Announcing the winners of our #EarthDayInventor competition 2023

The competition this year invited students from across the UK to join a Lyfta live lesson to experience and be inspired by the immersive human story 'Ethiopian Treasures'. In the live lesson, we travelled together to Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia and met 10-year-old Asalif who uses his ingenuity to reuse discarded materials he finds and turns them into useful inventions.

We explored the themes of creativity and inventiveness and saw how Asalif uses his imagination and technical skills to turn discarded items into treasure. Using the story as inspiration, students set to work to create their own Earth Day inventions.

The winning entry came from Wallbrook Primary Academy who have won a bundle of sustainability books worth over £100. The judging panel were very impressed with this group entry. The inventions had strong links to eco-friendly themes, including cleaner ways to travel, and the end products were very creative and well constructed. There were some excellent cross-curricular links with science and D&T including a functioning skateboard! The group entry also included persuasive promotional materials showing why we should protect the environment and minimise waste.

The following entries were highly commended by the judges:

An incredible windmill created by Lucas in year 6 at Henwick Primary School in Eltham, London. The windmill was made from a fabric conditioner bottle, with cardboard sails and used a small working motor to rotate the sails.

Year 1 Stoke Primary School in Coventry for an intricate toy house with carefully constructed toothpick roof (which looks like it was modelled on Asalif's home in Ethiopian Treasures.)

Alex in year 4 at Clifton Lodge School in Ealing who created a cool Mandalorian helmet out of an old cardboard box and some tin foil.

A beautiful world map covered with recycled bottle top pin badges from Papdale Primary School, entered by Hazel Pinner.

A beautiful upcycled top from someone in year 4 at Dorney School in Buckinghamshire.

Lampard Community School, Venn Class for a whole series of Earth Day invention plans, including a charging box for new mobile phones, using the pieces of old mobile phones!