We’re back with a new challenge for the 2008–2009 school year!

In recent months, famed inventor Phineas Quirkbotham has noticed that his nephew Thaddeus P. Quirkbothham is really quite good at technological innovation. This, needless to say, is a great source of pride. When Thaddeus asked his uncle for a design challenge with which to further sharpen his creative skills, Phineas proposed that he devise a new use for discarded cardboard milk cartons.

Phineas has observed that Thaddeus is now at work on generating a truly “boffo” new application for these simple, free common household items—and he challenges your students to outdo him. So, have your students don their thinking caps, crank up their creative juices, and see if they can be as inventive as nephew Thaddeus.

If Quirkbotham and inventor/engineer/assistant judge Harry T. Roman think your students’ ideas are among the best, they will receive a Tech Directions Inventors Award certificate and their solutions will be published in the magazine. The top three competitors will also receive a book or poster of their choice from Tech Directions Books & Media. All winners will have a notable accomplishment to list on future resumes and college applications, and your technology education program will receive some excellent publicity!

Here are competition guidelines:

1. Students should provide a written description of their suggested uses for the milk cartons. They should use drawings to help explain their ideas or illustrate any necessary modifications. All drawings should be either computer generated or hand-drawn in ink. Please use only one side of the paper and use only plain paper—no graph paper, since it will not reproduce well in the magazine.

2. On a second sheet of paper, describe why the milk carton invention is important and how it is used. What is it about the invention that improves people’s lives?

Submit ideas by January 30, 2009.

Mail all invention submissions to:
Inventors Competition
Tech Directions
PO Box 8623
Ann Arbor MI 48107-8623

Note that the judges suggest that each student brainstorm many ideas, but select just the single best idea to submit to the competition. This approach allows for really focusing attention and effort on the best idea. The judges also encourage students to let ideas flow freely and not be afraid to unleash their imaginations.

We hope you’ll encourage your students to take the Great Milk Carton Inventors Challenge—and we wish them the best of luck!