Today's work in the GATE class was all about the SCAMPER brainstorm method. Earlier in the year, the 1st graders learned how inventors and product developers use the acronym SCAMPER to help generate novel ideas. We started off by putting the game Rock, Paper, Scissors through the SCAMPER process and developed some new versions of the classic game such as a RPS+relay race game and RPS magnified into full body movements! (A class favorite)

The students then applied SCAMPER to the situation of having to make up a game using only picnic supplies such as spoons, sugar packets, and napkins. We brainstormed a list of common games, and then the students combined, adapted, minimized, and substituted to create and test these tabletop games in the classroom.

The final step of the day was to apply SCAMPER to common field games, write out rules and diagrams, and then head to the field to test them out. This was so fun, and I could see some of the games standing the test of time!