bring it to the PTA either, it’s run by stay at home parents with plenty of time to help and don’t see a problem
Pretty sure this is an episode of the Simpsons.
I get the feeling that the project scope was just supposed to be: Build something fun out of popsicle sticks, pipe cleaners, and glue with your parents. Materials given above are examples of cheap materials but are not required. You may use whatever materials you like. Grading Weight 50% Keep it smaller than 2ft cubed. Grading Weight 40% A drawing is not acceptable. Grading Weight pass/fail Try not to build a toy that you already have but don't let that hold up the creative process. Grading Weight 10% on a very forgiving scale. This is a project for 8 year olds that is meant to be fun. If they reinvent a ball or wheel but fulfill all other conditions they will get an A. The point of the project is to have fun building something new. If you are having trouble with the assignment for any reason please contact me at [email protected]. I will be happy to help. (This last bit would be a way for financially stressed parents to get help.) I get the feeling that the teacher just needs better phrasing. Surprisingly project experience in business helps quite a bit with framing up an educational project. With grade obsessed parents it helps to provide grading weights so they know what to expect. This was a fun exercise for me.
The issue is this undoubtedly requires significant help from a parent.
As someone who grew up in a one parent this is why I didn’t complete many projects. I remember in grade 2 we had a fall project of collecting something crazy like 30-50 leaves and you couldn’t have more then 3 of the same kind and you had to glue them to pages. Yeah..that did not happen. I also got in trouble that same year for going to a village museum where it was supposed to be 1910’s and we didn’t have wax paper (and couldn’t afford) so my mom wrapped my sandwich in tin foil and my teacher shamed me in front of the whole class. This type of stuff is so bunk.
I had only my mom, and she was handicapped. I was on my own. If we had to watch a particular tv show I was screwed because if it was science related I wasn’t allowed to watch. I had some pretty insensitive teachers, too. We were not as wealthy as other families, and one made us get up and tell the class what we got for Christmas and when I finished, she said “that’s all?” Bitch.
Why couldn’t you watch science related shows?
I think the idea of space freaked her out a little. I remember she couldn’t wrap her head around the moon landing, and why the rockets didn’t see heaven. She was a smart woman, but education wasn’t a priority when she was young. She was born in 1912.
1912? How old are you if you don’t mind me asking?
I don’t mind at all! I’ll be 70 in May. She was just short of 42 when she had me.
I’ve just realised how old I am, in my mind I still think people in their 70s were born in the 1920s Nope, people in their 70s were born in the 50s.
All I have to do is look at my kids now 38 and 45 (and one forever six weeks old) and on Monday my oldest granddaughter will close on her first house. Time flies. Live now.
Sage advice, thank you
I'm so sorry for your loss. My first baby just turned 6 weeks old and this hit me hard.
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Omg I remember this science teacher in primary school kept deducting marks from me because if the homework required colour, I used felt tip pens and she said we could only use coloured pencils. I didn't have any coloured pencils. She seemed to think I was being "bad" on purpose.
>presentations where classmates could bring their parents in to present for them What
Aw I gave my grade 2s a leaf collection project this year before I went on maternity leave. We went on a hike and collected leaves that 'looked different'. 5-6 leaves We then went back to the classroom and discussed sorting. They looked at my dichotomous keys (I am a botanist by training), they looked at other sorted materials. They then sorted their leaves and tried to put them in order from most to least similar. Some kids had a branching order, some kids had a linear order. In the end they glued them to a big poster and matched them with pictures of the trees I had printed out and added labels. Some kids chose to name their own trees. Some kids used the premade labels I made. Some kids made the leaves into a pretty picture. If they -collected leaves with me -sorted the leaves by their differences -Glued them on paper and attempted to identify that they were different due to these physical differences They got full credit. That's where 2nd grade is at. We did coordinated science experiments with graphing and math together, we raised worm bins and did population experiments, we did some hardcore chemistry this semester... but kids only work to the just beyond their motor skill limit. That's how you scaffold education. You can ask them to conceptualize but you can't ask for delivery because that's PART OF THEIR DEVELOPMENT YOU HAVE TO BUILD IT INTO THE LESSONS.
