1. For thousands of years man has been trying to make life easier and more enjoyable. Through inventions this task is continually being accomplished. Inventions are everywhere! From the time you wake up in the morning until you go to sleep you are using things that someone, somewhere, sometime has invented! So, strap on your thinking cap and prepare to learn and invent.

2. What is an invention? O An invention is a new process or device (or improvement to an existing one) that did not exist before. O Inventions are generally created to solve a problem or fill a need.

3. Let’s Compare a Caveman to the Modern Man or Woman… What inventions changed the world so drastically?

4. Driving Question “How can we identify a real world problem for you, your family, community, or even the world and design an innovative solution that will make a difference in at least one person’s life?”

5. Be an Inventor Inventors and their Inventions: Learn from the Experts

6. Inventor Investigation O You will be part of a group of investigators. You will research independently one invention from one of four points of view: O Need for Invention O Inventor Biography O Problem, Solution and Revision O Success O Each View Point has specific essential questions.

7. The Process O Step 1. To begin, your group must make some decisions. First draw from the bag of inventions to investigate. O Ruth Wakefield Chocolate Chip Cookies O Clarence Crane Lifesavers O Marvin Stone Drinking Straws O James Naismith Basketball O Earl Dickson Band-Aids O Levi Strauss Blue Jeans

8. Ruth Wakefield Chocolate Chip Cookies 1. Why was there a need for the innovation? O What problems did it solve? O Who did the invention help or effect? 2. Biography of Inventor O What was her early life like? O When and where was she born? O What was her family like? O What was her adult life like? O When and where did she die? O Tell about her family. O What was her education? 3. Were there any problems with the invention? O How were the problems fixed? O What was going on in the world at the time? (Major Events) 4. Was the invention a success? 1. Did the innovator hold any patents or copyrights on the innovation? 2. How did the innovator communicate his/her ideas to others? 3. Does the invention still exist? If so, has it changed or gotten better in any way? 4. Do you use or have you experienced this invention? Do you like it?

9. Clarence Crane Lifesavers 1. Why was there a need for the innovation? O What problems did it solve? O Who did the invention help or effect? 2. Biography of Inventor O What was his early life like? O When and where was he born? O What was his family like? O What was his adult life like? O When and where did he die? O Tell about his family. O What was his education? 3. Were there any problems with the invention? O How were the problems fixed? O What was going on in the world at the time? (Major Events) 4. Was the invention a success? 1. Did the innovator hold any patents or copyrights on the innovation? 2. How did the innovator communicate his/her ideas to others? 3. Does the invention still exist? If so, has it changed or gotten better in any way? 4. Do you use or have you experienced this invention? Do you like it?

10. Marvin Stone Drinking Straws 1. Why was there a need for the innovation? O What problems did it solve? O Who did the invention help or effect? 2. Biography of Inventor O What was his early life like? O When and where was he born? O What was his family like? O What was his adult life like? O When and where did he die? O Tell about his family. O What was his education? 3. Were there any problems with the invention? O How were the problems fixed? O What was going on in the world at the time? (Major Events) 4. Was the invention a success? 1. Did the innovator hold any patents or copyrights on the innovation? 2. How did the innovator communicate his/her ideas to others? 3. Does the invention still exist? If so, has it changed or gotten better in any way? 4. Do you use or have you experienced this invention? Do you like it?

11. James Naismith Basketball 1. Why was there a need for the innovation? O What problems did it solve? O Who did the invention help or effect? 2. Biography of Inventor O What was his early life like? O When and where was he born? O What was his family like? O What was his adult life like? O When and where did he die? O Tell about his family. O What was his education? 3. Were there any problems with the invention? O How were the problems fixed? O What was going on in the world at the time? (Major Events) 4. Was the invention a success? 1. Did the innovator hold any patents or copyrights on the innovation? 2. How did the innovator communicate his/her ideas to others? 3. Does the invention still exist? If so, has it changed or gotten better in any way? 4. Do you use or have you experienced this invention? Do you like it?

12. Levi Strauss Blue Jeans 1. Why was there a need for the innovation? O What problems did it solve? O Who did the invention help or effect? 2. Biography of Inventor O What was his early life like? O When and where was he born? O What was his family like? O What was his adult life like? O When and where did he die? O Tell about his family. O What was his education? 3. Were there any problems with the invention? O How were the problems fixed? O What was going on in the world at the time? (Major Events) 4. Was the invention a success? 1. Did the innovator hold any patents or copyrights on the innovation? 2. How did the innovator communicate his/her ideas to others? 3. Does the invention still exist? If so, has it changed or gotten better in any way? 4. Do you use or have you experienced this invention? Do you like it?

13. Whitcomb L. Judson Zippers 1. Why was there a need for the innovation? O What problems did it solve? O Who did the invention help or effect? 2. Biography of Inventor O What was his early life like? O When and where was he born? O What was his family like? O What was his adult life like? O When and where did he die? O Tell about his family. O What was his education? 3. Were there any problems with the invention? O How were the problems fixed? O What was going on in the world at the time? (Major Events) 4. Was the invention a success? 1. Did the innovator hold any patents or copyrights on the innovation? 2. How did the innovator communicate his/her ideas to others? 3. Does the invention still exist? If so, has it changed or gotten better in any way? 4. Do you use or have you experienced this invention? Do you like it?

