RYE -- These fourth-graders know just what it takes to be inventors.

Forty Rye Elementary School students presented their innovations and inventions at the school’s first ever Shark Tank Invention Convention on Thursday.

Fourth-grade teacher Jacquie DeFreze said the idea for the invention convention came from the school’s plan to increase STEAM into their classes. STEAM is an educational initiative to include project-based learning using science, technology, engineering, arts and math so students can engage and contribute in the classroom. This led DeFreze and colleague Diane Smaracko to organize the invention convention, which was also inspired by the television show Shark Tank.

DeFreze and Smaracko encouraged their students to think of the things that bothered them and speak to family members for inspiration to come up with an invention or innovation. Principal Suzanne Lull, one of the three judges known as the sharks, said the idea was for students to find real world problems and come up with solutions.

The convention began in the morning with each student presenting their products, and in the afternoon they set up an informal presentation to share with the third- and fifth-graders. DeFreze said none of the students had a hard time coming up with their ideas.

For Ryan Thibodeau, his invention was personally designed for someone in mind. “My grandma has a really fat cat and it has to eat in portions,” he said. “I made it so she wouldn’t have to do all that work of feeding her in portions.”

Ryan said his Portion Cat Feeder or “PFC” works by filling the food from the top and pulling on a divider to drop the measured food when it’s time to feed. He named his prototype the Muffin Spot for his grandmother’s cat Muffin.

Kayla Roskilly and Olivia Burnham created a bagel spreader to evenly and easily spread toppings onto bagels. Kayla said 400 million bagels are consumed daily and using a lazy susan modeled prototype they came up with a product to help those who love bagels.

Ellie Colman created the Helping Hands, a structure that holds your book or iPad for you as you lie on your back and read.

Dana Mussulman presented his Wristrow Armband. His invention combines a cellphone and wristband for “people who lose a lot of cellphones to the sidewalk.” Dana’s invention will help people use their cells while walking and eliminates the possibility of dropping it.

Ethan Curtin created his Pop Smart product to enhance the popcorn popping and eating experience. Ethan designed a chute to direct the flying kernels into a bowl that also separates unpopped kernels at the bottom. He even added a sifting can on top to help evenly distribute popcorn toppings.

Lilia Fecteau designed the Hanging Dresser for those who easily misplace their belts, ties and scarfs. Her dresser would come with small hooks on the sides to never lose sight of these items again, while Harper Husky and Dara Turban together created a pillow that can be heated or cooled using a rice bag and a towel.

Carrie Webb Olson, a parent of a former student and a patent attorney in Boston, gave a presentation to the students in October and returned to guest judge their inventions with Lull and Assistant Superintendent Kelli Killen

When Natalie Sherman presented her Slide Light, an invention to light up the inside of a desk and help with organization, Olson said, “I could use one of these in my office.”

The judges said the students and their inventions and innovations were extremely creative, well thought out and well presented. Students were judged on the title of their invention or innovation, purpose and problem it addresses, their explanations and how they spoke about their project, the prototype and model they crafted. Each student had one minute to sell their product to the shark judges.

Olson said she was blown away by the inventions and said they were “very sophisticated for fourth-graders.”

“The kids do it all, from the beginning to the end,” DeFreze said, adding when the students build their prototypes the process helps teach them that “fail” stands for a “first attempt in learning.” “This is where education is going.”

DeFreze said the students did so well they’re ready to bring Shark Tank Invention Convention back next year “bigger and better.”