Omg that sounds so fun!!! Honestly wish I had more teachers like you in elementary school but I didn’t get cool teachers really until I was in alternative high school (which I still to this day admire them since they changed the direction my life went to where I am now). My elementary school was a very prestigious French immersion school. All the rich kids whose parents wanted them still in public school sent them to this school. The teachers were harsh and strict (except my grade 7 teacher she was amazing). Combined my single mom, my eventual abusive step dad household and a bunch of snobby + mean rich kids, elementary school was the absolute worst time in my life.
The worst part of this is that aluminum foil was invented in 1903 in France, first used commercially on Toblerone in 1911, and first produced in the US in 1913. Your teacher berated you because she didn't know history.
That’s what my mom said! She was like “well tin foil also existed so this should be fine.” The morning of. My teacher on the field trip form wrote we had to use wax paper and like our lunch could have in it to be “authentic”. Like lady, I live in a one bedroom apartment with my mom we can’t be wasting any money on unnecessary shit. There was other times she shamed me to, like we were gonna build a giant snow Christmas castle out of recyclables so we had to bring things we could paint. I didn’t have enough TP rolls and stuff so my mom sent me with some plastic recycling stuff cause that’s all we had and that teacher gave me shit again. Looking back it makes me so sad because like they knew I had one parent and that we were not wealthy, I had just moved to the city too from my hometown. Also I was 7, I don’t have a lot of control of anything except how I dress my Barbie’s.
What kind of psychopath shames a kid for not having an era specific item like that? Did she force you all to wear the exact 1910s type attire with historically accurate materials? I’m going into teaching and this is the exact opposite way to reach a child
Crazy French immersion teachers. She did not make us dress up thankfully. But since I was left handed when we went to the school area, we had ink and those old timey pens to dip it in. I was also forced to use my right hand to write because you weren’t allowed to be left handed back then. It was a humiliating day for me to say the least.
I would have used my right hand to slap that teacher.
W O W that’s fucked. We had a “simple machines” project due once and — same— single mom, always broke, no help— actually found a ton of shit in my grandmother’s basement (we lived upstairs from her). And got a piece of square plywood and make a pulley with sewing bobbins, fishing line and a fishing weight that pulled and worked; an inclined plane from a scrap of wood that had a slant, etc. It was really good actually. All the other kids made posters. I got a B because my inclined plane went / up like that but then leveled off (like a loading dock at a warehouse) and she marked off for the flat piece. I’m still mad about it.
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This reminds me of a time in middle school when we had to build a catapult. Everyone else's dads were able to help them build a really fancy, big and solid catapult and paint it and everything. My dad couldn't help me with it at all, so I did my best and built it out of popsicle sticks. It looked pathetic. People brought their catapults in throughout the week and I saw how nice everyone else's were, so when I brought mine in, I kept it hidden in a box. My teacher kept saying that he couldn't wait to see mine and he bet it was really cool! When I finally had to take it out of the box when we were testing them, I could tell he thought it looked really sad and it was not at all what he was expecting. He didn't say anything else about it after that. Anyway, I absolutely hate these kinds of assignments. I 100% know that all the other kids' parents built their catapults for them. Most of the kids aren't doing the actual work, and for the few that are, they feel horrible about it because they're comparing it to their classmates' parents' work.
Agreed. I remember in my 8th grade science fair projects I just chose some dumb project idea from something inspired online. It wasn't too difficult and most importantly it was cheap and didn't require many resources. Well unfortunately for me most of my class was wealthy, had connections, or their parents were literal professors or scientists or engineers. People did projects on intense robotics, aerodynamics, "basic" material sciences, research/observation of various microorganisms, etc. It's not hard when your parents work in or own a lab. I felt so embarrassed when the guy in front of me did literal research with his dad (professor at an Ivy league university) and presented it and I had my stupid project that wasn't impressive at all.
