Clever and innovative Mukilteo Elementary students showcased their inventions and science projects on the night of Feb. 7 during the school’s Invention Convention & Science Fair.

A honky-tonk student band also performed songs from yesteryear throughout the evening. In a unique twist, the musicians played on their own handmade instruments, many of which were made from recycled materials.

Speaking of recycling, there was an entire row of inventions at the convention that were eco-friendly, from fourth grader Lauren Collison’s reusable and washable grocery bag liners that keep your groceries fresh and clean every time to fourth grader Dan Joshwa’s solar powered motorbike.

Some students had inventions focused on ways to make disabled peoples’ lives easier, like third grader Jackson Calawa’s Feel’s Right tactile puzzles for blind children or fourth grader Kelly Grace Richardson’s colorful, personalized accessories and attachments for those who are wheelchair bound.

Many inventions that improved on our everyday kitchen utensils were at the convention, too, such as fifth grader Paulina Startsev’s Mess-free Ice Cream Cone Maker. Fifth grader Brandon Lee got four stars for his Chorksticks – the handy wooden utensil that combines a fork and chopstick.

And, next time you are on a vacation, you would certainly want to use third grader Claire Park’s Happy Plant, the self-watering plant pot made from recycled soda pop bottles, or fourth grader Makena Thatcher’s Easy Fish Feeding Device.

Teacher Lois Beckman is the conductor and back-up singer of the Homemade Instrument Band, which is a music and creativity class project for students. The musicians perform every year at the Invention Convention & Science Fair.

So many creative ideas are showcased at this Mukilteo Elementary annual event that, who knows, the next great American invention might just come from it.