Harvest Inventors Slides
1st Grade Fall STEAM Challenge
Georgia Standards of Excellence
Harvest Idea Inventors
Growing Big Ideas from Stories & Georgia History
What Do You Do With an Idea?
Engineering Design
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Build a Harvest Helper!
Ask • Imagine • Plan • Create • Improve
Story Spark: What Do You Do With an Idea?
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Every Invention Starts Small
In the story by Kobi Yamada, a child has a brand-new idea. At first, it feels fragile and strange.
When the child gives the idea attention, care, and space to grow, it changes the world!
Let's Talk About It!
- 1 Why was the child nervous about sharing the idea?
- 2 How did the child help the idea grow stronger?
- 3 What is an idea YOU would like to build today?
"And then, one day, something amazing happened..."
Georgia Inventors & Fall Harvests
Georgia Farming Hero 🥜
George Washington Carver
He studied fall crops like peanuts and sweet potatoes grown in Georgia soil.
He invented over 300 new products and taught farmers how to keep soil healthy!
Invented in Georgia ⚙️
Eli Whitney
While visiting a Georgia farm in 1793, he saw how hard it was to clean cotton by hand.
He designed a harvest machine (the cotton gin) to do the hard work faster!
Both inventors saw a harvest problem and used an idea to help people!
Your Challenge: Build a Harvest Helper!
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It is Thanksgiving harvest time in Georgia! Farmers need a tool to move fall crops from the field to the table without dropping them.
Goal
Lift, scoop, or carry a mini pumpkin or fall harvest items!
Distance
Carry your harvest 12 inches across the desk without spilling.
Materials
Use only the craft supplies at your invention station.
Ready to think like a Georgia inventor? Let's follow the Engineering Design Process!
The Engineering Design Process
1
ASK
What is the problem we need to solve?
2
IMAGINE
Brainstorm ideas! What could we build?
3
PLAN
Draw a sketch and pick your supplies.
4
CREATE
Build your model and test how it works!
5
IMPROVE
Make your design even stronger!
Inventors never stop after one try—every test teaches us something new!
Steps 1 & 2: Ask & Imagine
Think Time
What Kind of Helper?
- 🥄 A Scooper that picks up crops
- 🧺 A Basket or Carrier with handles
- 🚜 A Cart or Sled that slides or rolls
- 🦾 A Grabber that reaches and lifts
Our Invention Supplies
🪵 Craft Sticks
🥤 Paper Cups
🧶 Pipe Cleaners
🧻 Cardboard Tubes
📏 Masking Tape
🧵 String & Foil
Turn and talk to a partner: Which supplies will hold a heavy pumpkin best?
Steps 3 & 4: Plan & Create
Sketch & Build
Step 3: Plan First!
Draw your Harvest Helper on your Challenge Sheet before you touch the tape.
Label 2 materials you will use in your drawing!
Step 4: Create!
Build your prototype carefully. Make sure your seams and handles are taped tightly!
Test it on the 12-inch harvest track.
Remember: Just like in "What Do You Do With an Idea?", be patient while your idea takes shape!
Step 5: Test & Improve
Make It Better
Ask Yourself After Testing:
🤔
Did it hold?
Did the pumpkin or crops stay inside without falling?
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Was it strong?
Did any part bend, rip, or come untaped?
✨
One Change!
What is ONE thing you can fix or add to improve it?
Real engineers test, fix, and test again!
Georgia Inventor Showcase!
Share Your Invention With the Class:
- 1️⃣ What is your Harvest Helper named, and how does it work?
- 2️⃣ How many harvest items did it carry across the 12-inch track?
- 3️⃣ How did you improve your idea after your first test?
🎉 Great job, 1st Grade Inventors! Your ideas can change the world! 🎉
Harvest Inventors Teacher Guide
1st Grade Fall STEAM • Teacher Guide
Harvest Idea Inventors
Total Time
60 Min (or 2 × 30 Min)
Anchor Text
What Do You Do With an Idea?
by Kobi Yamada
Georgia Inventors
G.W. Carver & Eli Whitney
Harvest & farming innovations
STEAM Challenge
Build a Harvest Helper
Move crops 12 inches safely
Georgia Standards of Excellence (GSE) Alignment
SS1H1 (Social Studies): Read about and describe the life of historical figures (George Washington Carver & Eli Whitney) and their impact on farming and inventions.
