Innovations and inventions

INNOVATIONS AND INVENTIONS

by Amy Broemmel and Deborah Wooten

In our fast-paced, technologically oriented society, innovative thinking is critical for the future of our world. It doesn’t matter how innovations occur––by accident, mistake, fate, or intentional plan––people who see a need and then satisfy it are the key.

In today’s classrooms, creativity and innovative thinking are often overlooked because of their nebulous nature. Creativity cannot be taught through rote learning or gleaned from science textbooks, but children can be encouraged to think critically, try new things, and take risks in their learning. To stimulate these types of behaviors, we can provide students with innovative role models who have the potential for encouraging innovative thinking.

From stone tools to global positioning systems, each and every invention has impacted society and changed the course of history. Our history is that of human innovation. Using literature in the study of science can breathe life into the dry bones of the textbook so that students can humanize the information found there. The books below can serve as beacons that illuminate textbook information, allowing the behaviors of innovative people and the impact of human invention to come alive.