Big thinkers and the wildly imaginative aged between seven and 12 are being called upon to join the Big Reinvention Challenge as part of this year's Festival of Making.
Schools, families and groups of all kinds are invited to take part in the Big Reinvention Challenge, and three of the most eye-catching, hair-raising and smile-bringing invention ideas will be brought to life by professional makers.
These will be seen by thousands of visitors when they are exhibited alongside a selection of children’s designs for invention ideas at this year’s National Festival of Making in Blackburn on Saturday 11 and Sunday June 12.
Over six weeks, children aged seven to 12 from Lancashire and around the UK will get busy piecing together ideas for incredible inventions with the help of the National Festival of Making and creative educators, Little Inventors as they invite entries for the most weirdly wonderful and world-changing invention ideas.
Co-founder and director of The National Festival Of Making, Lauren Zawadzki, said: “We have celebrated all things MAKING since our first festival in 2017 and know that putting ideas into making practice means the world is a better place.
"It’s why we want to hear from as many seven-12-year-olds as possible, with their big reinvention challenge ideas.
"Responsible making and ensuring what we produce doesn’t hurt the planet is so important, so we want our talented, young inventors to think up new, fun and helpful ideas to save old, unwanted things from going in the bin.”
Focusing on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) skills and making sustainably, organisers have made a series of brain-warming, family and classroom-friendly activities to make the process engaging and informative.
The National Festival of Making and Little Inventors are asking children and young people for ideas that take something old or out-of-use and transform it using the power of their imagination into something amazing.
Perhaps an old pair of shoes, an unwanted toy or collection of dusty old plant pots could be re-designed, added to or joined together to create something with a whole new purpose.
By sketching out the idea and uploading it to the challenge website to wow the judges, they could be celebrated as one of this year’s outstanding young inventors.
Entry sheets are available for download via festivalofmaking.littleinventors.org with the closing date for entries being midnight on Friday April 1.
Founded by artist and designer, Dominic Wilcox, Little Inventors is a creative education organisation that supports families and educators to bring creativity into the home and the classroom, whilst also inviting professional makers and experts in a wide-range of fields to work with and inspire children.
Looking ahead to the Big Invention Challenge 2022, Dominic Wilcox said: “This is a really fun and creative challenge that is sure to get the idea cogs moving in everyone who takes part.
"I'm excited to see what imaginative ideas the young people of Lancashire and even further afield can come up with and it will be brilliant to see some of the entries brought to life by skilled makers."
For full information, terms of entry, submission information and more for The Big Reinvention Challenge 2022 visit: festivalofmaking.littleinventors.org
More details on the festival itself can be founf here: www.festivalofmaking.co.uk as well as via social media
Twitter: www.twitter.com/festofmaking
Facebook: www.facebook.com/festofmaking
Instagram: www.instagram.com/thefestivalofmaking
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