Be a Toy Engineer and Entrepreneur!
Did you know that there’s an entrepreneurial, or business, side to inventing new toys? Creating a new toy requires money, so inventors often need to persuade people to invest in their ideas. They do this by creating a “pitch”, which involves telling investors about their product and convincing them that people will want to buy it.
Your challenge: to design and create a prototype of a brand new toy, and record a pitch video for your toy idea!
The specs:
Step 1: Brainstorm and plan the design of your new toy. Think about what makes a great toy that people would want to play with. What will your toy look like? How will it work? Think about its features, materials, and any special functions it might have.
Step 2: Bring your idea to life by building a prototype out of everyday materials. A prototype is an early version of a toy that isn’t perfect yet, but does a good job of giving people an idea of what the final version might be like.
Step 3: Showcase your prototype in a 1-minute video that pitches your toy idea to potential “investors”! Explain your idea, how your toy works, what the final product might be like if it was professionally made, and why it would be a fantastic toy for others to play with.
Want to work together on this STEM Challenge? Join our CAGIS Virtual session on Saturday, May 25 to learn all about toy engineering!
Submit your work: Complete a form and submit your pitch video (maximum 1 minute). You must use your prototype within your pitch.
Deadline: Entries must be submitted by 11:59 pm PT on June 23rd, 2024.
Eligibility: this STEM challenge is for girls and gender-diverse youth aged 7-17 (as of June 23rd, 2024), residing in Canada, outside of the province of Quebec. Contest void where prohibited by law.
Judging: Engineering student and CAGIS alum Christiane Luboya will be looking for the young toy engineer whose prototype best demonstrates what their toy would be like, and who does the best job of convincing “investors” that their toy would be successful! She will also assess how unique the toy is from others on the market.
Winners: The judge will select two winners: one aged 7-12 and another aged 13-17.
Prizes: Winners will each receive a prize pack, generously donated by Spin Master! The winner in the 7-12 age category will win a prize pack valued at $35. The winner in the 13-17 age category will win a prize pack valued at $45. Winners will also be featured on the CAGIS website, social media, and other communication channels.
