Start A Smile CHALLENGE

Challenge Closed
Challenge Details

YOUR CHALLENGE IS:

INVENT A WAY TO HELP SOMEONE SMILE OR FEEL APPRECIATED DURING COVID-19

Challenge Closed





Deadline Extended to June 1st

If you are a K-12 student in the United States, your challenge is to invent a way to help someone smile or feel appreciated. The person must be separated from you by a window, wall, computer screen, or at a distance of 20 feet or more. Your solution CANNOT involve the passing of physical items, since surfaces can carry the COVID-19 virus for up to 72 hours. For example, passing a football or notes back and forth is not allowed. Submit a photo and short essay (150 words or less) of your solution and be sure to follow the student privacy rules of NO FACES or NAMES in your photo or essay. Your invention could be physical, digital, visual, audible, low tech, or high tech, but it should only use items found around your home. Shopping is not allowed. Visit the Brainstorming section for inspiration. Get creative... and BE SAFE! #StartASmile
Challenge Launch Video
play
 
 

HOW TO ENTER

Instructions for Students and Teachers

WHO CAN ENTER

Individual K-12 Students in US public, private, and home schools (including U.S. territories & possessions)


Grades K-2
Grades 3-5
Grades 6-8
Grades 9-12

HOW TO ENTER

Please review the Challenge Rules and Design Guidelines prior to creating your entry.

Challenge Rules Design Guidelines

TEACHERS
Sign up to register your class and manage entries. We now support Google Classroom too!

STUDENTS
Sign up on your own, or use a code to participate with your class.

STUDENT USING GOOGLE CLASSROOM?
Login to Submit

STUDENT & TEACHER SIGN UP
 

Dive Into The Challenge

Lesson Plan Details and Challenge Tips!

1. Links & Lessons

 

2. Brainstorm & Design

 
Links & Lessons
Brainstorm & Design
Links & Lessons
>
Links & Lessons
Brainstorm & Design

LEARN ABOUT THE CHALLENGE

The following links and videos were curated from public sources on the web to provide students with educational resources about the design process.

Videos

Brainstorm & Design

Get creative! We can't wait to see what you invent. If you get stumped then take a moment to brainstorm some ideas below.
Brainstorming Idea
Physical Inventions

Make a happy machine that claps, blows bubbles, sprays glitter, pops up a heart, or does anything fun really! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brainstorming Idea
Digital inventions

Code an animated greeting, code a game you can play together virtually, make a light-up display, create a custom emoji, wire up a speaker, make a robot, or create a photo/video to send.

 

 

 

 

Brainstorming Idea
Visual

Make something happy or peaceful to look at - like a mini garden, fountain, a work of art, or a message to share and see. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brainstorming Idea
Audible

Sounds can be familiar, comforting, soothing, informative and exciting! What do you think someone would want to hear in self-isolation? From morse code to a custom made song - what kind of audio message or communication device will you invent? 

 

 

 

Brainstorming Idea
Low Tech

We’re all in this together and are limited in what we have at home. Whether its doing a magic trick with an old banana peel or using a piece of paper to teach someone how to do origami - there are millions of ways to make someone smile at a distance. 

 

 

 

Brainstorming Idea
High Tech

Have access to tools? Computer software? 3D printer? Robotics? Invent something complex that does a simple task. Invent something simple that results in complex emotions. Almost any invention will make people happy! And as always - use parent supervision with tools!

 

 

 

Digital Tools

Build & Iterate

FOR THE CLASSROOM

Group Size

Split into 8 teams

Approach

Assign each team a video lesson and have them present what they learned

Material

None

Educator tools

 
 
Recent Entries
View the Full Gallery

LAUNCHING THE INNOVATORS OF TOMORROW

The "Start A Smile" Challenge is presented by the STEMx network, a national coalition of STEM organizations. Through STEMx membership, states come together to advance STEM education. Battelle manages the STEMx network as a part of the company's commitment to inspiring the next generation of STEM innovators. Battelle also manages the Ohio STEM Learning Network and Tennessee STEM Innovation Network. Every day, the people of Battelle apply science and technology to solving what matters most. At major technology centers and national laboratories around the world, Battelle conducts research and development, designs and manufactures products, and delivers critical services for government and commercial customers.

In Partnership With