Objective: To teach students the technique of brainstorming
 
 

Part I

1. Have students share their new invention from Activity # 2.  This may take some time but each person is important.  Emphasive to the student that you were given a problem and you came up with a solution which in this case is an invention.  You should probe the students to find out the techniques they used to solve the problem.
 
 

Part II

1. One important thinking process that can be used by an inventor is brainstorming - a
technique for developing new ideas through unrestricted group discussion.  Put the brainstorming rules on the board or use the rules you may already have posted in your classroom.
Brainstorming rules are:
                                            (1) Quantity is wanted
                                            (2) The wilder the ideas, the better,
                                            (3) Defer judgement, and
                                            (4) Hitchhiking is welcome

It is recommended that if students have not yet experienced the process of brainstorming, conduct a brainstorming session with them.  Have students brainstorm the uses of a meter stick.  Write these on the board.

2. The first step in the process of inventing is to identify a problem.  Have each group of students begin brainstorming items for a "bug list".  These are things that bug them, their friend or their family.  Have each group present several items from their "bug list".  A sample bug list is provided in the appendix.

3. After brainstorming items for a "bug list" as a group, have students start their own personal  "bug list" in their invention notebooks and add items to it over the next few days (remind students to date all entries).  You may suggest to the students that if they are having diffculties coming up with a bug list, they may want to ask other people what bugs them.
 
 

Debriefing

Put the following ideas into the student's head:

1. The process of inventing usually begins with a problem in their life or in someone elses life or it's the result of some annoyance in their life or someone else's.

2. Brainstorming is one of the techniques that an inventor can use to start the invention process on its road to completion.