Today, 1st graders learned all about the brainstorming process! Sometimes when we brainstorm we just follow our imaginations. Other times, it can be useful to structure our idea generation. 

We started with reading the story Not a Box and then watched a video about a 9-year-old who made an entire arcade out of cardboard boxes! What an inspiration! Then students played a game where they were given a normal item and had to say, "This is not a (straw, spoon, plate, etc.) It is a ________!" just like in the book.

After lunch, the students were introduced to the idea generation acronym SCAMPER!

Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Maximize/Minimize/Modify, Put to other uses, Eliminate, and Reverse/Rearrange

After understanding each of these strategies, students chose an everyday item used in the "Not a..." game to re-imagine as a new invention using a SCAMPER strategy. The 1st graders took right to the challenge, and if they had time, they added an invention diagram and scamper technique to their Innovation Journal.

**Students also practiced getting onto a Google Classroom video call today. This will mostly be used in case we have to go virtual at all through the year. Students can access the Google Classroom on their MyApps page or the Google App "waffle" and can join the video meeting by clicking the Meet Link on the Classroom Banner.