14. Hugh Moore Dixie Cups 1. Why was there a need for the innovation? O What problems did it solve? O Who did the invention help or effect? 2. Biography of Inventor O What was his early life like? O When and where was he born? O What was his family like? O What was his adult life like? O When and where did he die? O Tell about his family. O What was his education? 3. Were there any problems with the invention? O How were the problems fixed? O What was going on in the world at the time? (Major Events) 4. Was the invention a success? 1. Did the innovator hold any patents or copyrights on the innovation? 2. How did the innovator communicate his/her ideas to others? 3. Does the invention still exist? If so, has it changed or gotten better in any way? 4. Do you use or have you experienced this invention? Do you like it?

15. Earl Dickson Band-Aids 1. Why was there a need for the innovation? O What problems did it solve? O Who did the invention help or effect? 2. Biography of Inventor O What was his early life like? O When and where was he born? O What was his family like? O What was his adult life like? O When and where did he die? O Tell about his family. O What was his education? 3. Were there any problems with the invention? O How were the problems fixed? O What was going on in the world at the time? (Major Events) 4. Was the invention a success? 1. Did the innovator hold any patents or copyrights on the innovation? 2. How did the innovator communicate his/her ideas to others? 3. Does the invention still exist? If so, has it changed or gotten better in any way? 4. Do you use or have you experienced this invention? Do you like it?

16. Ralph Samuelson Water Skis 1. Why was there a need for the innovation? O What problems did it solve? O Who did the invention help or effect? 2. Biography of Inventor O What was his early life like? O When and where was he born? O What was his family like? O What was his adult life like? O When and where did he die? O Tell about his family. O What was his education? 3. Were there any problems with the invention? O How were the problems fixed? O What was going on in the world at the time? (Major Events) 4. Was the invention a success? 1. Did the innovator hold any patents or copyrights on the innovation? 2. How did the innovator communicate his/her ideas to others? 3. Does the invention still exist? If so, has it changed or gotten better in any way? 4. Do you use or have you experienced this invention? Do you like it?

17. Chester Greenwood Earmuffs 1. Why was there a need for the innovation? O What problems did it solve? O Who did the invention help or effect? 2. Biography of Inventor O What was his early life like? O When and where was he born? O What was his family like? O What was his adult life like? O When and where did he die? O Tell about his family. O What was his education? 3. Were there any problems with the invention? O How were the problems fixed? O What was going on in the world at the time? (Major Events) 4. Was the invention a success? 1. Did the innovator hold any patents or copyrights on the innovation? 2. How did the innovator communicate his/her ideas to others? 3. Does the invention still exist? If so, has it changed or gotten better in any way? 4. Do you use or have you experienced this invention? Do you like it?

18. George Crum Potato Chips 1. Why was there a need for the innovation? O What problems did it solve? O Who did the invention help or effect? 2. Biography of Inventor O What was his early life like? O When and where was he born? O What was his family like? O What was his adult life like? O When and where did he die? O Tell about his family. O What was his education? 3. Were there any problems with the invention? O How were the problems fixed? O What was going on in the world at the time? (Major Events) 4. Was the invention a success? 1. Did the innovator hold any patents or copyrights on the innovation? 2. How did the innovator communicate his/her ideas to others? 3. Does the invention still exist? If so, has it changed or gotten better in any way? 4. Do you use or have you experienced this invention? Do you like it?

19. Joseph Gayetty Toilet Paper 1. Why was there a need for the innovation? O What problems did it solve? O Who did the invention help or effect? 2. Biography of Inventor O What was his early life like? O When and where was he born? O What was his family like? O What was his adult life like? O When and where did he die? O Tell about his family. O What was his education? 3. Were there any problems with the invention? O How were the problems fixed? O What was going on in the world at the time? (Major Events) 4. Was the invention a success? 1. Did the innovator hold any patents or copyrights on the innovation? 2. How did the innovator communicate his/her ideas to others? 3. Does the invention still exist? If so, has it changed or gotten better in any way? 4. Do you use or have you experienced this invention? Do you like it?

20. Arthur Fry Post –It Notes 1. Why was there a need for the innovation? O What problems did it solve? O Who did the invention help or effect? 2. Biography of Inventor O What was his early life like? O When and where was he born? O What was his family like? O What was his adult life like? O When and where did he die? O Tell about his family. O What was his education? 3. Were there any problems with the invention? O How were the problems fixed? O What was going on in the world at the time? (Major Events) 4. Was the invention a success? 1. Did the innovator hold any patents or copyrights on the innovation? 2. How did the innovator communicate his/her ideas to others? 3. Does the invention still exist? If so, has it changed or gotten better in any way? 4. Do you use or have you experienced this invention? Do you like it?

21. Remember what an Invention Is? O An invention is a new process or device (or improvement to an existing one) that did not exist before. O Inventions are generally created to solve a problem or fill a need. O Inventions almost never work the first time they are created, so inventors should be ready to change their original ideas and keep trying. O Always keep in mind that building inventions can be creative, exciting, and lots of FUN!