Problem: Article: The very first step in any inventing process is to identify the problem that your invention will solve. Look at the world around you and ask yourself: What could work better? What task could be done better or faster? What annoys you and how could you fix it? Ask friends or family about daily problems they face and record their feedback. The problem doesn't need to be new and the device doesn't need to be new. Even if a dozen designs for a particular device exist, you're still inventing something if you make a new design to do the same thing in a different way. Be creative with your ideas. Not every idea will be a great one, but don't be afraid to think outside the box. Some problems that have been solved in the past include: The telephone solved the problem of rapid communication. Before the telephone, the fastest way to communicate was using a telegraph and Morse code. With the telephone, you skip the translation of the code and speak directly to another individual! Crayon holders: Invented by 12 year-old Cassidy Goldstein who solved the problem of coloring with broken crayons. Have you ever had a brilliant idea and then forgotten about it later? Carry a notebook around to take notes as ideas come to you so you don't forget about them. Add a little note about how the idea came to you and write the date next to it. Use your notebook to keep track of inventions you're currently working on and to write down ideas about new inventions. You may have come up with a fantastic idea, but it's possible that someone else has already thought of it. Do a quick search online to see if something similar has already been made. With your parents help, search for patents that might already exist for your idea. If your idea does exist, don't be discouraged; it just means that you came up with such a great solution that it has already been made. People have been coming up with creative ways to solve problems for thousands of years. Reading about famous inventors and the inventions they came up with can spark your own problem-solving creativity. Learn about their process and apply it to your own life. Be inspired by reading about other young inventors. Look at other inventions in your surroundings and learn how they work. Inventions don't need to be complicated, simply functional. Ask your parents to help you contact other inventors to meet with them. Ask them about their process and how they came up with their ideas. Getting first-hand information about what it takes to be an inventor is a great beginning step to becoming an inventor yourself. Ask them how long it took them to come up with an idea and make a workable device. Find out how much time and effort they put into their inventions. Did they ever come up with an idea that they couldn't make work? What do they do when that happens?
Summary: Identify a problem worth solving. Keep an idea notebook. Make sure your idea doesn't already exist. Read about famous inventors and inventions. Meet with other inventors.

Problem: Article: There are a lot of poems focused on the theme of death, grief, or sympathy that are appropriate for funerals. Think about whether the deceased person had any favorite poets or specific poems. Pick one that reflects the deceased person and their passions or personality. You could also write your own short poem about the person if you want to express your own emotions. If you don't have room to include an entire poem, use 1 or 2 of the most meaningful lines from the piece instead. Choose a phrase that the person who passed away was known for, as long as it's appropriate for the occasion. For example, you could use what Grandma Jane said every time she put a pie in the oven: "Everything tastes better with love!" Only use quotes or phrases that most people will be familiar with. Avoid inside jokes that only you know. If the famous phrase includes curse words or something inappropriate, or if it could offend someone in the audience, don't include it. If you have something you want to say to the person who passed, use the eulogy as an opportunity to share it. Keep it to 2 to 3 sentences and make sure it contains a message that the rest of the audience can relate to. For example, now is not the time to tell Grandma Jane that you stained her good apron. Instead, say something like, "Grandma, I'll miss your blueberry pie, but more than that, I'll miss the way you used to hug me when I was sad or how your laugh was the best sound in the world. I can't wait to see you again one day." Look up towards the sky while you address the person to feel more connected to their spirit. If religion was a big part of their life and beliefs, incorporate it into your eulogy by ending with a quote from a spiritual leader or a passage from a religious text. For example, if they were Christian, you might use a Bible verse as the final sentence. You could also end the eulogy with a brief prayer in the deceased person's honor. Only include themes that you're comfortable with. If you didn't share the same beliefs as the person who passed, choose a different way to end your eulogy.
Summary:
Recite a short poem if the person who passed away loved poetry. End with a quote from the deceased if they had a famous saying. Address the deceased person directly for an extra emotional ending. Use words of faith if the deceased person was religious.