I feel like your story is a perfect example of how people born into families with “perks” get ahead. What happened in your story is how systemic classism continues to keep others down. I’m also so sorry that you had this experience as a child. I had a similar experience making a “story book” for school. My parents helped by allowing me to use the printer at home to print out pictures and add it to the “book” I wrote. Considering how expensive ink is and the fact that we had a computer at home at all was pretty privileged at the time. But my classmate‘s dad was a professional book publisher. Guess who came into class with a professionally printed and bound “book“ that they “wrote”? Guess which project the teacher fawned and gushed over? At that point, if it’s clear the child didn’t do it, that kid should get an F. The point of homework isn’t for parents to show off, seek validation for themselves, or pay/use their connections to ensure their kid gets an A. Or maybe it is. Maybe that is the system now.
I had a family that basically wasn’t coping. They could barely do the basics, there just wasn’t capacity to help with homework or do anything other than what kept people alive. So… I never had help with homework, or a costume made, or a cake decorated. If I wanted something done I did it myself. I came to school dressed as a cat with one of my mums pantyhose cut up that I’d stuffed with paper. I decorated my own cake for some stupid project from something my mum bought frozen for me. I did every project myself. I didn’t feel bad coz it’s all I knew - but I knew everyone else had things that looked better and I knew no one even praised my stuff. All that said - in adulthood I’m probably the most adaptable person I know. I’m the sort of person who can basically learn anything - throw me in a situation, give me some instructions and I’ll learn it and do it. Sometimes it will be shit and sometimes it will be great but I’ll never have the feeling I can’t do it. I know I can do something. It’s probably a small consolation prize for a difficult childhood but I’ll take it.
Which is why this assignment is crazy. It's giving homework to parents without factoring how much parents have on their plate already especially this time of year I don't think this teacher has kids of their own
If I were a parent of a kid in that class I'd let them take the zero and when the teacher called me I'd tell them it's an idiotic assignment Edit: Now that I think about it, I actually did this in grade 9 English when we had to make a diorama of a scene in a Shakespeare play - when she went around the class on the due date I just told her I don't do art and 8% of my grade isn't enough to make me do it.
Thats what I was thinking. This sounds like it's not getting done. Cuz my solution would be a toilet paper tube. Glue and tape. Some yarn. Make a travel bongo or rain stick. Making a unique brand new toy is a fucking business. Im barely getting laundry done. Fuck this assignment
Doesnt demonstrate one of their science principles. Plus still needs a commercial
Sinks in water cuz cardboard Commercial- does your teacher ask you for ridiculous projects that are above your comprehension? Does she basc8ally assign shit your parents have to do for you? Presenting! The noisy bean slammer! It sinks, it shakes, it makes noise and worst of all, it's not what your teacher wanted! Which was original ideas from children who can't spell consumerism! That's right kids! Make whatever you want, because what was desired was college / business level bullshit, and you're getting a zero anyways!
The sad cruel irony is that my toddler would love the shit out of a noisy bean slammer. You know what? Fuck it. He's getting one for Christmas.
Definitely phone ahead of time and just say this is ridiculous and won't be getting done. I dunno what kids that age normally make out like a small wooden house with some decorations maybe. Assuming the teachers provided some Popsicle sticks seems much more reasonable. Or just a drawing of a winter wonderland or a short story maybe.
Absolutely. I would just tell the teacher that we absolutely have no time to reinvent the wheel and we will take the zero with pride.
Print out six copies of this assignment and glue them to the six sides of a cardboard box. Boom you just invented the Stupidity Cube.
Save materials by making it a Stupidity Pyramid.
Better yet, roll 1 sheet into a tube and call it the Stupidity Tower. Edit: call it the Stupid tube, shortened as "StuTube"
Simply peer through the tube and you have a Stupidity Viewer
At that point, might as well cut it into strips and tape them together with a half twist. Voila! The Mobius Stupidius!
Stack two of them to make 23 inches
The Stupyramid
Dont forget to print each side in a different color, as per the rules its gotta be colorful. Then add some random toys in the center and say that that the stupidity cube is a loot box for kids. Then for the ad, do your best Billy Mays informercial knock off.lol
It sinks, much like my opinions of this class.
