Objective: To have students explore the technique called SCAMPER

Materials: Activity Sheet #3

Part I

1. Ask students to share their bug lists with the rest of the class that they have recorded in their diary since the last class.

Part II

1. Distribute Activity Sheet No. 3 - SCAMPER
Explain that SCAMPER is an acronym that uses action verbs to help you arrive at creative solutions to problems on your "bug lists". the letters stand for Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify or Magnify or Minify, Put to other uses, Eliminate, Rearrange or Reverse.

2. Go through some examples of how SCAMPER has been used for prior inventions and invite other suggestions.
Substitute - What else can be used instead of the ingredients, materials, objects, places, or methods that are now used? Examples - disposable disapers, imitation bacon bits.
Combine - Can parts or ideas be blened together? Examples: suitcases with wheeles, clock radios.
Adapt - What else is like this? What can you copy or imitate? Examples: Children's bed that look like race cars, mushroom shaped air fresheners.
Modify - Can you change the color, meaning, sound, odor, form or shape? Can you add a new twist? Examples: color-tinted contact lenses, toothpaste pumps
Magnify -  What can be added? Can it be stronger, larger, higher, exaggerated, of grater frequency? Examples: oversized television screens, extra-strength medicines
Minify - Can it be smaller, lighter, less frequent, or divided? Examples: pocket calculators, Ritz-Bits
Put to other uses - Can it be uused in a way other than how it was intended to be used? Examples: playground equipment made from tires, window cutains made from sheets
Eliminate - What can be taken away or removed? Examples: salt-free, caffeine-free, and reduced calorie foods, cordless telephones
Rearrange - Can the parts be interchanged? A different pattern, layout, sequence, or schedule be changed? Examples: beds with drawers underneath, ski tote locks.
Reverse - Turn it backwards, inside out, upside down, or around? Examples: reversible clothing, a 7-up glass.
 

3. Have the students go to their "bug lists" and select two to three bugs. For the next class, ask the students to write possible solutions to these problems in their diary. Remind students to use brainstorming and SCAMPER for this Remind your students that they are still generating ideas, not judging the best solutions at this time. Students may want to keep their diary close by at all times, because ideas may "pop up" at any time even in their dreams.

Debriefing

Put the following ideas into the student's head:

1. Many of the big name companies that produce products that you can but have people who gather together regualary to use breainstorming sessions and SCAMPER to add products to their line.

2. SCAMPER can be used separately or in association with brainstorming.

3. Ideas can come unexpertantly so be ready