This year’s elementary school Invent Iowa competitions are coming to a close. Competitions were held at West Elementary on Friday, and Northstar Elementary Tuesday, with East Elementary’s contest Thursday morning. Invent Iowa is a statewide outreach program developed to assist Iowa’s educators in promoting the invention process as part of the curriculum in kindergarten through high school. Lori Morgan a teacher and parent, who is assisting teacher Jean Brandt with this year’s event at East Elementary, says Invent Iowa is a great program because it helps students set a goal, use creativity and develop their problem solving skills. The top inventors at each school will move on to a regional competition and those who place at the top in the region move on to state.