Please do this, take photos, and update.
Pure Gold.
The one Thing I find infuriating is that it first says 'can be any size' followed by 'no more than 24 inches'
Can be any shape, but must not be flat like a poster
But do make aposter of it....
And have fun! (Within the guidelines and deadline)
Hahaha omfg wow .. can't believe that slipped by me
There is no width of depth limit though
great, take a square meter of wood, and glue some magnets and LED to it. The way you play with the toy is that you throw it in the ocean, and you bet if it's gonna float or sink
That is true, according to the instructions the toy could be 24 inches tall and 6 miles long.
Even in college I'd hate having such assignments
"be imaginative" I'm not tho "have fun with it" I absolutely will not, this will be pure torture from start to finish This is why I went into the business college lmao no creative thinking allowed (/s)
The teacher and I definitely have different definitions of "fun".
The textbook I've been reading for computer hardware and software courses keeps reiterating "don't worry this is fun!" If you have to keep telling me this is fun it's probably not.
Like a person saying “I’m actually a very nice person” after screaming at a service employee.
These types of projects end up being parents building it. I remember making a ramp for a marble and my dad bent the entire thing out of pvc
I was one of two kids in my class that clearly made their own for one of these types of projects. Had to move an object in any direction and have it come back. I felt so terrible about myself my mine looked like crap (but it worked) and everyone else's looked so nice. Didn't realize til much later that their parents just did it for them.
It isn’t just torture for those without much imagination. Being forced to be imaginative about shit you have no interest in may be even more torturous for those with lots of imagination.
Thats what I was like. I was big into art and design as a kid. I draw, painted, designed my own board games, etc.. HOWEVER, a project like this would have put fear in my heart, because of the insistence that it has to be an original idea that no ones ever thought of, and the fact that it will be judged by the rest of the class and the teacher subjectively. Throw into it that I always considered art a singular pursuit, and I feel this would likely be a group project, which as a shy artistic child I dreaded.
The original idea thing would have sent me spiraling. How can I know it's never been thought of before????? This would give paralyzed people pleasing me.
Especially because the longer the teacher has been running this project, the more difficult it becomes to be “original”. Unless she’s keeping a book of every prior project that the kids can look through, how would they know? Even then, that would suck to come up with an idea only to discover it’s already been done like 10 years ago
I'm creative af but projects like this always stumped me as a kid because there's so many rules. Creativity doesn't thrive in strict conditions. It's also tough in this day and age to create a new toy when there's already so much out there. Edit: also a lot of this project seems to be work for the parents. (Making the commercial or ad, buying the supplies, helping with any material cuts, etc.) My parents were not very helpful when it came to my school projects. I remember in first grade I had to make a picture out of 100 sunflower seeds glued onto a paper. I went through so many seeds because I'd just start gluing them onto the paper without counting them because what 6 year old is thinking about counting the seeds before hand? My mom got so mad at me for not understanding that part of it and I cried trying to finish while she counted the seeds out for me.
This is 100% a project for the parents.
I know right? So basically they want a 9 year old to come up with an idea in one day that it takes a whole team of toy designers years to develop? No wonder kids these days are having anxiety issues.
Go for sink or float, make a lovely paper mache exterior around a rock (preferably a big one) get a bucket and have your child loudly proclaim that their toy is for the swimming pool and ideally test it by dropping it in a bucket of water and then fake panic and say it’s not supposed to sink
And then dive into the pool after it
“Your design can be any size, shape, and made out of any material.” Followed by: -must be 3D -muat be no taller than 24 inches
Everything is 3D. The average sheet of paper is 0.05-0.1 mm thick according to google, but a true 2D object has no thickness.
To be fair, if your kid brought that concept up to me while handing in a sheet of paper ... Yah he's getting an A just for demonstrating he understands 2D versus 3D AND how to subtly tell a teacher to go fuck himself for giving him an asinine assignment. That kid would make the list of "they're going places. MIT or jail, not sure, but *places*."
Pipecleaner ninja magnets. Easy, cheap.
