Inspiring Inventiveness Tools

Asking Big Questions

Use this tool to normalize uncertainty by encouraging children to ask big questions.

Translating Ideas between Different Materials

Use this tool to deepen children’s understanding of ideas by exploring their thinking through different materials.

Asking Unanswerable Questions

Use this tool to discover children’s thinking about questions with more than one answer.

What Can This Material Do

Use this tool to introduce children to new materials.

Cracking Open Words

Use this tool to show children that things that appear simple are actually complex when multiple perspectives are welcomed.

What Else Could It Be

Use this tool when children need a nudge towards uprooting assumptions and transitioning to a more open mindset.

Doing Serendipity

Use this tool to strengthen children’s ability to seek and make connections.

Do-Over

Use this tool when the impact of children’s words or actions does not reflect their intentions.

Exploding Systems with Human Machines

Use this tool to deepen children’s understanding of how complex systems can be influenced (after you have tried Exploring Systems).

Exploring Systems with Human Machines

Use this tool when you want to deepen children’s understanding of complex systems.

Gallery Walk

Use this tool to help children contribute to and learn from the work of their peers.

Letters of Intent

Use this tool to support children’s abilities to engage with big questions and to make connections between the known and the unknown.

Making Friends with Conflict

Use this tool to support children’s ability to work through conflict toward a satisfying resolution.

Model Language to Support Inventiveness

Use this tool when you hear children using language that is not supportive of inventiveness.

Partner Explore

Use this tool to encourage children to practice negotiating ideas and to identify new possibilities that may not emerge from working alone.

(Note: This tool is designed primarily for classrooms that have regular “choice” time, but can easily be used in other contexts as well.)

Planning for Invention Student Worksheet

Use this tool when children are ready to develop a project or invention.

Reinventing Rules in Outdoor Games

Use this tool to inspire children’s agency, collaboration, and systems thinking through whole-body play.

Snapping Ideas Together

Use this tool to help children problem-solve on their own with little or no adult guidance.

Artist Statements

Use this tool to build children’s capacity for communicating complex ideas (e.g., metaphors, analogies, etc.) through the written word.

Thinking with Materials

Use this tool to expand children’s thinking about a key concept or question.