Kids Cogitate at School’s ‘Invention Convention’ : Pacoima: Culminating a study of creativity through the ages, Canterbury Elementary displays the products of youngsters’ imagination and elbow grease.

When Barbara Ward asked each member of her fifth-grade class to invent something, Vanessa Perplies knew almost immediately what to do.

Tired of turning the house upside down to find a rubber band, barrette or bobby pin when she needed one, Vanessa devised a way to keep them close at hand.

“Me and my three sisters were always losing our hair accessories,” the 10-year-old said as she opened a storage space in the handle of a hairbrush designed for convenience.

“This is very helpful to the average woman,” Vanessa added. “I think I could even patent it.”

Vanessa’s invention--a denim-wrapped brush with a vanity mirror attached to the back and a slot for a tiny comb on the top--was one of 30 inventions displayed at an “invention convention” this week at Canterbury Avenue Elementary School in Pacoima.

Led by Ward, the convention was the culmination of a three-month study of historical inventions and their inventors.

In a convention-like setting, with posters explaining their wares, students showcased their inventions as other students from the school passed through.

Ward, who has been with the Los Angeles Unified School District for about 26 years, has assigned the project to her students for the last five years. She believes it combines elements of oral communication and problem-solving.

“I had parent conferences last week and the parents said they were so happy that their children were thinking,” Ward said. “This gets children thinking and problem-solving. That’s what they need.”

One invention getting a lot of attention was a shoe-pairer created by 11-year-old Sheri Diaz. With a gummy substance and Velcro, Sheri devised a way to keep her shoes together.

“Me and my sister always get the same kind of shoes,” Sheri explained. “We keep them together under the bed and they get scrambled. I end up wearing one of my sister’s, which are too small.”

A shoe concern was also troubling 10-year-old Gino Romo, who said his mother complained about spending too much on shoes that he and his sister outgrow.

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“I wanted to save my mom some money,” said Gino, as he demonstrated how a sneaker could expand by inserting a new piece, similar to a leaf in a table.

While some inventions were designed for practicality, a few addressed more serious subjects.

Saddened by the news of people being hit by trains, Mayra Gonzalez invented a moving wall to replace the gate that signals drivers when a train is approaching.

“I’ve seen a lot of people crashing into trains on the news,” the 11-year-old said. “This will stop them from passing the gate.”