1. Think Like an Inventor!

2. What is an invention? An invention is a new product, device, or process that did not exist before the inventor created it. Inventions come from all over the world. Inventions go beyond just technology: things like toys, food, sports, and musical instruments can also be considered inventions.

3. Inventions Are Different from Discoveries A discovery is a product or process that already exists, but is unknown until someone discovers it. For example:  Rubber is a discovery  A tire is an invention Discoveries often lead to inventions, and vice versa.

4. What Makes a Person an Inventor? Inventors are people who think of creative ways to solve problems or make tasks easier for people to do. To turn their ideas into inventions, inventors follow steps in a process, much like scientists do. Inventors have many of the same special qualities that kids have!

5. Qualities of Successful Inventors Inventors are curious  They are always asking questions and seeking answers. Inventors are learners  They find information to help them think about problems and how to solve them. Inventors are creative  They build and experiment to find out how their ideas will work. Inventors are persistent  They keep trying to improve and perfect their inventions and don’t give up.

6. How Inventors Get Their Ideas Inventors think about and investigate people’s needs or problems that need solving. Sometimes inventors think of a completely new invention that never existed before in any form. More often, inventors think of ways to improve upon an invention that already exists. Inventors also combine existing inventions to create a new invention.

7. Improving Upon Existing Inventions Inventors often modify (make changes to) existing inventions to improve them for the same purpose.

8. Modifying and Combining Inventions for a New Purpose Existing inventions can be modified (changed and improved) to serve a new purpose. Existing inventions can also be combined to create a new invention.  What existing inventions were combined so that today’s modern cell phones could be used in new and different ways?

9. How Inventors Protect Their Ideas Inventors protect their ideas by applying for a patent. A patent gives the inventor the right to exclude others from making, using or selling the invention in the United States for a period of time.

10. Ready to Think Like an Inventor? What qualities will help you to become a successful inventor? What are some of the steps you will need to follow in the invention process?

11. References Tucker, Tom. Brainstorm: The Stories of Twenty American Kid Inventors. New York: Farrar, Strauss, and Giroux, 1995. “What is an Invention?” Monkeyshines. 1997: 2-3. SIRS Discoverer. Proquest. 06 November 2006 http://discoverer.prod.sirs.com/discoweb/disco/do/ article?urn=urn%3Asirs%3AUS%3BARTICLE%3BART %3B0000119635 Clip Art from Microsoft Clip Art or by subscription to www.clipart.comwww.clipart.com