Flint Hill Elementary’s second graders stepped into the world of creativity, problem‑solving, and scientific inquiry thanks to a Newton Education Foundation Teacher Innovation Grant awarded to teacher Roger Lamadrid. The project—designed to help every student plan, develop, and present an original invention—kicked off in fall 2025 with inquiry-based lessons and culminated in the school’s first‑ever Second Grade Invention Fair on March 17, 2026.
The idea began with a simple but powerful goal: ensure 100% student participation by removing barriers that often prevent young learners from taking part in invention‑based projects. Thanks to NEF’s support, every second grader received a STEM kit, a paperback book about famous inventors, and a tri‑fold display board. These kits—along with other construction materials purchased with grant funds—gave all students the tools to conduct hands-on investigations and to build their presentations. In total, 117 students participated, each showcasing an invention that reflected weeks of brainstorming, researching, building, and refining.
The classroom learning undertaken as part of this project aligned closely with grade‑level standards in science, reading, writing, and social studies, giving teachers a meaningful way to assess research skills, nonfiction reading comprehension, oral presentation skills, and understanding of the scientific process.
The culminating event drew tremendous enthusiasm from the school community. More than 500 students, teachers, and parents visited the Invention Fair as classes from 1st, 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades toured the exhibits and celebrated the young inventors’ work. To demonstrate the event’s impact, the project team assembled the slide show posted below to capture the energy, excitement, and creativity on display during the fair.
NEF’s Teacher Innovation Grants empower educators to bring big ideas like the Invention Fair to life, sparking confidence, curiosity, and joy in young learners. Donate today to help fund more educational opportunities like this one.