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Kid Inventor Extraordinaire

Lino Marrero has taken shoes to a whole new level

October/November 2022
By Susan Cosier

Courtesy of the Marrero Family (Lino Marrero, Chargers); Shutterstock.com (All Other Images)

Lino Marrero was at soccer practice when his cell phone died. He didn’t have a charger, so he couldn’t call his mom to pick him up. He remembered learning about energy in science class and had an idea: What if he could use the energy created while running to power his phone?

Lino researched how to convert kinetic energy (energy of movement) to the type of energy that can charge a battery. He invented thin devices that fit inside shoe inserts. But the inserts were uncomfortable to wear. After a few more tries, Lino put the technology inside the shoe’s soles, or bottom layer. Success! The shoes could charge a phone while still feeling good on his feet.

Lino named his invention Kinetic Kickz. Though he’s still perfecting the idea, people may eventually connect the charger to a phone or another device.

Lino Marrero was at soccer practice. His cell phone died. He didn’t have a charger, so he couldn’t call his mom to pick him up. He remembered learning about energy in science class. That gave him an idea. Running creates energy. What if he could use that energy to charge his phone?

Lino researched how to convert kinetic energy (energy of movement) to the type of energy that can charge a battery. He invented thin devices that fit inside shoe inserts. But the inserts were uncomfortable to wear. After a few more tries, Lino put the technology inside the shoe’s soles, or bottom layer. Success! The shoes could charge a phone while still feeling good on his feet.

Lino named his invention Kinetic Kickz. He’s still perfecting the idea. But people may eventually be able to connect the charger to a phone or another device.

Getting Creative

The shoes were not Lino’s first invention. He started creating when he was just 10 years old. He designed an adjustable band, called the String Ring, to protect musicians’ fingers while playing a stringed instrument called a cello.

The shoes were not Lino’s first invention. He started creating when he was just 10 years old. He designed something for people who play the cello. A cello is an instrument with strings. He called his invention the String Ring. It protected musicians’ fingers while they played.

Courtesy of the Marrero Family

Lino invented the String Ring when he was 10!

In fact, Lino has a whole notebook of inventions. The pages are full of ideas that could help solve problems. Now 15, Lino won a prize at the Invention Convention last year for his Kinetic Kickz. He hopes it will inspire other kids to invent.

“I think there should be more inventors, especially kids,” he says. “Kids are really creative.”

In fact, Lino has a whole notebook of inventions. It’s full of ideas that could help solve problems. Lino is now 15 years old. He won a prize at the Invention Convention last year for his Kinetic Kickz. He hopes it will inspire other kids to invent.

“I think there should be more inventors, especially kids,” he says. “Kids are really creative.” 

Math Talk

How could keeping a notebook or journal help people track ideas or learn new things?

Math Talk

How could keeping a notebook or journal help people track ideas or learn new things?

Division with Arrays

What to Do

Division is a way of breaking up a set of things into equal parts or groups. One way to represent division is by using a model called an array. By arranging objects into rows and columns, you can more easily see how to create equal groups.

Example

Draw circles around these shoes to show the number of pairs, or sets of 2, there are. Write a division sentence that represents this array.

Shutterstock.com

This array represents the equation 12 ÷ 2 = 6

Division with Arrays

What to Do

Division is a way of breaking up a set of things into equal parts or groups. One way to represent division is by using a model called an array. By arranging objects into rows and columns, you can more easily see how to create equal groups.

Example

Draw circles around these shoes to show the number of pairs, or sets of 2, there are. Write a division sentence that represents this array.

Shutterstock.com

This array represents the equation 12 ÷ 2 = 6

Now You Try It

Answer the following questions on a separate sheet of paper.

Answer the following questions on a separate sheet of paper.

Lino tested 10 different materials for the String Ring, including hair ties and Band-Aids. Each day, Lino tested 2 new materials. How many days did he spend testing? Draw an array. Then write and solve an equation for the array you drew.

Lino tested 10 different materials for the String Ring, including hair ties and Band-Aids. Each day, Lino tested 2 new materials. How many days did he spend testing? Draw an array. Then write and solve an equation for the array you drew.

Lino is now working on a String Ring for playing the guitar. He will test each material while playing the guitar for 6 minutes. How many materials will he test in 30 minutes?

Lino is now working on a String Ring for playing the guitar. He will test each material while playing the guitar for 6 minutes. How many materials will he test in 30 minutes?

Before inventing Kinetic Kickz, Lino created the Sole Solution, which are shoes with replaceable soles. Each pair of shoes comes with 3 different soles for different sports. How many Sole Solution packages (shoes plus 3 soles) would be in a shipment with 27 soles?

Before inventing Kinetic Kickz, Lino created the Sole Solution, which are shoes with replaceable soles. Each pair of shoes comes with 3 different soles for different sports. How many Sole Solution packages (shoes plus 3 soles) would be in a shipment with 27 soles?

With Kinetic Kickz, a 12-minute walk will charge a dead phone with enough power to make or receive calls. Draw an array to show how many dead phones could be turned on to make calls after walking for 36 minutes.

With Kinetic Kickz, a 12-minute walk will charge a dead phone with enough power to make or receive calls. Draw an array to show how many dead phones could be turned on to make calls after walking for 36 minutes.

Number & Operations
Whole Number Division
array

A visual arrangement of items (such as objects or numbers) in rows and/or columns
Division

A method of distributing a group of things into equal parts or groups

Example: 30 ÷ 5 = 6
convert

To change from one form to another
inserts

Objects designed to be placed inside other objects
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