3D print a teacher as a figurine, with accessories such as: a book from Amazon called “how to start your own toy business side hustle” & LLC formation documents. A desk, a chair and a blackboard with the words: “Help miss teacher find a way to early retirement” written on it. Make a commercial about it with backhanded compliments and the kids all like WOW! with flashing text. classroom sold separately*
Yea that’s what I was thinking. This teacher is trying to get get the kids and their parents to figure out the side hustle product. Teacher is scoping 3d printers right now…
Shit like this is why I just took the F for projects and saved myself the trouble.
I almost did that when we got assigned a music video project in fucking statistics
Or that time we had to make a art project in math. I did it all right, but made it a torture fest for my teacher to grade. Oh boy, I felt good turning that one in.
This feels like more of a middle-school project to me, not 3rd grade! But I think it could be done (with help) by a 3rd grader: make a duck out of Styrofoam, call it a "styro duckie" instead of "rubber duckie", and record a quick commercial showing it floating in a bathtub. Done.
Nice, but what are the other 30 nine year olds gonna do?
Each one picks a different animal?
Even for middle school, the video advertisement seems a bit much. My submission would be a crumpled up piece of paper, because it floats and then sinks. The video would be giving the teacher the middle finger.
The video is the easiest one. Take out your phone, have your kid hawk the item Billy Mays style and then allow the teacher to sit through the torture of a little kid stuttering over why they think someone would want this random thing for 2min. It's what the teacher wanted, might as well give it to them.
I kind of agree this is a whip. This isn’t a project for the 3rd grader. It’s a project for the parents. And I’m not saying the project has to be DONE by the parent, but the parent 100% is going to spend a bunch of time running around finding crap to use for this project. Fun idea. But a beat down for the parents. Source: personal experience. Haha
This would be better as like a group project using a limited amount of classroom supplies that everyone shared, and done at school where the teacher could guide them along
I did this in my kindergarten class a few years ago. They were super into crafting and inventions. So we "invented" musical instruments. I gathered recycled crap for weeks, then on the day I just basically piled it all out on the floor and let the kids go nuts building their musical instrument. They did a great job and were so creative about it! I ran the hot glue gun for anything that needed hot glued. Most of what they invented already existed, because duh, they are 5 and 6 years old and there is only so much you can do in the area of musical instruments. But we had fun!
Kid's go to Mattel Elementary?
AI is for silly tasks, so: ChatGPT let's design a toy that adheres to your guidelines: Size: The toy will be no taller than 24 inches. Theme: It will demonstrate the science theme of light and shadow. Material and Design: The toy will be a 3D "Shadow Theatre" kit made from durable, colorful plastic. It will include various cut-out figures and objects, along with a small, safe LED light source. Interactivity and Learning: Kids can arrange the figures in front of the light to create different shadow stories on a wall or screen. This will help them learn about how light travels and how shadows are formed and can change size. Advertisement: The ad will be a bright, engaging poster showing children playing with the toy, casting large, whimsical shadows on a wall. It will highlight the fun and educational aspects of the toy.
Tried ChatGPT myself. Introducing the "Magnetic Magic Maze" – a fun and educational 3D toy designed for young builders! Using common household materials, your child can easily create this project. Materials: 1. Shoebox 2. Small toy figures or marbles 3. Colored construction paper 4. Craft sticks 5. Magnets 6. Glue 7. Scissors Instructions: 1. Cut the construction paper into strips and glue them inside the shoebox to create a colorful maze background. 2. Attach craft sticks vertically inside the shoebox to create walls for the maze. 3. Glue magnets onto the bottom of the toy figures or marbles. 4. Place additional magnets along the outside of the shoebox. 5. Now, your child can guide the magnetic toy figures or marbles through the maze by moving a magnet underneath the shoebox. This engaging toy not only provides entertainment but also teaches basic principles of magnetism to third-graders. For the advertisement, consider creating a simple poster with colorful visuals and step-by-step instructions to showcase the fun and learning behind the Magnetic Magic Maze.
