Activity
Invent Your Own Chore Helper!
Does your child complain about doing her chores? In this activity, she will use her brainstorming skills and creativity to design an invention to do her chores for her. Encourage your child to think outside of the box and have fun coming up with her very own invention.
What You Need:
- Poster board
- Markers or crayons
- Paper
What to Do:
- Have your child write a list of the chores she doesn't like doing.
- Tell her that she gets to come up with a design for an invention that will do one of the chores for her. Go through the list of chores together and decide on the chore that she wants to create a gadget for.
- On another piece of paper, have her write the name of the chore at the top of the paper. Have her brainstorm a list of the tasks involved in completing the chore.
- Next, tell her to think of all of the different ways she can invent a gadget that will complete the chore. She can be as outrageous and silly as she wants for this part of the brainstorming. Write down her ideas for her as she comes up with them, or if you like, you can have her write down the ideas herself.
- Go back through the list and talk about each idea. Decide on which idea she will use for her invention. You may end up combining some of the ideas or expanding one of her ideas. Help her come up with a catchy name for her invention.
- Have her draw her invention on the poster board. Help her to label any parts of the invention - she can think of this as kind of a blue print.
- Underneath the invention, have her write down a brief description of how the invention will work.
- Have her explain the invention to the rest of the family and hang it up in your house for everyone to see!
If she is having trouble coming up with ideas you can suggest an automatic arm to put dishes from the dishwasher to the cabinet, a remote controlled garbage can, or a bed that makes itself. This activity is a great way to help your child make a positive association with something she might not find so positive: chores. She'll be thinking outside of the box and stretching her imagination while incorporating a healthy dose of fun into her chores.
Related learning resources
Chore Chart
Worksheet
Chore Chart
Teach your child responsibility by using this blank chore chart to record daily and weekly chores.
1st grade
Worksheet
Chore List
Worksheet
Chore List
Help your child get organized with this handy chore list. She'll be proud to check off her completed tasks—and earn a star for above-and-beyond effort!
2nd grade
Arts & crafts
Worksheet
Chore Checklist
Activity
Chore Checklist
Give your kid a reason to remember to wash the dishes with a fun and colorful chore checklist!
2nd grade
Arts & crafts
Activity
Chore Obstacle Course
Activity
Chore Obstacle Course
This chore obstacle course will keep your child entertained and engaged, while also helping them improve their efficiency at everyday tasks.
2nd grade
Activity
Make Your Own Envelopes!
Worksheet
Make Your Own Envelopes!
Making your own greeting cards? Why not make your own envelopes too! Its easy with this handy template.
2nd grade
Arts & crafts
Worksheet
Make Your Own Compost
Worksheet
Make Your Own Compost
Get into the habit of recycling food waste and other household materials by making your own compost pile!
2nd grade
Science
Worksheet
Glossary: Create Your Own Story
Worksheet
Glossary: Create Your Own Story
Use this glossary with the EL Support Lesson: Create Your Own Story.
2nd grade
Reading & Writing
Worksheet
Make Your Own Sundial
Worksheet
Make Your Own Sundial
Explore the science of the sun with this make-your-own sundial activity! Just do a little bit of cutting and coloring, and let the sun do the rest of the work.
2nd grade
Science
Worksheet
Write Your Own Tall Tale
Activity
Write Your Own Tall Tale
Unleash your child's imagination by inviting them to create a tall tale set in their own hometown.
2nd grade
Reading & Writing
Activity
Make Your Own Inferences
Worksheet
Make Your Own Inferences
Use these simple sentences to get your students started in making their own inferences!
2nd grade
Reading & Writing
Worksheet
Make Your Own Badminton Set
Activity
Make Your Own Badminton Set
Help your second grader make his own badminton set--out of your old pantyhose! He'll delight in his crafty independence, and you'll love saving money.
2nd grade
Activity
Write Your Own Ending
Lesson plan
Write Your Own Ending
Get your students’ creative juices flowing with this fun creative writing lesson! Students will read a fun story and then write their own ending.
2nd grade
Reading & Writing
Lesson plan
See this activity in a set:
10 Ways to Celebrate National Inventors Month