Sprout Creativity with Camp Invention

​​​​​​It’s time to get students excited for your Camp Invention® program! Play this fun video to introduce your students to a couple of world-changing inventors and innovation superheroes to inspire them to think of their own ways to help our world grow. If playing the video in class is not an option, please refer to your instruction sheet where we’ve provided the video transcript so you can read it aloud to your class. Then guide students through the steps of planting their beans. Below are some additional ideas to extend the fun, along with a message you can share with parents to let them know about this activity!

    More Ideas to Sprout Creativity

    • Extend the fun and provide an activity for even more students by grabbing extra lima bean seeds, which can be found at your local garden store or supermarket
    • Have students write down observations about their plants each day
    • Plant the beans on April 15 so they can sprout on Earth Day on April 22
    • Share photos of the plants on social media using the hashtag #RootedInInnovation and tagging Camp Invention (@CampInvention)

     

    Message to Share with Parents

    Today in class, your child learned about how farms across the world are becoming more and more high-tech! They also learned about two National Inventors Hall of Fame® Inductees and the innovations they brought to the world. With inspiration from these world-changing inventors, your young innovator brainstormed their own ideas of how they might be an innovation superhero for the Earth and help our world grow! Lastly, they had the opportunity to plant a special bean which will sprout in three to seven days. When the bean has fully sprouted, a secret code will be written on the leaves - this code can be used to save $15 off registration for Camp Invention! In case the plant does not fully sprout, the secret code is STEMFUN15. To learn more about this activity and to register for camp, please visit invent.org/bean! 

     

    Additional Tips and Tricks to Ensure Proper Bean Growth

    • Break up the soil disc, removing any covering or netting, before adding the water to help it absorb faster
    • Start with adding one ounce of warm water, adding additional water as needed without exceeding a total of two ounces of water in the cup
    • Let the soil absorb the water prior to adding the bean
    • If your tap water has high acidity or high sulfur, consider using distilled water
    • Use warm (but not hot) water
    • Make sure the plastic wrap is secured tightly across the top of the cup
    • The rubber band should be placed as close to the top edge of the cup as possible
    • Plants benefit from the full-spectrum nature of sunlight, so if your window has a UV blocker, consider an alternative location
    • If you live in an area where spring hasn’t quite sprung, or the days tend to be cloudy, a UV lamp will increase the growth success rate