S1L1 & SEPs (Science): Connect plant/crop harvests to basic needs; ask questions, develop models, and design solutions using the Engineering Design Process.
ELAGSE1RL1 & SL1 (ELA): Ask and answer questions about key details in a text; participate in collaborative partner discussions.
MGSE1.MD.2 (Math): Measure a 12-inch harvest track using whole-number length units and count harvest items carried.
Per Pair / Small Group
- 8–10 craft sticks & 4 pipe cleaners
- 2 paper cups & 1 cardboard tube
- Masking tape (pre-cut 12-inch strips on desk edge)
- 1 sheet aluminum foil (6"×6") & 24" string
- Student Challenge Sheet (1 per student)
Testing Station Setup
- Use painter's tape to mark a 12-inch Harvest Track on tables ("Field" to "Thanksgiving Table").
- Test Crops: Mini plastic/real pumpkins, large pom-poms, acorns, or candy pumpkins (5–10 per station).
- Optional: 12-inch rulers for math measurement tie-in.
Read-Aloud & Georgia Inventors Mini-Lesson (15 Min)
1. Read Aloud (Slides 2): Read What Do You Do With an Idea? Pause to ask: "Why did the child hide the idea at first? How did the child help it grow?" Emphasize that inventors protect and test their ideas.
2. Connect to Georgia History (Slide 3): Share how George Washington Carver studied fall crops like peanuts and sweet potatoes to help Southern farmers, and how Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin in Georgia to solve a difficult harvest problem.
Facilitation & Pacing Guide
Harvest Idea Inventors
1
ASK (5 min • Slide 4 & 6)
Introduce the Harvest Helper challenge: move fall crops 12 inches from the field to the Thanksgiving table without dropping them. Students circle their goal on the Challenge Sheet.
2
IMAGINE (5 min • Slide 6)
Show the supply tray. Have partners turn-and-talk: "Will you build a scooper, basket, sled, or grabber? Which supplies are strongest?"
3
PLAN (8 min • Slide 7)
Require students to sketch their design on Page 1 of the Challenge Sheet and label 2 materials before receiving tape and craft supplies.
4
CREATE & TEST (15 min • Slide 7)
Students build their Harvest Helper and test it on the 12-inch track. Have them count how many harvest items make it across safely and record Trial 1.
5
IMPROVE & SHARE (12 min • Slides 8–9)
Prompt students to make one improvement (add stronger tape, higher walls, or a handle) and run Trial 2. Close with a 3-minute Inventor Showcase.
Support & Scaffolds
- Pre-cut tape strips and pre-punch holes in cups if needed.
- Offer a sentence frame: "My helper carries ___ by ___."
- Pair emerging writers with a partner or allow dictated labels.
Extension Challenge
- Hands-Free Rule: Move the Harvest Helper using only string or a craft-stick handle without touching the cup!
- Weight Test: How many acorns/pumpkins can it hold before bending?
Quick Teacher Observation Checklist
Connects story/inventors to solving a problem
Sketches a plan before building
Tests model on 12-inch track & counts items
Identifies one improvement after testing
Harvest Helper Challenge Sheet
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Harvest Helper Challenge
1st Grade Inventor Log
Name:
Date:
1
ASK: What Is Our Problem?
Just like Georgia inventors George Washington Carver and Eli Whitney, we can grow an idea to help with the fall harvest! Our goal is to build a tool that carries fall crops 12 inches without dropping them.
2
IMAGINE: Circle One Idea to Try
🥄 Scooper
🧺 Basket
🚜 Cart or Sled
🦾 Grabber
3
PLAN: Draw Your Harvest Helper
Sketch your idea in the box below. Label 2 supplies you will use (craft sticks, cup, tape, string, tube, foil).
Test, Improve & Reflect
Harvest Helper Log
4
CREATE & TEST: Try the 12-Inch Harvest Track!
Test 1 (First Try)
How many harvest items made it 12 inches?
Did your helper hold the crops?
Yes
Not yet
Test 2 (After Improving)
How many harvest items made it 12 inches?
Did your helper hold the crops?
Yes
Not yet
5
IMPROVE: Make One Change!
Draw or write one way you fixed or improved your Harvest Helper after Test 1:
Idea Reflection
In What Do You Do With an Idea?, the child helped an idea grow. How did you help your idea grow today?
