Helping Girls Combine Engineering and Fashion for Fun! Purple is my favorite color – so thinking that engineering and fashion put together creates fun, I thought that would be really neat to show. I want to really show all kids, but especially girls that engineering, math, and science are still very girly and the more we learn them the more fun we can have in life. Makaila J. 6 Alabama

Things to think about as you complete your submission….. Describe the problem you want to solve. The real world-problem may be one that all the people in your neighborhood face, something that all your friends complain about, or an issue you talk about where you live. It could also be about a bigger, global problem that affects many people. Your entry must describe how you help solve the problem by inventing something new. Make a list of possible ways to solve this problem. How have people tried to solve this problem in the past? Think of how you can improve on other solutions. Draw pictures and diagrams to show your invention and how it might work. Include video, photos and text of the steps you take in building your prototype or model. Show your model to friends and hear what they say. Write down their suggestions. Perform some experiments to find out how well you prototype works. Write down the results of each test. Adjust your prototype or model based on the suggestions of your friends or findings of your experiments. Give your invention a name and explain why people should buy it. Take time to make your presentation impressive. Use diagrams, video, voice, and photos. You may include multiple slides for each step of the invention process.

Have a great idea for an invention (required step) I really like playing with things like paper dolls, I really like designing robots, and I really like fashion. I thought there might be other girls out there with the same interest, or may girls that didn’t realize science, math, and robots are just as girly as dolls and clothes. I decided to make a way to combine lots of things that I love together in one cool toy. What in invented is a kit in which kids make their own cardboard cut out doll of themselves. They will then add neat outfits and a motor and have their very own fashion super hero!

Invention Idea The idea behind the doll from a fashion perspective is that girls will have someone take pictures of them in all of their favorite outfits. You have a picture of yourself from the front and back in each outfit. They also take a picture in shorts and a tee shirt – this picture will become the “doll”. You cut out all the outfits and attach a Velcro to each piece. You attach the full picture of yourself to the cardboard cutout. The next step is building the base the cutout will sit on. The base includes a gearbox with a motor. Kids will learn all about motors, resisters, and electrical wiring. When the cardboard doll is attached to the base, it will spin showing how you look from the front and back in each outfit. You then get to mix and match away!

Investigate inventions and ideas of the past (required step) Inventions of the past Ideas of the past Goldiebox – a toy to get girls interested in engineering. Lego Friends – building blocks designed for girls. Lot’s of people in science, engineering, and education have been trying to find ways to get girls interested in all the facets of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math)

Draw pictures and diagrams to show your invention and how it might work. (required step) Fashion Paper Dolls Engineering What’s a Kid to Wear Doll

Idea in motion This is the base picture. You attach your base picture to the front and back of the cardboard cutout. This is where you will attach the outfits to see how you will look in you new creations. Here I am attaching the picture to the cardboard cutout.

Build your prototype or model of your invention. Here is where kids learn about materials, motors, and resisters. Older kids can learn to solder by themselves, but younger kids like me need a parent.

Test your invention. I did a public test of my invention. Kids from my city got to display inventions at the local library. I let kids and adults test out my doll. It was great because even boys really wanted to play with the doll and see how it worked. This means it isn’t just a “girl” toy, but a toy that can teach any kid about engineering in a fun way. For instance, boys could dress their doll up as a super hero and see themselves as their favorite character!

Keep improving your invention. I learned it is fun to add accessories and even different hair styles. You can also keep adding new outfits as you get them. You can even swap clothes with friends.

Market your invention to people who might buy it. (required step) My public test showed that boys and girls would be interested in this toy. As far as who might buy it, the answer is adults who would like to get kids ages 6 – 12 interested in a full STEAM based project. This kit has it all! Science comes from kids testing out the scientific method as they build their doll. Technology will come from kids using various types of technology as they build their doll (with adult help because of the soldering needed for the motor). Engineering comes from the electrical engineering they will learn from the gears and motors, and materials engineering they learn from the various materials needed (cardboard and photo paper). Art because kids will learn how to take a good picture, as well as mix and match outfits. Math comes from marking off the spaces needed for pictures. They will learn about angles because the only way for the doll to look the same from the front and back is to make sure you stand in the same spot with your arms the same way for each outfit. You can only mix and match outfits by posing the same for each picture.

What’s a Kid to Wear Kit This kit is all about STEAM based fun. Girls can use this kit to mix and match their favorite outfits to see how they will look at all angles before they head out the door. Boys can get to see themselves as their favorite super hero. They could even have their regular clothes on one side and super her clothes on the other side and make the motor spend fast showing their transformation! Kids will want it because it is fun. Parents will want it because it is educational and something they can do with their kids!