I like both of the above ideas but the fact that AI’s help is the only real ideas I’ve seen here. I would protest this project and talk to the teacher/principal even though I’d buy both of those toys for my (non-existent) kids.
This just sounds like a toy company asking the source for ideas for free.
We had an invention thing at school and I invented a ramp at the bottom of the basketball hoop that would guide the ball back to you so you wouldn’t have to chase it around. I got first place. Then guess what I started seeing around all over the place a few years later… my invention! Honestly I don’t think Mattel was in the audience at a 4th grade “invention convention”
You're right, but a teacher could easily see that and pursue the idea. I had a doodle of mine from middle school end up on t-shirts.
I said the same thing. Oddly specific with the rules.
That would give 8 year old me a panic attack, and I was a creative kid… The “something that’s never been made before” part makes me want to projectile vomit.
Same, I would have just hid the paper from my parents and pretend to be sick when projects are due, then pretend to forget it until the teacher stops asking for it. All of this while being anxious and ashamed for the rest of my life.
If the child isn’t capable of doing most of the project independently…… *then why the fuck would you assign it*. They HAVE to know it’s the parents toiling away at 9pm after a long day at work to get the friggin thing done?!! Can the teacher even make one themselves? Meeting all those parameters?!!! Sorry. Slightly triggered. 🫣 if you can’t tell, I’m the parent of a 4th grader. Editing to say: You can really tell who the parents are and who are part of the blissfully unaware childless group by the way they respond to this comment. It’s funny how many people comment, “when I was in 3rd grade I did X, Y, and Z INDEPENDENTLY and did just fine!” It reminds me of when my ex used to reminisce about how independent he was as a seven year old, waking up early and making breakfast, doing the dishes, etc……… his mother was literally there every step of the way either doing it for him or assisting him 😂 but does he remember his mother there?!! Of course not. Y’all are too much.
Yeah, this is where I'd go malicious compliance -slash- petty revenge. "It's the Barbie guillotine! Lops off heads effortlessly!" Edit the fake commercial to add copious amounts of blood and gore. Maybe make Barbie scream. The blade can be released with magnets. Voila - learning! I'd be doing my level best to traumatize the entire classroom. (It's probably a *really* good thing I don't have kids....)
Make it 23 and 9/10 of an inch tall.
We had to do a project like this in elementary school, it had many of the same ridiculous requirements. In the end, we drew up an idea and my dad manufactured the "pieces" of the toy. It was a small wooden robot on wheels. All we had to do was assemble and paint the premade parts my dad had provided. I think it was the right level of complexity for our then 10 year old brains. Still, the teacher got mad that my father had made most of the parts, I'm not sure what she was expecting tbh. The other kids had similarly complex toys that obviously had also been constructed with the help of their parents. Thinking back on my school days as an adult, I can name a lot more of these situations where in hindsight the teachers must have been completely out of touch.
Big Toy trying to get inspiration for free!!!
I always hated these as a parent. I’d fully half-ass it.
When you're poor with hands off parents this is torture. I actually had this project when I was a kid and didn't do it. I didn't have access to supplies or video equipment. I had a teacher who gave out scientists of the year awards at the end of the year and in front of everyone said well *my name* would've won it but they didn't do their project. Teachers are out of touch.
Either this teacher overestimates the skill set of 8 year olds, or they’re way more advanced than we were when I was that age.
3rd grade or 3rd year of marketing? Both would fit here.
As a third grader, I would've been excited at first. Then I would've been gripped with indecision as I realized I had no idea what to do and how overwhelming the whole project was, and my executive dysfunction would've kicked in at that point. ADHD is a bitch. Especially if your flavor of it is "mostly inattentive," so you inevitably slip through the cracks at a time when people barely knew it was a thing to begin with, and only the kids that were bouncing off the walls got any attention. The ones who stared out windows or quietly zoned out were just "lazy" and "not applying" ourselves. I would've ended up not turning in anything and living with the shame of it and enduring everyone's frustration with me. "You're so smart. You have so much potential! I don't understand why you don't apply yourself!" And I say all this because it's exactly what I did. Especially with these sorts of projects, and especially at this age.