Stimulate Inventive Thinking

The 2006/2007 curriculum and materials are still available for download - 2007/2008 materials will be available for Back-to-School 2007. Register now to receive next year's kit, to be notified of updated files, and more.

The Inventive Thinking Toolkit

Developed in association with the Rothschild Patent Model Museum and the United States Patent and Trademark Office, this project is the definitive program that guides kids though the invention process.

2006/2007 Inventive Thinking Teacher Guide*
This manual will provide you with a "road map" to guide you and your students on your inventive thinking journey. Download the entire journal or pick and choose your concepts and activities from the links below:

Introduction to Inventive Thinking

Invention Concepts:

• Concept One: Introducing Inventive Thinking
• Concept Two: Practicing the Creative Part of Inventive Thinking
• Concept Three: Developing an Invention Idea by Brainstorming for Creative Solutions
• Concept Four: Practicing the Critical Parts of Inventive Thinking and Completing the Invention
• Concept Five: A Patent, Trademark and Copyright Primer
• Concept Six: Naming the Invention and Marketing Activities
• Concept Seven: Parent Involvement and Invention Convention Day
• Concept Eight: Great Thinkers

Suggested Activities:

• More Than One Answer/Deconstruction
• Favorites/Grandparent Timeline
• How Many Patents Can You Find/Simulation Soap
• Sponges/Women Inventors

Copymasters:

• Letter to Parents
• Young Inventors Log
• Invention Idea Survey
• Planning and Decision-Making Framework
• Match the Patent/Invent-O-Rama
• Hand Soap Formula
• Protecting Intellectual Property
• National Standards Matrix

2006/2007 Inventive Thinking Student Guide*
Filled with activities, it helps students learn to identify problems, work out the solutions, and follow a methodical invention process.

• Introduction
• Discovery One: Scavenger Hunt
• Discovery Two: Everyday Genius!
• Discovery Three: Eureka in the Bathtub!
• Discovery Four: A Tornado of Ideas
• Discovery Five: Are You A Solution Seeker?
• Discovery Six: Patently Perfect
• Discovery Seven: To Market, To Market
• Discovery Eight: Yes, But Will It Work?
• Discovery Nine: A Chance to Change the World

Additional Lesson Plans*
Contains 15 additional lesson plans not included in the printed toolkit! Activity Sheets for Additional Lesson Plans

Download the Student Video
This video features kid inventors and inspirational messages for your students. The file is quite large so you will want to save it to your desktop!