Between September and November 2019, we invited young people aged 8-12 across The North East of England to take part in the Pioneers Energy challenge.
From the many children who took part, 15 children inventors and their school from Tees Valley, Sunderland and Northumberland were chosen to join the Little Inventors Pioneers programme.
Between January and June 2020 these Pioneers developed their idea further and worked with makers and experts to bring it to life!
The Challenge
Scientists all agree: we have to change how we live so we can take better care of our planet, and even possibly reverse the damage we have already done. The way we produce and use energy is the biggest reason for pollution on Earth.
Can you think up invention ideas to generate energy, save energy or use energy better?
Submit an invention idea for the challenge and find all our Pioneers resources on our Get Inventing page
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Over 3,000 children took part through their schools and at public events in venues such as local libraries, regional festivals and museums. Teachers also had a chance to participate in their own special events, through a series of CPD (continuing professional development) workshops.
Inventions were submitted online and, from these, the 15 top inventions were selected to be made real and the inventors invited to join the Pioneers programme.
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Where did our Inventions come from?
The programme was designed to encourage design thinking skills and to build creative confidence. Our first session with the Pioneers, which took place at Preston Park Museum in January 2020, when we were joined by the Tees Valley Mayor, was focussed on developing the initial invention ideas further.
We then had to do our own creative thinking when the venues for our remaining workshops were closed due to the national lockdown. Learning and invention has continued online, with new resources such as the Inventors Log and a virtual classroom. Each Pioneer has had the opportunity to be part of the making process through video calls with the professional maker working on their invention.
In our exhibition you can see the results of these wonderful collaborations, we hope you like them as much as we do.
Well done to all our 15 Little Inventors Pioneers!
