Build a Better Mousetrap

Learning Objectives

Students will:

• Analyze a product’s strengths and weaknesses.
  
• Collaborate to redesign an everyday product.
  
• Create an advertisement for the newly designed product.
  
• Present ideas to the group by highlighting a new product’s features and benefits.

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Materials

For each team:

• Pens/pencils
• Notebook/paper
• Drawing paper
• Markers/colored pencils

For the whole group:

• Smartboard or projector, for displaying videos

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Preparation

• Read and familiarize yourself with the entire activity.
• Ensure access to and preview the videos.
• Gather all other necessary materials.

Resources:

"7 Technologies Invented by Children and Teenagers" Video

"10 Genius Kids Who Became Millionaires Overnight" Video

"International Student Scientists Show Cutting-Edge Inventions" Video

Activity Steps

1. Show the video "7 Technologies Invented by Children and Teenagers." When it is over, discuss the different ideas and inventions the kids in the video created for their projects.
2. Ask students to think about a need or desire that could be met by improving the design of an existing product.
3. (Optional) Show the videos "10 Genius Kids Who Became Millionaires Overnight" and "International Student Scientists Show Inventions" to give students some inspiration.
4. Divide students into teams and have them brainstorm ideas to update, change, or improve an existing product.
5. Once they have a list of ideas, ask them to pick one product to focus on for today’s activity.
6. Have them outline the product’s features and sketch a drawing of what the product will look like.
7. Then, have students create an advertisement for their invention. Tell them they can choose to create a television, radio, magazine, or internet ad for their product.
8. Encourage them to be creative as they highlight the improvement(s) they will be making to the product.
9. Reconvene the whole group and have each team present their advertisements.
10. When all teams have finished presenting, discuss the following questions:
    
    • Which solutions seemed most realistic? Most needed?
    • Which new products seemed fun?
    • Which solved a problem? Which fulfilled a need?
    • What supplies would you need to make a prototype of your new solution or new product?
    • What can you do to find out if there is a market for your new solution or new product?

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Variations

1. Have students conduct market research to improve their product or solution. Then have students build a working prototype of their idea. Finally, encourage students to look for invention contests in which to enter their prototypes.

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